Freelance Research Assistant Positions: danah boyd, 2020 Census Book Project

I am seeking ~3 research assistants to provide support on my current book project about the 2020 U.S. census (title still tbd, under contract with University of Chicago Press). These freelance positions will each require approximately 80-100 hours somewhere between July and October.

For the last four years, I have conducted ethnographic fieldwork inside the U.S. Census Bureau and among census stakeholders; I have also conducted over 100 interviews with informants involved in this process. I am currently writing a book on my findings to examine the technical, social, and political production of data. The book focuses on how government officials at the Census Bureau averted a series of near-disasters to produce the Constitutionally required data only to face significant threats to the legitimacy of the work.

As a researcher and writer, I start with empirical data and build from there. I have already produced a first draft that is rich with empirical material. In subsequent drafts I am seeking research assistance to thicken my engagement with relevant literatures and currently scholarly debates. Much of my writing implicitly invokes different literatures, but I need to ensure that these conversations are legible to scholars from different fields. I am looking for RAs who are familiar with the literature that I’m engaging with, can push me to ensure that I am actively and strategically engaging with said literature, and can point me to literature I am less familiar with. This book crosses multiple disciplines and multiple literatures – and it is quite likely that I have significant gaps in my knowledge that I should contend with. In short, these RAships are a form of deeply engaged peer review.

I am looking for RAs who are already well-versed in at least one of the literatures I’m engaging with though coursework, qualifying exams, dissertation writing, or their own publications. The key literatures that are woven throughout this book include:

• STS. Lots on infrastructures and sociotechnical imaginaries with a mix of SCOT, feminist STS, and occasionally some ANT (sans Latour ::wink::).
• Organizational sociology. Much of this is a public-sector orgs ethnography of the Diane Vaughn or Janet Vertesi style. I’m also looking at organizational failure and resilience, and organizational communication.
• History of statistics/politics of numbers. Think Porter, Daston, Gallison, Hacking, Bouk, James Scott.
• Public administration (and some administrative law), with a U.S. bent. Think Dan Carpenter, Pamela Herd, Don Moynihan, Elizabeth Popp Berman, David Pozen.

I am also picking up assorted other literatures along the way. Right now, I connect haphazardly to literatures on “partnerships,” activism, and multi-stakeholder engagement; legitimacy, agnotology, and conflicting epistemic constructions; network power; and various threads connected to political science. All of this needs to be strengthened in future drafts. (Needless to say, I’m also engaging deeply with census-related histories, including those concerning the history of race and the census, but I am not looking for help in this area.)

Responsibilities. RAs will be asked to read the partially written book with an eye towards the literature they’re responsible for (e.g., “sts” or “organizational sociology”) and engage me in both written (aka email/trackbacks) and oral (aka Teams/Zoom) modes. They will be asked to challenge my use of the literature, flag where I should be engaging with the literature better/differently/more, and suggest additional literature for me to engage with based on their own knowledge of the debates. I will also ask the RAs where to place certain literature/arguments based on their read. RAs may be encouraged to write footnotes and commentary based on their knowledge; some of this may be used in the final book (with credit).  RAs might also be asked to track down specific literature or trace the lineage of certain arguments. RAs are not expected to have any knowledge about the census (and it may be better if they do not). Think: non-anonymous paid peer review where you get to flag all the missing literature!

Compensation and Logistics. These are hourly contractor positions, paid at $25/hour. My expectation is that the basic work will take 80-100 hours; additional hours may be available depending on the quality of the work. Ideally, the work will take place in August or September, although some early work is possible in July and there may be additional work in October. As freelancers, RAs will need to invoice me for their hours and will be responsible for their own taxes, equipment, library access, healthcare, etc. (Freelancers are also responsible for the knowing their jurisdiction’s rules on accepting contract pay.) The hours are flexible, although I ask RAs to keep me abreast of their progress. Those who complete the work in a satisfactory manner (and anyone whose work is directly used) will also be acknowledged in the book.

Please note: I am hiring these contractor positions directly; these freelance RA positions are not associated with any organizations with which I am affiliated. I cannot support visas, provide library access, or otherwise offer organizational support.  
 
Qualifications. These positions are intended for RAs who are already well-versed in at least one of the relevant literatures. Qualified RAs might have taken their qualifying exams in these areas or written extensively on related topics. I do not expect any one RA to be familiar with all of the various academic literatures; I am looking for complementary RAs with diverse knowledge sets. Preference will be given to those who approach literature from a citational justice perspective. While these positions are envisioned for ABD PhD students, those with equivalent experience are welcome to apply. Postdocs, alt-ac scholars, and other post-graduate school researchers may find this work to be a fulfilling complement to their own work.

