Role Overview:
We are a small strategic communications studio specializing in podcasts and long-form content for universities, research institutions, and nonprofit organizations. We are building a more formal research and audit process focused on podcasts and YouTube channels in the higher education and research space.
We are seeking a detail-oriented, analytically minded Research Assistant to support podcast and YouTube research, structured data entry, and light qualitative analysis. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys structured research, working with frameworks, and thinking critically about content trends, not just collecting data, but understanding what it shows (and what it doesn’t).
This role is best suited for someone who enjoys structured research and light analysis – someone who can go beyond basic data entry and thoughtfully engage with content, patterns, and trends while following a clear framework.
Scope of Work
The Research Assistant will support original, first-party research projects related to podcasts and YouTube channels, particularly those connected to universities and research organizations.
Key responsibilities include:
- Podcast & YouTube Research and Data Entry
- Research podcasts and YouTube channels using provided lists and sources
- Pull and organize data such as:
- Episode titles and counts
- Publish dates
- Episode durations
- Formats and release patterns
- Enter and maintain structured data in Google Sheets or Google Docs
- Content Analysis
- Review a small sample of podcast or YouTube episodes using transcripts and skim listening
- Assess content using a provided rubric or framework (e.g., topic focus, tone, format, audience)
- Identify high-level patterns, trends, or gaps in the content
- Content Coordination
- Organize links, references, and assets
- Create simple summaries or notes for internal use
- Maintain clean, well-organized research files
Qualifications:
- Experience with research, data collection, or data analysis (academic, professional, or equivalent)
- Comfortable working with structured frameworks and rubrics
- Strong attention to detail and ability to manage spreadsheets accurately
- Ability to think critically about data quality (e.g., recognizing when data is incomplete, misleading, or insufficient to support conclusions)
- Familiarity with podcasts and/or YouTube as content formats is strongly preferred
- Self-directed, organized, and comfortable working independently with weekly check-ins
Tools Required:
- Google Sheets and Google Docs (required)
- Familiarity with spreadsheets and basic data organization
- Experience with Notion or other data platforms is a plus (not required; open to suggestions)
- Comfort working with transcripts and audio/video content
Shifts & Hours:
- Part-time: Starting with a minimum of 10 hours per week; Flexible hours
- Availability for a weekly touch-base meeting during business hours is preferred
- Target Start Date: Not urgent; priority to find the best match VA