Hourly Pooled Summer Student Research Assistantship in Regional Economic History

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JOB TITLE:

Summer Student Research Assistantship in Regional Economic History (Graduate or Undergraduate)

JOB PURPOSE:

Dr. Grete Gansauer is recruiting a student research assistant for a summer appointment supporting the Rural Pasts Rural Futures project investigating the economic history of the rural Eastern Wyoming region. The position is designed for a student interested in qualitative research methods regional development and change economic history public policy rural communities archival methods and interviewing. This position offers excellent preparation for students preparing for graduate study or future work involving qualitative research public policy community development or historical analysis.

The research assistant will contribute primarily to archival data collection and organization helping to construct a historical dataset that traces how industrial and institutional change infrastructure development and public service provision shape uneven regional development over time from colonial settlement to today. The research assistant will also assist with interviews to understand how community leaders envision future regional development and economic pathways. The position offers hands-on training in qualitative research methods archival analysis historical interpretation and narrative development with opportunities to contribute to broader discussions about rural community sustainability and regional inequalities.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The research assistant will support the project through the following activities:

• Conduct archival review of digital local newspaper records from the 1880s present
• Assemble archival database of County and Municipal public meeting minutes resolutions by locating collecting organizing and cataloguing records.
• Condense newspaper and public records datasets into a long-list of relevant sources for the research questions of the project to build a timeline of major industrial events and institutional change in the region.
• Extract and summarize archival material relevant to project research questions (regional industrial institutional and infrastructural history) using internal memoing and detailed notetaking of timeline of events and trends
• Identify key external policy or market shifts which influenced change or development of the region
• Support qualitative and thematic coding of the archived materials
• With the PI conduct at least one field work trip to eastern Wyoming to assist in interviewing community leaders.

Additional field work travel may be required to access local archival records or to conduct interviews (time dependent)

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Ability to work independently. This position will mostly take place through remote work (office access in Laramie on the UWyo Campus provided). Candidate must be a trustworthy self-starter who can carry out tasks without supervision.
• Strong attention to detail
• Interest in qualitative research interpretation narrative development. This position would be ideal for candidates majoring or interested in journalism history community development geography anthropology sociology policy analysis public administration or related social science fields.
• Ability to read critically and identify relevant themes across historical documents.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to maintain accurate records
• Strong written communication skills

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Previous experience with qualitative research design methods and analysis
• Familiarity with document/archival review research coding document analysis
• Interest in Wyoming history rural communities and/or public policy

REQUIRED APPLICATION MATERIALS:

Complete the online application. The department additionally requests candidates upload the following document(s) for a complete application:

(1) Cover letter/narrative (1 page max.) that articulates your desire to pursue this position and your interest in social science research as it relates to your career goals. Please highlight your relevant skills and experience.
(2) Resume or CV including degree(s) earned (and/or expected completion date if currently enrolled) and contact information for at least one reference.

WORK LOCATION:

On-campus: This position provides vital support to campus customers and the successful candidate must be available to work and perform essential job functions on campus understanding our location is at 7220 feet above sea level.

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HIRING STATEMENT/EEO:

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race color religion sex sexual orientation gender identity national origin disability or status as a protected compliancewith the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA) if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation to apply for a position please contact us at or email.

ABOUT LARAMIE:

The University of Wyoming is located in Laramie a charming town of 30000 residents nestled in the heart of the Rocky Mountain West. The state of Wyoming continues to invest in its only 4-year university helping to make it a leader in academics research and outreach with state-of-the-art facilities and strong community ties. We invite you to learn more about Laramie by visiting the About Laramie website.

Located in a high mountain valley near the Colorado border Laramie offers both outstanding recreational opportunities and close proximity to Colorados Front Range and the metropolitan Denver area. Laramies beautiful mountain landscape offers outdoor enjoyment in all seasons with over 300 days of sunshine annually. For more information about the region please visit Experience:

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