Research Assistant

Research Assistant

Position Announcement

Proposed Start Date - 08/03/2026

Rank - L - Research Assistant

Working Title - Research Assistant

Position Number - D93375

Representation - AU - AAUP

Faculty Type - Fixed Term Research/Grant

Fixed Term End Date: - 06/30/2028

Position FTE - Variable between.5 and 1.0 FTE, starting at 1.0 FTE

Term of Service - 12 month

Position Summary

Brief Description of PSU/School/Dept - Portland State University is Oregon's most affordable public research university, located in the heart of one of America's most dynamic cities. Our mission to "let knowledge serve the city" reflects our dedication to turning ideas into action — in Portland and around the world. The city is our campus, giving students unmatched access to career connections, a vibrant cultural scene and hands-on learning experiences with hundreds of community partners. More than 20,000 students from all backgrounds bring diverse perspectives to our classrooms and campus life, from the tree-lined Park Blocks to the bustling Urban Plaza and state-of-the-art science labs. We are proud of our world-class faculty, groundbreaking research and international reputation for excellence in sustainability, community engagement and innovation.

The College of Education is built for educators and counselors who believe the system can be different, and they are ready to lead that change. The college believes that your goals matter—and so does your life beyond school. Our inclusive programs are designed for people balancing work, family, and ambition while preparing for meaningful careers in education and community leadership. Whether you want to teach, counsel, or lead, you'll gain the knowledge, practical experience, and community connections to make a lasting difference where it matters most.

Position Summary - This position will serve in a research role in developing and executing research activities of the USDOE Institute of Educational Science grant, Transition Coalition Self-Study+. The Research Assistant position is associated with a funded research grant, Transition Coalition Self-Study+ (TCSS+) in the Department of Leadership, Learning, & Counseling. The Research Assistant position will support several essential research activities to occur during the last two years of the project (2026-2027 and 2027-2028). This full time (1.0FTE) position requires a team-based individual with strong communication skills, both written and verbal and experience coordinating research projects, including recruitment, data collection, summarizing data, and using analyzed data to inform the final intervention. Day to day oversight and assigning of work is the responsibility of Dr. Mary Morningstar, the research principal investigator.

Primary Activity - R - Research

Minimum Qualifications - Bachelor's degree in education or related field. One (1) or more years of experience with research support. Demonstrated ability to develop, edit and enhance existing research procedures and systems with supervision. Strong administrative skills exhibited through knowledge of Microsoft Suite (word, excel, power point). Demonstrated ability to perform focused research or evaluation tasks including data management and online data collection. Excellent oral and written communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications - Masters degree in education or related field. Ability to acknowledge, encourage, and celebrate differences. Seek opportunities to gain experience working and collaborating in diverse, multicultural, and inclusive settings with a willingness to change for continual improvement. Adheres to all PSU's policies including the policies on Prohibited Discrimination & Harassment and the Professional Standards of Conduct.

Key Cultural Competencies - Creates an environment that acknowledges, encourages and celebrates differences. Functions and communicates effectively and respectfully within the context of varying beliefs, behaviors, orientations, identities and cultural backgrounds. Seeks opportunities to gain experience working and collaborating in diverse, multicultural, and inclusive settings with a willingness to change for continual improvement. Adheres to all PSU's policies including the policies on Prohibited Discrimination & Harassment and the Professional Standards of Conduct.

Environmental Stewardship - Contributes to a culture of environmental stewardship, practices resource conservation, and actively works toward achieving long-term sustainability goals.

Professional Standards of Conduct - At Portland State University, all employees are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner which maintains a safe, respectful, and productive environment for faculty, students, administrators, and staff. It is the responsibility of every member of the Portland State University community to conduct themselves in accordance with our PSU Professional Standards of Conduct which are available at

Total Compensation Range & Benefits Statement - Salary is dependent on several factors, and new employees will typically start around the Q1 level to allow for later growth within the salary band. PSU has a structured process for determining starting compensation, taking into account years of related experience, applicable skills, knowledge and abilities, market parity, and internal equity. The starting annual salary for this position will be $68,016 (at 1.0FTE), but may be negotiated above this rate dependent upon the factors above, the budget of the hiring department, and approval from HR. An excellent benefits package includes 95% premium paid healthcare; a generous retirement and vacation package; and reduced tuition rates for employee, spouse or dependent at any of the Oregon University System schools. Please visit our total compensation calculator to see the full value of our benefits package.

Application Instructions

Additional Information - This is an on campus position. Upon completion of the training period, the supervisor may permit one day of remote work per week.

Additional Application Instructions (deadlines, etc.) - Please list the names, telephone numbers and email addresses for three professional references. References will be contacted only if you are selected as finalist.

Does this position require the employee to drive a motor vehicle? - No

Background Check Required - No

If you have questions - Please email

Search Details

Posting Close Date

Projected Close Date for Posting - Open Until Finalists Identified

Application screening begins - 07/06/2026

Will you consider an ABD applicant for this position? - No

If yes, when must the degree be earned? - not applicable

If necessary, would you be willing to sponsor the successful applicant for permanent US residence, now or in the future? - No

Reference Requests

Reference Requests

Accept References - Yes

Minimum Number of References - 3

Maximum Number of References

Cutoff Date

Special Instruction for Reference Provider