Dr. Beth Glover Reed is seeking student research assistants for research dissemination and educational event planning & follow-up during the Fall 2026 and Winter 2027 semesters, on her “Contested Spaces” research project focused on organizational approaches to addressing Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) and Substance Use (SU) in coordinated (hybrid) ways. 

IPV and SU are rarely addressed in a coordinated way, within communities, human services, or social policy, despite growing evidence that doing so reduces barriers to change and improves outcomes. As a result, we know little about strategies for addressing both in a coordinated way, or how to reduce the many barriers to this work. To address these gaps in knowledge, Beth Glover Reed, has developed a mixed methods, organization-focused research project, with both theoretical and practical goals, to learn from the experiences of innovative organizations and practitioners. To learn more about the dis/connections between IPV and SU and the research project, visit: https://ssw.umich.edu/contested-spaces. 

The project is now moving to disseminate these results in order to assist policy makers, organizations, practitioners, people with lived experiences and family members to recognize barriers and develop ways to bridge them, to assess where their communities, organizations and staff members are in relation to addressing both IPV and AOD, to identify promising “hybrid” practices, with suggestions about how to remove barriers and implement more “hybrid” approaches. Steps towards these goals include: 

a) An in-person all day Continuing Education workshop in late fall with administrators and practitioners intended to pilot approaches, and then to provide support afterwards to learn about implementation steps and challenges. 
b) A “took-kit” of knowledge, assessments, hybrid examples, and suggestions, to be located on the project website, and incorporated into a Continuing Education Certificate program. 

We are seeking 2-3 highly motivated, creative, and collaborative individuals to assist with tasks related to these two goals. Work study strongly preferred

General Responsibilities Include, but are not limited to:

• Event planning and logistics for an in-person Continuing Education workshop targeting Social Workers and other relevant professionals
  • Event Promotion, planning logistics, & participant recruitment
  • Preparation of event materials (e.g., setting up pre- and post-event assessment questions, formatting presentation slides, etc.)
  • Basic video recording & editing (via zoom)
  • Day-of event logistics (e.g., registration, facilitating breakout groups, coordinating parking vouchers, etc.)
  • Managing participant communication and follow-up
• Helping to develop dissemination materials for different audiences focused on Intimate Partner Violence and Substance Use, including:
  • Describing and disseminating applied research - writing and revising written research dissemination materials, data presentation, design, formatting, etc.
  • Data presentation for different audiences
  • Graphic design
  • Website content management
• Helping with overall project coordination & follow-up
  • Coordination and consultation with field-based partners
  • Keeping and organizing records and minutes 
  • Helping with piloting resource materials
  • Monitoring and evaluating activities
  • Help with preparing project reports

We are looking to hire up to 3 people to achieve all of the tasks described. Not every individual needs to have skills in every area described. 

You will work closely with Beth Glover Reed and Lauren Whitmer (project coordinator, with a background in Social Work & Anthropology, international gender-based violence advocacy, community organizing around a variety of social justice issues), other project staff, collaborators from agencies and prior research. 

Flexible days and hours, with some work/supervision happening Monday through Friday, 9am-5pm. Mostly remote work with some in-person (especially around the event itself). 

Applicants should have an interest in learning about the relationship between IPV and AOD. We would prefer some experience/knowledge of IPV and/or AOD, but that is not required. Work-study is strongly preferred, but non-work-study will be considered. 

To be considered for the position, please send an email with the subject line “Research Assistant Job Application” to Dr. Beth Glover Reed at contested-spaces@umich.edu that includes your resume and a short statement (2-3 paragraphs, no AI use) describing:

• What relevant skills, knowledge, and experience you already have
• How you think you could contribute to the project
• What you hope to learn through this experience and how it fits with your future goals and aspirations
• Any questions you may have for us

Applications will be reviewed as they are received, until the positions are filled. Materials should be submitted no later than September 15, 2026. 

• Fluency in English & professional communication skills
• Must have a computer with reliable internet access
• Experience with Microsoft Office products (e.g., Excel, Word) and Google Workplace (e.g., Google Docs, Sites, Sheets, etc.) required
• Experience with basic statistics and table development would be a plus. 
• Graphic design skills (e.g., using Canva or Adobe Suite), event planning experience, and knowledge about Intimate Partner Violence and/or Substance Use are a plus.
• Excellent attention to detail and organizational skills
• Clear written and verbal communication for dissemination products and event planning/communicating with event participants
• Ability to work well independently and as part of a team
• Reliable and punctual attendance, accountability/responsibility, and clear communication with the project team about challenges, logistical considerations, etc.