Research Assistant Position in the Solutions Lab
Solutions Lab: Summer 2025
Position: Research Assistant
Description: We are seeking summer research assistants to join The Solutions Lab, a research lab aimed at identifying evidence-based solutions to society’s most pressing problems, founded by Drs. Andrea Dittmann and Kyle Dobson. The research assistant will contribute to the mission of the Lab by conducting research and interventions aimed at improving community-police relations in field sites across the country. Research assistance on this project will be focused on one location.
Eligibility: We are currently seeking candidates with aligned interests, skills, and availability.
Location: Evanston, Illinois
Application Deadline: Rolling (until position filled)
Start Date (Earliest): June 7th, 2025
About the Job
The Solutions Lab, a research lab founded by Dr. Dittmann and Dr. Dobson, is seeking new research assistants to join the team and contribute to its mission of improving community-police relations through research and interventions. This is a three-month-long part-time ( ~10 hours per week) paid position from June to August 2025.
In the Solutions Lab, we particularly value mentorship. The position offers opportunities for substantial research experience and would be ideal for someone motivated to pursue graduate studies in behavioral science or related fields. RA will earn a stipend of $1500 for the summer.
Responsibilities
As a research assistant, you will be involved in many tasks, including:
- Coordinating with police and community members for data collection (e.g., facilitating experiments with police-community interactions; conducting interviews with community members; field observations via ride-alongs)
- Designing and administering surveys
- Preparing interview questions and summarizing results
- Summarizing findings from current and past data collection
- De-identifying transcripts of police-community interactions and interview data
- Creating reports and presentations to summarize data and its implications
- Attending team and project meetings aimed at professional development
- Additional opportunities to gain research and data analysis experience as requested
Requirements
We are seeking an applicant who lives in Evanston and has a background or interest in a behavioral science-related field (e.g., psychology, management, criminology, public policy).
The ideal candidate has excellent:
- Communication skills (e.g., will clearly communicate intent and any challenges; responsive to messages)
- Time management and organizational skills (e.g., willingness to frequently switch tasks and projects)
- Work ethic (i.e., eagerness to learn and grow; proactively approach challenges)
- Willingness to work both independently and collaboratively across differences and boundaries
- Patience and flexibility (e.g., willingness to work with unpredictable schedules of police)
Strong technical skills (e.g., R, Qualtrics, ChatGPT, Natural Language Processing) are an asset but not required.
About the Project:
The research assistant will participate in the Transparency Project, which involves implementing Transparent Communication Training in the Evanston Police Department, aiming for full agency rollout by September 2025, with evaluations continuing through December 2025. The training focuses on evidence-based communication tactics to foster trust and positive community-police interactions. Key activities include developing training tailored to Evanston PD, piloting, agency-wide rollout, and collecting data on community trust and officer behavior using surveys, body-worn camera footage, and administrative records. The team, led by Drs. Andrea Dittmann and Kyle Dobson collaborate with New Blue, improving the police service through evidence-based research and interventions.
The Solutions Lab
Drs. Andrea Dittmann and Kyle Dobson began working together in 2017 at the Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management, with the mission of creating concrete solutions to real-life problems and providing tangible, long-term improvements in society. The Solutions Lab partners with nonprofits, grassroots organizations, and corporations to conduct high-impact research aimed at solving our communities’ most pressing problems. Our goal is to build innovative and pragmatic solutions that simultaneously work for practitioners and drive forward scientific knowledge. We value authenticity in building solutions in accordance with our deepest values and humility by knowing the context and ensuring that all stakeholders feel they are meaningfully included in the research and solution-building process. We want to empower all
stakeholders to share their perspectives and make their voices heard in research that affects them.
Timeline & Hiring Process
- April 7th: The lab starts reviewing applications
- April 21st – May 7th: Competitive applicants will be invited to interview
- May 14th – June 7th: Training period of position
- June 7th: Research Assistant position begins
How to Apply
To apply for this position, please email your resume and cover letter (maximum two pages) to . The lab’s staff will review applications until the position is filled. Thank you!