Research Assistant - Higher Education and Language Assessment

Project:   The Use of English Language Proficiency Tests in Selecting International Graduate Students at a U.S. University

Project Description:

Davy Tran and Janay Crabtree of UVA’s Center for American English Language and Culture (CAELC), together with Chris Chang-Bacon of the School of Education and Human Development, are seeking a graduate research assistant for a qualitative research project.

The study investigates how admissions officers across UVA’s schools and programs interpret and use English-language proficiency scores, such as the TOEFL, IELTS, and Duolingo English Test (DET), when evaluating international applicants to graduate programs.

Responsibilities:

The research assistant will work closely with the research team to:

- Contact admissions officers and coordinate interview schedules with the researchers.
- Conduct or assist with interviews with admissions officers.
- Review and correct interview transcripts generated through Otter.ai.
- Organize and manage interview data and related research documents.
- Assist with coding and analyzing qualitative interview data.
- Search for relevant scholarly articles and contribute to the literature review.
- Assist with drafting, editing, and preparing a research manuscript.
- Complete other project-related research and administrative tasks as assigned.
- Report to Davy Tran, who is the principal investigator.

Qualifications

Required qualifications:

- Current enrollment in a master’s or doctoral program at UVA.
- Previous experience with qualitative research methods or the qualitative research process.
- Ability to handle research data responsibly and maintain confidentiality.
- Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.

Preferred qualifications:

- Academic background in TESOL, applied linguistics, linguistics, language education, or a related field.
- Familiarity with English-language proficiency assessments, such as the TOEFL, IELTS, or DET.
- Interest in language assessment, international graduate admissions, or higher-education research.
- Interest in developing skills in conducting qualitative research.
- Familiarity with AI tools useful for qualitative research (Otter.ai, Consensus, etc.)

Position type:  Part-time research assistant. This is an hourly wage position, not a Graduate Research Assistantship.
Compensation:  $18 per hour ( this position doesn’t provide tuition waiver, health insurance, or stipend )
Hours:  Up to 10 hours per week
Employment period:  Spring 2027 and Fall 2027
Location:  Charlottesville, VA – online or hybrid

How to Apply

Interested applicants should submit:

- A cover letter.
- A current résumé or curriculum vitae.

Priority application deadline:  November 20, 2026
Anticipated start date:  January 25, 2027

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

Resume and cover letter

Education: Current graduate UVA student
Experience: None
Licensure: None

The University of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer. All interested persons are encouraged to apply, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Learn more about UVA’s commitment to non-discrimination and equal opportunity employment .