Undergraduate Research Assistantship - Mathematics in the Bronx

Serve as an undergraduate research assistant on the project: College preparatory mathematics in the Bronx: A quantitative policy analysis of introductory, intermediate- and college preparatory-level mathematics coursework in secondary public schools.

This project seeks to better understand how Bronx public high schools with a self-reported four years of mathematics, offer college preparatory, or advanced mathematics coursework, require students to graduate with an Advanced Regents Diploma, or implement some combination of these policies compare to schools without such stated requirements or goals. Using longitudinal administrative and policy data from New York City public schools, the study will examine patterns in mathematics course-taking, school-level graduation requirements, advanced course availability, and student outcomes. The broader goal is to better understand how school-level mathematics policies may be associated with college readiness and academic opportunity.

Depending on how long they partake on the project, the research assistant may:

• Assist with preparing large educational datasets for analysis, identifying and documenting variables, validating data integrity, and organizing research files and supporting materials.
• Conduct systematic searches of the scholarly literature on mathematics education, college readiness, educational policy, and quantitative research methods.
• As the project progresses, students will receive training in literature synthesis, research design, quantitative policy analysis, and academic writing.
• Gain a strong foundation on writing well, and clearly. Specifically, students will learn how to report an abstract, education policy briefs, and memoranda.
• Have opportunities to assist with statistical analyses and conference or manuscript preparation.
• You must have Federal Work Study funding added to your awards BEFORE applying for this position. You are potentially eligible for Work Study if you are a US Citizen or permanent resident, have filed a FAFSA, are enrolled in at least 6 credits, and are in good academic standing.

This position requires the following:

• Must be Work Study eligible
• Mathematics and Computer Science majors are particularly encouraged to apply.
• Students majoring in Quantitative Social Sciences or related fields are also welcome and will be considered based on their quantitative background.
• The ideal candidate will have completed at least one intermediate-level statistics or research methods course beyond an introductory statistics class, such as MAT 117, MAT 131, MAT 134, MAT 234, or equivalent coursework.
• A strong knowledge of excel spreadsheet and macros, data management, or programming is desirable.
• Completion of MAT 137 (Discrete Mathematics), CIS 113, or similar coursework is not required but will be considered an asset.
• Successful applicants should demonstrate intellectual curiosity, strong attention to detail, persistence when working with complex datasets, and an interest in quantitative and social oriented research.
• While students will be under the direct supervision of the PI, it is expected that students be able to work independently at time for long periods of time.

Instructions to find your Work Study eligibility status:

• Log into your MyPacePortal and click on "Student Home" and then the "Financial Aid" box (middle of screen).
• Once in Financial Aid, select the "Award Offer" tab and the correct Award Year.
• Scroll down to "Options to Pay Net Cost" and take a screenshot of the funds that are allocated specifically to Work Study for the academic year. Make sure your name is captured in the screenshot, then upload the screenshot, and submit it along with your application.
• If these details are not available in the "Award Offer" section of your profile, you are NOT currently eligible for Work Study funding. If you are a US citizen or permanent resident, and you have filed a FAFSA, you can open a Help Desk ticket with Financial Aid to determine your Work Study eligibility.

Exact schedule to be determined with the supervisor. The student will work 5-8 hours per week, with hours distributed weekly to ensure regular paychecks throughout the academic year 2026-2027.

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