Ideal qualities include:

• Depth and breadth of relevant scholarly literature in at least one of STS, sociology, public administration, or related fields. Know the literature and the debates.
• Reliable with strong organization and written communication skills, as well as attention to detail. You provide the schedule and stick to it.
• Comfort challenging my interpretation/analysis and pushing me to go deeper/rethink my argument. The Reviewer #2 you wish you had.
• Able to easily explain the key arguments of a scholar’s work in a way that makes the ideas shine. Relish the inner professorial desires.
• Familiarity with Zotero, Microsoft Word, Dropbox, and relevant research library search engines. Know your tools.

To Apply. Please send the following information to me at danah-censusRA@danah.org  

• Cover letter that includes why you are interested and describes your experience and which literatures you are familiar with.
• CV that reflects your experience as a scholar.
• A document that reflects the relevant literature that you know well. This could be your qualifying exam reading list, a syllabus you taught/TAed, a paper you wrote with a relevant bibliography, an annotated bibliography, or equivalent document.  

Deadline. I will begin reviewing applicants on July 1, 2022 and continue accepting applications until the positions are filled.

Questions? Do not hesitate to reach out to me directly at danah-censusRA@danah.org  If you would like to see if this project is substantively of interest to you, I am happy to share a draft of the introduction in advance.

Director of Research, Professional Development, and Academic Affairs

American Sociological Association

Are you committed to advancing sociology as a science and profession? Would you enjoy conceptualizing and organizing professional development opportunities for sociologists in all sectors, conducting research on the discipline, and supporting sociology departments? Are you good at working collaboratively with teams to develop and implement programmatic initiatives? Are you a detail oriented, effective, and experienced leader who is ready to embark on a new challenge in a dynamic and fast-paced environment? If so, the American Sociological Association (ASA) invites you to apply to become the Director of Research, Professional Development, and Academic Affairs (RPA).

ASA has a membership of about 10,000 sociologists who are scholars, teachers, and practitioners. Our office is in Washington, D.C., but staff is working 100% remotely at present. The return to office plan (tentatively to begin at the end of June) includes a COVID-19 vaccination policy and flexibility for remote work. A fully remote arrangement may be considered for this position. Additionally, this position could be filled on an ongoing employment basis or as a two-year temporary position.

Essential Functions:

• Identify innovative opportunities for the association to support the teaching, research, practice, and professional development of sociologists; develop and implement a strategic portfolio of relevant initiatives.
• Develop and produce ASA’s full complement of virtual professional development programming including webinars, graduate student proseminars, “Ask Me Anything” sessions, and more.
• Oversee the strategic direction and management of the Department Affiliates Program, the Program Reviewers and Consultants group, the undergraduate honors program, TRAILS (ASA’s online peer-reviewed library of teaching resources), the Howery Teaching Enhancement Fund and the Annual Meeting Travel Fund.
• Support and facilitate professional and career development of various communities of sociologists including high school teachers, community college faculty, retirees, students, people working in practice settings, and contingent faculty, among others.
• Oversee the association’s portfolio of research about the discipline and lead organizational research efforts.
• Liaise with relevant committees and task forces.
• Manage relevant website content.
• Work with the Communications Department to develop and distribute information regarding research on the discipline, professional development, and academic affairs through channels such as newsletters and social media.
• Manage a substantial departmental operating budget.
• Respond to relevant requests for assistance from members and staff.
• Serve as a member of the staff leadership team and the staff sociologists team.
• Manage additional responsibilities as assigned by the Executive Director.

Reporting Structure: Reports to the Executive Director; Supervises Assistant Director for RPA, Senior Research Associate, and RPA Assistant.

Job Classification: Exempt

Preferred Qualifications: It is important to note that these qualifications are preferred. We recognize that there are several professional profiles that could be well suited to this position. Should your profile vary in some ways from the qualifications listed and you think you can be successful in this endeavor, please do not hesitate to apply.

• PhD in sociology or closely related discipline.
• A commitment to serving the discipline by supporting sociologists in teaching and learning, research, practice, and professional development across the broad range of employment sectors and institution types where they are employed.
• Demonstrated leadership, management, and administrative abilities.
• Exemplary writing, editing, and verbal communication skills.
• Familiarity with quantitative and qualitative research methodologies.
• Strong work ethic.
• Ability to organize, prioritize and move forward on simultaneous initiatives across a broad portfolio.
• Organizational savvy, ability to work independently and in collaboration with teams, excellent interpersonal skills.

Compensation: Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. A full benefits package is provided to all ASA staff members.

To apply: Please submit a substantive cover letter and a resume to Nancy Kidd, ASA Executive Director, at nkidd@asanet.org. Your letter should indicate if you are applying for an ongoing position or a two-year temporary post. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Preferred start date August 1.

ASA does not tolerate any forms of discrimination based on age, gender, race, socioeconomic status and socioeconomic origins, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, health conditions, political affiliation, marital status, domestic status, parental status, or any other applicable basis proscribed by law. We prioritize cultivating an inclusive workplace where collaboration and creativity are encouraged and employees excel based on merit and job performance. ASA is an equal opportunity employer.