Research Assistants (RA)

The Research Assistant (RA) role offers overlooked benefits beyond being a source of income. Working with GSFS faculty exposes RAs to a broader interdisciplinary array of methods, questions, and materials. The work could hold relevance for graduate research but otherwise will deepen your familiarity with other streams of scholarship in the gender/sexuality field. RAs often form long-term associations with their faculty supervisor, who can become an informal mentor, a letter writer, or source of entrée into professional domains. Having faculty connections beyond one's home discipline is particularly important for the interdisciplinary scope of the GSF field.

At times, we may divide one RA position into two half-time roles. Graduate students filling these positions typically work with faculty on research or at times in other professional domains (e.g., on funded lecture series; doing outreach for a program). The pay is the standard of about $6,100 (payment is dependent on the applicant's funding status). Official hours are approximately 19.5 per week; actual hours are arranged with the faculty member supervisor. RA hours may be available over the summer.

How to Apply

The program issues calls for applications for RAships over email. We like to know about your experience or training relevant to research (e.g., computer programs, archival experience, audio-visual training, second languages) and the general academic fields with which you are most familiar.

These positions are open to all Duke University Arts & Sciences doctoral students with preference given to students enrolled in the Gender, Sexuality & Feminist Studies’ Certificate or Graduate Scholars Colloquium. M.A. or M.F.A. students may be eligible as well.

Click here to apply online.