Minorities at Risk Position Openings

The Minorities at Risk Project is accepting applications for two full-time research assistant positions. These are full-time, 10 month appointments, funded through grants from the National Science Foundation and the Department of Homeland Security. Position includes paid holiday leave and health benefits. Research assistants will work on collecting and standardizing information on violent and non-violent political organization that are mobilized through ethnic identities. Research assistants will record information – a process known as “coding” – on a wide range of indicators that include everything from the type of leadership the organization has, to what type of international support the organization receives, to whether the organization uses political violence or engages in terrorism. There will be a training period at the start of the positions.

One position will focus on researching organizations in the Middle East. One position will focus on researching organizations in Western Europe and/or South America. The salary range for these 10-month positions is $22,500-$25,000, depending on prior experience and education. The Minorities at Risk (MAR) Project is a research project that monitors and analyzes the status and conflicts of politically-active communal groups in all countries with a current population of at least 500,000. MAR currently tracks 284 politically-active ethnic groups throughout the world from 1945 – identifying where they are, what they do, and what happens to them. MAR focuses specifically on ethnopolitical groups, non-state communal groups that have “political significance” in the contemporary world because of their status and political actions. In 2005, MAR began a new project, MAROB (Minorities at Risk Organizational Behavior), which tracks organizations all over the world claiming to represent minorities. This project aims to answer some fundamental questions of interest to scholars, policy makers, and the general public about why organizations sometimes choose violence and terrorism as a strategy to achieve their goals.

Qualifications
A bachelor's degree in the social sciences is required. Candidates should have prior research experience, preferably in the study of ethnic politics, political violence and/or terrorism. Successful candidates will also possess regional expertise in the Middle East, South America and/or Western Europe.
Language skills relevant to the Middle East, Latin America and/or Western Europe are also advantageous, but not required. Experience in coding for social science projects is also preferred. Prior experience should demonstrate the ability to work independently and handle multiple tasks and shifting priorities.

Additional Information
The Minorities at Risk (MAR) Project is affiliated with two research centers at the University of Maryland, College Park: the Center for International Development and Conflict Management (CIDCM) and t he National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START). CIDCM, an interdisciplinary research center, seeks to prevent and transform conflict, to understand the interplay between conflict and development, and to help societies create sustainable futures. Using the insights of researchers, practitioners, and policymakers, CIDCM devises effective tools and pathways to constructive change. START is a U.S. Department of Homeland Security Center of Excellence, tasked by the Department of Homeland Security's Science and Technology Directorate with using state-of-the-art theories, methods, and data from the social and behavioral sciences to improve understanding of the origins, dynamics, and social and psychological impacts of terrorism. START aims to provide timely guidance on how to disrupt terrorist networks, reduce the incidence of terrorism, and enhance the resilience of U.S. society in the face of the terrorist threat.

How to Apply
For best consideration, interested persons should submit letter of application, transcripts, resume, and contact information for three references by September 3, 2010. Application materials should be emailed to Dr. Amy Pate at apate1@cidcm.umd.edu or mailed to: Dr. Amy Pate, Research Director, Minorities at Risk Project Center for International Development and Conflict Management 0145 Tydings Hall University of Maryland College Park, MD 20742 The University of Maryland, College Park, actively subscribes to a policy of equal employment opportunity, and will not discriminate against any employee or applicant because of race, age, gender, color, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, religion, national origin, or political affiliation. Minorities and women are encouraged to apply.