General Summary: 

The Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI) at the University of Massachusetts Boston and partners at the Disability Policy Consortium are looking for members of the disability community to work in a paid research internship as part of a research team studying employment for people with disabilities. The goal of the project is to study the Progressive Employment model, an emerging evidence-based practice that helps job seekers with disabilities to obtain competitive integrated employment. The ICI has a five-year research grant to explore the impact of the Progressive Employment model. Interns on this project will work across several different research studies over the course of the grant.

ICI and partners will provide training and learning opportunities for interns to gain experience with:

• How to conduct qualitative and quantitative research, such as document review, interviews, surveys, and data analysis;
• How to interpret information and use it to create research reports
• Working on federally-funded research grants

Examples of Duties: 

Interns will:

Participate in team meetings.

Work with research lead to develop work plans and provide updates on progress

Contribute to ongoing research studies by:

• Review and document a variety of online materials
• Conduct interviews with various Progressive Employment projects across the country
• Develop reports based on research findings

Provide input on research approaches, including ways to improve data collection

Qualifications: 

• Identify as a person with lived experience of any type of disability
• Strong knowledge of and experience in using a computer. For example, knowing how to use email, an online calendar, and how to use Zoom.
• Willingness to learn new skills. Skills may include conducting research, learning new computer applications, presenting to an audience, co-facilitating meetings, writing in plain language.
• Familiarity and comfort using Microsoft applications such as Word, PowerPoint, and Excel preferred
• Ability to review comprehensive documents and synthesize key information for review by fellow researchers
• Ability to develop basic reports and communications, for both internal and external audiences
• Understanding of internet search tools and how they can support research activities
• Willingness to learn about the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, the Rehabilitation Act and other federal legislation impacting individuals with disabilities

Supervision:

Interns will be supervised by ICI staff and will also have access to a mentor from the Disability Policy Consortium on this project. We do not provide job coaches or support people. You can bring your own support person or job coach if you need one.

Tell us if you have any other accommodation needs. Let us know if you need anything to make the internship more accessible. We will provide accommodations, such as assistive technology or sign language interpreters.

Other Information:

The ICI is hiring for up to two intern positions. Each intern will be paid to work for up to 400 hours during a one-year period (e.g., 10-week full time paid internships @ 40 hours/week; or 20-week part-time paid internship @ 20 hours/week). The hourly rate is commensurate with experience. Hiring range $25.00 – 31.00/hour.

ICI will provide the interns with a laptop and necessary software to use for work on this project. Remote candidates are required to have access to high-speed internet and a quiet work environment.

UMass Boston requires background checks for all employees.  The background checks will be conducted upon hire.

We will provide disability related accommodations in the application process. Let us know if you will need an accommodation to apply for this position. 

Application Instructions:

Please apply online with your resume, cover letter and list of three references. 

Review of candidates will begin following the application closing date.

Salary Range: Commensurate with experience

This is a non-union exempt position. 

All official salary offers must be approved by Human Resources.

UMass Boston is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, we will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations for the hiring process. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact HRDirect@umb.edu or 617-287-5150.