Work-Study Research Assistant Program

Faculty Name: Laura Mauldin

Faculty Department: Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies

General Research Focus: This position will support the publication of a book on the topic of the politics of disability and the US care crisis. The writing relates to the ways ableism (or the devaluation of disability) is embedded into every aspect of our culture and society, which then translates into such things as a lack of care infrastructure and the resulting dependence on the unpaid care work of family members. 

Brief Position Description: The book will cover many facets of both the disability experience and family caregiving. I am looking for a student who understands factchecking (from a journalistic perspective) and/or has interest in social media and marketing. The main duties of this position are to assist with two things:    

• fact checking an entire book, and 
• social media research/review/compiling on topics covered in the book such as: experiences of disability, experiences of caregiving, disability and caregiving in spousal/romantic relationships, internalized ableism, medical ableism, the disability rights and justice movements, technologies and hacking homes for access, and long term care supports. 

The student will learn, or build on, skills related to the process of fact checking, how to search social media platforms, how to organize information gleaned from social media thematically in spreadsheets, how to synthesize broad trends, how to work with and support authors writing nonfiction trade books, how to assist on marketing and publicity ideas, and will get an inside view of - and mentorship around - the creative nonfiction publishing process. 

Job Description: A "Student Research Review Assistant - 205" will assist faculty in research efforts by conducting review of literature and subject material specific to research topics. A student in this position will:

• Look up and check references
• Cross check field notes
• Learn how to use citation software
• Create bibliographies
• Organize and thematize social media trends
• Prepare reports and suggestions for publicity and marketing
• Communicate with external groups and organizations
• Miscellaneous assistant duties