The Sacred Spectrum Project Graduate research Assistant

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Job Family: Student Regular Wage, Student Work Study Department: Instruction, School of Music Supervisor: Nathan Myrick Job Title: The Sacred Spectrum Project Graduate research Assistant Job Description: Key Responsibilities

• Assist with participant observation and qualitative interviews in congregational settings (with IRB-approved protocols).
• Maintain accurate field notes and upload recordings to secure data systems.
• Support Qualtrics survey distribution, monitor response rates, and troubleshoot participant access issues.
• Perform initial data cleaning and coding for quantitative and qualitative datasets.
• Conduct thematic coding of interviews and focus groups using NVivo or similar software.
• Generate descriptive statistics and visualizations for survey data.
• Draft sections of internal progress reports and contribute to sponsor reporting narratives.
• Collaborate on curriculum and worship guide prototypes based on research findings.
• Assist in preparing tutorial video scripts and supporting materials for dissemination.
• Follow all IRB-approved procedures for consent/assent, privacy, and data security.
• Complete required research ethics training (CITI or equivalent). Required Qualifications
• Current PhD student in Music, Theology, Psychology, Education, or related field.
• Demonstrated experience in qualitative research methods (interviews, coding) and familiarity with survey tools.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple tasks under deadlines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Background in neurodiversity, child development, or congregational studies.
• Proficiency with NVivo, Qualtrics, and basic statistical analysis (SPSS, R, or Python).
• Experience producing educational or worship resources.

Compensation

& Time Commitment Start Date: Fall 2026. Annual stipend: $20,000. Hours: ~15–20 hours/week during academic terms (some nights and weekends, depending on the needs of partner congregations – requires travel); flexible summer schedule.

Benefits

Professional development opportunities; co-authorship on publications where contributions meet criteria. Deliverables & Timeline

• Weekly: Field notes and data uploads.
• Monthly: Coding progress and survey status updates.
• Quarterly: Draft contributions to evaluation and sponsor reports.
• Annually: Assist in curriculum/resource development and dissemination activities. Application Instructions Submit CV, cover letter highlighting research experience and interest in worship and/or neurodiversity, one writing sample, and a letter of recommendation from a doctoral program supervisor. Review begins immediately; position open until filled. Scheduled Hours: 20 Start Date: 08/10/2026 End Date: 05/16/2027