OVERVIEW

The Detroit Partnership on Economic Mobility is a partnership between Poverty Solutions at U-M, the City of Detroit, and community-based organizations across the city, focused on reducing poverty in Detroit. Poverty Solutions staff – together with our faculty experts – conduct action-oriented research to help inform, enhance, and evaluate collective efforts to improve economic opportunity in the city, and galvanize collective action from government, philanthropy, and nonprofits around core economic mobility issues. We have a Detroit-based team that works closely with City departments and community groups across the city; we engage undergraduate and graduate research assistants from across the university to support our work; and we fund faculty research projects that shed new light on some of the most persistent problems facing Detroit residents as well as potential solutions.

We pride ourselves on working in partnership with community in everything we do, co-creating our research agenda based on the concerns and needs of both residents and city leaders. We seek to confront and eliminate racism of all kinds through these research priorities and practical engagement. We view poverty as the result of many interlinked systems that fail to operate as they should for those with low incomes. Therefore, we work not in one area, but within and across a variety of systems, enabling us to intervene in a number of domains to make concrete improvements in the lives of Detroit residents with low incomes.

The Detroit Partnership on Economic Mobility is seeking a research assistant to work on Partnership projects in the fall of 2025, with the possibility of extending through winter 2026. The RA will work with Poverty Solutions staff on action-oriented projects that will include:

• Collecting and analyzing quantitative (public safety and census data) and qualitative (interviews, focus groups) data for a large-scale evaluation of the ShotStoppers city-led community violence intervention program;

• Collecting and analyzing both quantitative (number of businesses by census tract) and qualitative data (surveys, interviews) about the digital needs and abilities of Detroit small businesses; and

• Assisting with other data and research projects as needed.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Interest in cross-disciplinary approaches to poverty alleviation– applicants from all units across campus are encouraged to apply

• Proficiency in Microsoft and Google Office Suite 

• Punctual and accurate communicator, responsive to email, phone calls or other communications from manager 

• Ability to meet deadlines on time

• Excellent organizational skills with demonstrated attention to detail 

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills

• Excellent interpersonal skills including the ability to work cooperatively and professionally with faculty and staff, local and national partners, and members of the general public

• Ability to work well under the direction of others and to take ownership of projects independently

• Ability to maintain a high level of accuracy in collecting and analyzing data

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Has access to own transportation

• Ability to meet participating residents at public locations in Detroit

• Previous experience analyzing qualitative and/or quantitative data

Interested candidates can apply by completing the Research Assistant Application Form at this link: https://airtable.com/app9PQhFs6c3hE6mN/shrqNzr38mIIieAJC

Please also submit a cover letter highlighting your interest and skills. When applying, select “Detroit Partnership” under “Application.”

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Sam Stragand at stragand@umich.edu