Job Description

The Federal Work Study Research Assistant will support research activities across three projects focused on bilingual language development, early mathematics learning, and autism research. This position provides hands-on experience in educational, developmental, and behavioral research, with opportunities to develop skills in data collection, assessment, intervention implementation, research methods, and data management.

Research assistants will contribute to ongoing studies involving bilingual oral language intervention for emergent bilingual children, dynamic assessment of symbolic and arithmetic learning, and developmental outcomes among autistic children and adolescents. Responsibilities may include preparing study materials, managing research databases, entering and verifying data, supporting participant scheduling and communication, conducting literature reviews, assisting with conference presentations and research reports, participating in child and family research visits, supporting small-group instructional activities, conducting implementation observations, and assisting with school- and community-based data collection. This position is ideal for students interested in psychology, education, communication sciences and disorders, speech-language pathology, behavior analysis, occupational therapy, social work, public health, medicine, or related fields who are seeking meaningful research experience and mentorship.

Duties:

The specific duties assigned to the Federal Work Study Research Assistant will be tailored to the student's skills, interests, and professional development goals, as well as the needs of ongoing research projects. Responsibilities may include: • Assisting with child and family research activities in school and community settings. • Supporting assessment, intervention, and data collection activities across multiple research projects. • Scoring assessments and entering or verifying data in research databases. • Preparing materials for assessments, intervention sessions, and research visits. • Assisting with literature reviews, research reports, presentations, and other scholarly activities. • Participating in weekly supervision and training meetings. • Maintaining professionalism, reliability, and confidentiality in all research activities. • Following established research procedures to support data quality and consistency.

Hours of Work

Approximately 7–15 hours per week during the academic semester

Schedule •

• Students are expected to work primarily during standard business hours (e.g., 10:00 am to 5:00 pm). •
• Work schedules will be developed collaboratively with the supervisor and will vary based on student availability, project needs, school schedules, and research activities. •
• Students should be available to work approximately 7–15 hours per week, depending on Federal Work Study eligibility and project needs.
• Students are expected to work on campus in the research office at least two days per week. Additional work may be completed remotely when appropriate and approved by the supervisor.
• Some projects may require participation in school- or community-based activities during regular school hours. •
• Participation in training, supervision meetings, and other research-related activities is expected as part of the position and counts towards hours per week worked.

Learning Objectives – Upon completion of this position, students will be able to: •

• Apply constructive feedback from supervisors to improve research-related skills and work products. •
• Demonstrate professionalism, reliability, and effective communication in a research setting. •
• Develop foundational skills in research methods, data collection, data management, and research ethics. •
• Work independently and collaboratively to complete assigned tasks and contribute to research projects. •
• Gain practical experience working with children, families, schools, and community partners in research settings. •
• Communicate research experiences and transferable skills effectively in graduate school, internship, and employment applications. •
• Strengthen organizational, time management, and problem-solving skills through participation in ongoing research activities.
• Contact information – Matthew Foster at mefoster@usf.edu

Working at USF

With approximately 16,000 employees, the University of South Florida is one of the largest employers in the Tampa Bay area. We are dedicated to cultivating a talented, engaged and driven workforce that strives to be bold. Employees excel in USF‘s rich academic environment, which fosters their development and advancement. In 2025, Forbes recognized USF as one of Florida’s best large employers, ranked No. 1 among the state’s 12 public universities. Our first-class benefits package includes medical, dental and life insurance plans, retirement plan options, employee and dependent tuition programs, generous leave, and hundreds of employee perks and discounts.

About USF

The University of South Florida is a top-ranked research university serving approximately 50,000 students from across the globe at campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota-Manatee and USF Health. USF is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a top 50 public university and the best value in Florida. U.S. News also ranks the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine as the No. 1 medical school in Florida and in the highest tier nationwide. USF is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), a group that includes only the top 3% of universities in the U.S. With an all-time high of $738 million in research funding in 2024 and as a top 20 public university for producing U.S. patents, USF uses innovation to transform lives and shape a better future. The university generates an annual economic impact of more than $6 billion. USF’s Division I athletics teams compete in the American Athletic Conference. Learn more at www.usf.edu

Compliance and Federal Notices

This position may be subject to a Level 1 or Level 2 criminal background check.

Applicants have rights under Federal Employment Laws

The University of South Florida is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on any characteristic protected by law. The University maintains programs for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws.

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

Applicants for USF employment are entitled to request reasonable accommodation(s) in the application process. A request is to be made at least five (5) working days prior to the time the accommodation(s) is needed. Visit the Central Human Resources ADA Accommodations webpage for more information on requesting an accommodation during the application/interview process.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of South Florida is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on any characteristic protected by law. The University maintains affirmative action programs for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws. This job description does not constitute an employment contract.