School of Hospitality Management Part-Time Undergraduate Research Assistant

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JOB DESCRIPTION AND POSITION REQUIREMENTS

Job Title

Undergraduate Research Assistant

Job Description

The School of Hospitality Management is seeking two undergraduate research assistants to support a faculty-led research project examining Penn State’s reusable container program. This position is supported by an HHD Sustainability Research Grant. The research assistants will work closely with the faculty supervisor and assist with study design, data collection, intervention preparation, and field and experimental research activities.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Conduct interviews with undergraduate students and/or frontline employees to gather feedback on the reusable container program
• Assist with the preparation and implementation of research interventions, field studies, and experimental studies (online and/or in person)
• Support research-related tasks such as participant recruitment, scheduling, and materials preparation
• Participate in weekly meetings and provide regular progress updates to the faculty supervisor
• Assist with research presentations and may travel with the faculty supervisor to meetings, events, or conferences, as needed

Required Qualifications

• Current Penn State undergraduate student in good academic standing
• Demonstrated experience in hospitality, foodservice, or customer-facing roles (e.g., dining operations, events, hotels, catering, or related settings)
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage professionally with students, staff, or frontline employees in interview or field settings
• Prior experience or training with qualitative research activities, such as interviews, participant recruitment, or data organization
• Ability to work independently, manage time effectively, and meet weekly research deadlines
• Completion of IRB CITI training

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in foodservice operations, dining services, or event management within large-scale or institutional environments
• Leadership experience (e.g., crew leader, team captain, student organization officer) demonstrating responsibility and coordination skills
• Interest in sustainability, food systems, or behavioral research, demonstrated through coursework, work experience, or extracurricular involvement

Work Schedule

• Approximately 5 hours per week
• Total of 60 hours for the position

Compensation

• $20 per hour

Number of Positions

• 3 Potential

Supervisor

• Anni Ding, Assistant Professor, School of Hospitality Management

BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES

Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.

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