Research Assistant (Intern) - China Studies Digital Mapping Project

Overview of ACLS

Formed a century ago, the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) is a nonprofit federation of 81 scholarly organizations. As the leading representative of American scholarship in the humanities and social sciences, ACLS’s core principle is that knowledge is a public good. As such, ACLS strives to promote the circulation of humanistic knowledge throughout society. In addition to stewarding and representing its member organizations, ACLS employs its endowment and $34 million annual operating budget to support scholarship in the humanities and social sciences and to advocate for its central role in the twenty-first century.

Job Summary

We are seeking a Research Assistant to support the China Studies Digital Mapping Project. Working under the direction of Program Officer, JM Chris Chang, the Research Assistant will help identify, evaluate, and catalog digital resources for China studies, assist with website development, and contribute to expanding the project's knowledge base. This position offers an excellent opportunity to develop skills in digital humanities, database methodologies, and data management while contributing to an initiative that addresses critical challenges in the field of China studies.

This role is a remote position, 15-20 hours per week, with flexible work hours. The pay rate for this position is $30/hour for a term of 3 months in the Fall 2025 semester.

Responsibilities

• Research and evaluate open-access databases, digital archives, and online collections of primary materials for
• China studies
• Maintain and expand the project directory by collecting and organizing metadata about digital resources
• Assist with website content management using Jekyll/GitHub Pages, including updates to resource listings and documentation
• Help develop and document access protocols for partner institutions
• Support the creation of guides and best practices for digital repository development
• Assist with data visualization and presentation of project findings

Qualifications

• BA with focus on China/East Asian studies, library and information science, digital humanities, or related field. Current enrollment in MA/PhD program preferred.
• Experience with data management and organization
• Basic knowledge of web development tools (GitHub, HTML/CSS, Markdown)
• Excellent research, writing, and communication skills
• Meticulous attention to detail and strong organizational abilities
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a remote environment

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience or willingness to learn Jekyll, YAML, or other static site generators
• Familiarity with digital humanities initiatives or digital repositories
• Interest in humanities and social science research methodologies
• Experience with using GenAI for web development or data analysis
• Reading proficiency in Chinese is beneficial, but not required