Rebooting Social Media/Applied Social Media Lab Call for Student Research Assistants

Join the Institute for Rebooting Social Media (RSM) and Applied Social Media Lab (ASML) teams! We are looking for student research assistants (RAs) with fresh ideas, curiosity, and creative drive to support our growing team of staff and visiting faculty-led projects and research. RSM RAs will support the incoming cohort of Visiting Scholars as they work on projects and writing related to social media’s most urgent problems, including mis/disinformation, social media governance, reparative social media, and bridging algorithms. ASML RAs will collaborate with ASML staff members in software engineering, identifying technical synergies and proposing innovative ideas that could shape the future of social media.

Responsibilities:

Depending on specific projects, research needs, and backgrounds, RAs may be asked to collaborate on the following:

• Designing, building, and testing new social media infrastructures
• Mobile and web development
• Conducting statistical analyses and quantitative research
• Conducting literature reviews
• Conducting legal research
• Writing memos on case law
• Performing social media, social network, and content analysis
• Transcribing interviews
• Attending progress meetings, synthesizing research, and presenting summaries to the RSM/ASML communities

Research Assistantships are an excellent opportunity for students to apply their skills while learning or developing new research skills. RAs are not expected to have mastered any of the skills listed in the roles below. Instead, successful applicants should demonstrate a strong motivation to understand the social media landscape and address its problems.

Learn more about the specific responsibilities of each role below.

Eligibility & Additional Information:

Applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements in order to be considered for an RA position:

• Ability to work in a remote and/or hybrid format; in-person attendance at specific meetings or events may be expected with notice.
• Actively enrolled Harvard University student
• Ability to commit up to 5-20 hours per week, depending on the role and individual availability (to be agreed upon with manager)
• Authorization to work in the U.S.
   

The University’s standard rate for RA positions is $21.00/hour. No other benefits are provided.
 

Required Materials:

• A completed application form noting your preferred position(s)
• A current resume or CV
• A brief cover letter describing your skills, interests, and what about working at the Berkman Klein Center and for RSM/ASML interests you

To Apply:

Applications will be collected through this application form on a rolling basis. The form will be closed when all positions are filled.

Applicants may be considered for multiple or additional positions.

About RSM:

The Institute for Rebooting Social Media (RSM) is a three-year, “pop-up” research initiative at Harvard’s Berkman Klein Center addressing social media’s most urgent problems. By working with academia, industry, and the public, RSM works to research, promote, and create healthier online ecosystems.

About ASML:

The Applied Social Media Lab (ASML) is a new initiative from Harvard’s Berkman Klein Center. The two-year mission of ASML is to build social media solutions that center the public interest.