Research Assistant - ES - A. Abrash Walton [Work Study]

• Applicants must be enrolled students at Antioch University living in the United States*

Start Date: 8/17/2026

End Date: 12/11/2026

Number of Positions: 1

Hours per Week: 20 hours/1 student

Weekends Required: No

Evenings Required: No

Supervisor: Abigail Abrash Walton

Alternate Supervisor: Rachel Thiet

This position allows for remote work Yes/No: Yes

Percentage of time that could be remote (0-100%): 90%; Collaborate in implementing half-day Community Resilience workshops in each of the three Living Hubs, including participant recruitment;

Collaborate in workshop survey instrument administration and analysis characterizing process-based equity and its influence on NbS decision-making);

Collaborate on preparing manuscripts for peer review, based on semi-structured interviews, CRW1 activities, findings, and digitization of assets;

Mobilize and manage project stakeholder engagement, including identifying and engaging Living Hub community participants/NbS decision makers;

Collaborate in developing presentations and reports on the team’s work for the ENACTS team and others;

Develop and share with AUNE Comms team narrative description and photo image documenting project activities relevant for social media; and

Participate in weekly Antioch team meetings and periodic ENACTS team meetings from August 17 2026 to December 7 2026.

Method to assess remote work: Weekly supervisory team meetings; supervisor review of all draft documentation

Job Description

• Overview: This position is open to applicants who have been accepted and matriculated into the Antioch University Environmental Studies MS program for Fall 2026 enrollment. Most responsibilities of the position can be completed virtually, with the exception of travel to project sites (Louisville, KY; Manchester, NH; Providence, RI). Preference will be given to applicants who reside in NH, RI, or KY. The Antioch team includes a doctoral fellow and graduate research assistant, who work under the supervision of Antioch ES faculty member/PI and overall project Co-PI Dr. Abigail Abrash Walton to implement project research activities.
• Project Description: The four-year ENACTS project builds capacity through new research infrastructure to identify novel methods to center equity in the design and application of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) for resilience. The research, supported by local knowledge, coupled with integrated social and natural sciences, engineering, art, and design, is creating an ecosystem of academia, government, and community organizations to support more informed and equitable NbS decisions. Support for the ENACTS Project is provided by the National Science Foundation's Office of Integrative Activities.
• Our scope of work focuses on a) investigation of process-based equity related to existing and planned NbS projects, as well as how process-related equity may influence the actual NbS design and implementation; and b) interventions designed to facilitate socially equitable NbS implementation. Our research involves behavioral analysis and includes, principally, Community Resilience Workshops and associated survey and other research methods, as well as Negotation Workshops.
• We work in coordination and collaboration with the ENACTS project team, which includes researchers from the Rhode Island School of Design, University of Louisville, University of New Hampshire, and University of Rhode Island. Key responsibilities for this position include the following:
• Collaborate in implementing half-day Community Resilience workshops in each of the three Living Hubs, including participant recruitment and day-of delivery (8 hours/week);
• Collaborate in workshop survey instrument administration and analysis characterizing process-based equity and its influence on NbS decision-making) (2 hours/week);
• Collaborate on preparing manuscripts for peer review, based on semi-structured interviews, CRW1 activities, findings, and digitization of assets (2 hours/week);
• Mobilize and manage project stakeholder engagement, including identifying and engaging Living Hub community participants/NbS decision makers (5 hours/week);
• Collaborate in developing presentations and reports on the team’s work for the ENACTS team and others (1 hour/week);
• Develop and share with AUNE Comms team narrative description and photo image documenting project activities relevant for social media (.5 hours/week); and
• Participate in weekly Antioch team meetings and periodic ENACTS team meetings from August 17 2026 to December 7 2026 (1.5 hours/week).

Qualifications

• Ability to work with others and communicate effectively, including with respect to presentations and report writing, is essential.
• Ability to travel for project workshops is required.
• Prior research and experience with effective community organizing, particularly with respect to centering equity, nature-based solutions, and community resilience and climate preparedness issues is strongly preferred.
• Prior qualitative and quantitative research experience is strongly preferred, including psychosocial survey development, administration, and analysis; effective data management, and record of publication.

Does this position meet the definition of Community Service? No How to Apply: To apply for this graduate research assistantship, please email a c.v., writing sample (preferably a peer-reviewed journal article or manuscript in preparation), and brief cover letter (no more than 1 page) describing how this position fits with your professional goals, subject matter expertise, research skills and trajectory. Send to: [email protected]. Review of applications will begin August 14, 2026.

Email: [email protected]

Position Type: Work Study

Department: Environmental Studies