City Planning Research Assistant
The Department of City and Regional Planning is currently seeking an undergraduate research assistant for a full time position in Summer 2019.
The research assistant will work closely with faculty and doctoral students on a new research program investigating the commuting patterns of Philadelphia transit users on new transit services provided by the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA). The research will focus on how users learn about their ways of getting to work and ultimately decide to use transit services. The bus route of focus for this research travels through the University City neighborhood.
The research assistant will likely engage in the following tasks:
-Conduct ethnographic/observational fieldwork onboard transit
-Conduct on board interviews and surveys with transit users
-Conduct long form interviews with selected transit users
-Code and analyze qualitative data
-Write memos summarizing analyses
Requirements: ACTIVE UPENN UNDERGRADUATES ONLY. The research assistant must be comfortable conducting interviews. The research assistant must have strong research skills and be able to work independently. Preference will be given to students who have a background in research methods (particularly qualitative methods). Preference will also be given to students who are interested in urban research (ex. Urban Studies, urban sociology, urban anthropology). Preference will also be given to rising Juniors and Seniors.
Supervision: The research assistant will work under Joshua Davidson (current City Planning doctoral student) and Dr. Megan Ryerson (Associate Professor of City and Regional Planning and Electrical and Systems Engineering, UPS Chair of Transportation).
Location: Field work will take place in Philadelphia, and analysis will take place on campus or remotely. Regular research meetings will take place on campus.
Days/Time: 35 hrs/week for 10 weeks over the summer break. The exact period of employment to be determined by the research team in conversation with the research assistant. Work hours are flexible. Fieldwork may at time necessitate working in early morning or later in the evening.
Pay: $10.00/hr (non-work study or work study)
Applicants should email resumes to Joshua Davidson (jdavids@design.upenn.edu). Please note the job title in the subject line of your email.