New student Research Assistants
CSR has hired rising senior Dale Yi (a major in Psychology and Economics) and rising sophomore Nehemiah Chu (Religion and Communications) to join our team beginning in Summer 2006. They will join Gwen Einfeld (Engineering) and Mark Van Holstyn (Computer Science) in supporting CSR projects through the summer.
There is some possibility of additional hiring for Fall 2006. Candidates, especially those with technical skills with statistical analysis, databases and information management, are welcome to apply. Visit the CSR Jobs page to see job descriptions and apply online.
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Employment Opportunities
Thank you for your interest in working at the CSR. You are always welcome to apply so we can have your application on file.
Student Research Assistants
Student research assistants support and manage ongoing projects. Common tasks include data entry and audio transcriptions, but the RA job is primarily about problem-solving in response to unique project needs. We seek out applicants with strong personal initiative, who can take responsibility for meeting project deadlines and communicate clearly with on- and off-campus clients. Due to the extensive training we provide for our research assistants, we are particularly interested in students who have at least one or two years left at Calvin.
CSR offers a unique opportunity to develop academic research skills, technical knowledge and business teamwork. If you have the motivation, we will help you to further develop your abilities. For more details on skills and qualifications, view the full job description below.
Contact CSR about this job | View job description [PDF] | Apply online | Current staff
Student Technical Assistants
The Center for Social Research (CSR) hires skilled students for database and web application design in support of social research. A high degree of responsibility, self-motivation and good communication are necessary. This is an excellent career-building position, with possible continuing future employment.
The best applicants will have experience with Microsoft Access and industrial-strength SQL databases and the skill or learning ability to plan and execute the development of custom database-driven applications, preferably using web platforms such as PHP/MySQL, ASP.NET and Ruby on Rails. Please see the sample job description for a previous position below for more details.
Contact CSR about this job | View job description [PDF] | Apply online | Technical staff
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Contact Us
CSR is located in the Raybrook Building, 2041 Raybrook Ave SE, across Burton Street from the main campus and south of Calvin Theological Seminary. Our mailing address remains the college address at 3201 Burton St. SE.
For more information contact:
Center for Social Research
Calvin College
Raybrook Building 2041, Suite 103
3201 Burton Street, S.E.
Grand Rapids, MI 49546
Email: csr@calvin.edu
Phone: (616) 526-7799
Fax: (616) 526-7683
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Meet the CSR
Origin
The Calvin College Center for Social Research (CSR) was created by the Calvin Department of Sociology in 1970 in response to increasing numbers of faculty requests for research assistance. Since then, the CSR has grown into an independent center, supporting all of the social science departments of Calvin College as well as the broader community. Throughout its history, CSR's top priorities have been to promote excellence in research, both on campus and in the community.
Mission
The Center for Social Research aims to serve as a catalyst for scholarly research in the social sciences. Through research we seek to be agents of renewal in the academy, church, and society.
Commitments
• Research: promote basic and applied research of the highest quality by encouragement, example, and engagement with the college’s social science community.
• Partnership: undertake collaborative and community-based research with scholars, organizations, and institutions at the local, regional, national, and international levels.
• Faculty Development: enhance the scholarly community in social sciences at Calvin College.
• Student Involvement: provide opportunities for students to develop their research skills in a mentoring environment.
| Staff | ||||
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James Penning, Ph.D., Director, is Professor of Political Science at Calvin College. His primary areas of research are Religion & Politics and American state & local politics. | |||
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Neil Carlson, Ph.D., Assistant Director, offers general support for research design, survey administration, geographic information systems (GIS) and technology development. | |||
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Christina Vanden Bosch, B.A., Research Associate, graduated from Calvin College with a degree in Psychology. She works as a supervisor for the student staff and is responsible for project implementation. | |||
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Kathy Bardolph, B.A., Administrative Assistant, offers administrative, clerical, and project support to the Center. | |||
| Student Staff Team: The Student Research Assistants are comprised of a team of Calvin students who are constantly being trained in new research tools and practices. Currently, we have seven students: | ||||
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Kristin Booy is a senior Psychology major with minors in French and Gender Studies. | |||
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Michael Evans-Totoe is a junior Information Technology major. | |||
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Tyler Greenway is a junior Psychology major. | |||
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Nathan Mosurinjohn recently graduated with degrees in Geography and International Development. | |||
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Jeff Schiman recently graduated with a degree in Economics. | |||
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Leia Vos is a senior Psychology major with a minor in Communications. | |||
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Projects & Services
Current Projects
At any given time, CSR supports or conducts several long-term projects and at least a dozen shorter-term projects. Please visit our weblog to see the latest news on current CSR projects.
Request Services
CSR provides free initial consultation on prospective projects. Feel free to contact us:
•By telephone: (616) 526-7799
•By e-mail: csr@calvin.edu
•On-line: Project Proposal Form.
•By mail: Center for Social Research
3201 Burton, S.E.
Grand Rapids, MI 49546
Small Grants Program
CSR provides small grants of up to $1,000 to faculty members for use in their research that is not funded from other sources. Details about applying for a small grant can be found on the CSR website: small grant guidelines.
Services Offered:
•Research Design
•Project Management and Budgeting
•Survey Research (both web-based and mail surveys)
•Qualitative Research (content analysis, focus groups, transcription)
•Statistical Analysis (SPSS, Stata, Excel, Access, database design, statistical modeling)
•Geographic Information Systems (GIS; data mapping and spatial analysis)
•Presentation (report writing, preparation of charts and graphics, publication of findings)
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