Slavery North is hiring UMass Amherst undergraduate students as Research Assistants to work on an exciting digital humanities project. Applications open for Summer 2026 employment opportunities, which option to continue in Fall 2026.
About UMass Amherst
The flagship of the Commonwealth, the University of Massachusetts Amherst is a nationally ranked public land-grant research university that seeks to expand educational access, fuel innovation and creativity, and share and use its knowledge for the common good. Founded in 1863, UMass Amherst sits on nearly 1,450-acres in scenic Western Massachusetts and boasts state-of-the-art facilities for teaching, research, scholarship, and creative activity. The institution advances a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community where everyone feels connected and valued—and thrives, and offers a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees across 10 schools and colleges, and 100 undergraduate majors. We believe every member of our university community can contribute to our ongoing success by striving for the highest level of excellence as we seek breakthrough solutions to mounting environmental, social, economic, and technological challenges in our world.
About Slavery North
Founded in 2022, Slavery North is a one-of-a kind academic and cultural destination where scholars, thinkers, artists, and cultural producers build community and produce research and cultural outcomes that transform our understanding of the neglected histories of Transatlantic Slavery in Canada and the US North. Slavery North seeks to advance social justice by recuperating and interrogating the complex histories of Transatlantic Slavery and European colonization of the Americas, thereby recovering and centering the cultures, experiences, lives, and resistance of enslaved peoples in Canada and the US North. At the heart of Slavery North is a fellowship program that welcomes national and international students, artists, and scholars, providing them with the space, funding, time, and community to produce transformative research outcomes.
Job Summary
Slavery North is seeking qualified applicants currently enrolled as UMass Amherst undergraduate students. Slavery North is developing an online research database of digitized primary source historical documents related to the histories of Transatlantic Slavery in Canada and the US North. Undergraduate Research Assistants will work to locate, digitize, and transcribe historical documents and perform research and data entry tasks to support the creation of this database.
Additionally, Slavery North is hosting an academic conference from July 9-12, 2026, at UMass Amherst. Undergraduate Research Assistants will work to support the preparation, logistics and hospitality of the event including, assisting with clerical tasks related to conference, assisting with social media and promotions, greeting conference guests, assisting with conference registration, organizing and selling conference merchandize, and event set up/tear down.
Undergraduate Research Assistants work under the supervision of the Slavery North staff.
Essential Functions
- Locate, digitize, and transcribe historical print and manuscript documents
- Perform data entry, data cleaning, and quality assurance tasks
Other Functions
Perform other research, administrative, event, and support duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)
- Current enrollment as a UMass Amherst undergraduate student
- Demonstrated proficiency in professional office software, such as Word, Excel, Google sheets
- Demonstrated ability to read cursive handwriting
- Organized, reliable, adaptable, ability to engage confidently and politely with different constituents, professional demeanor
Preferred Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience):
- Knowledge of field of Transatlantic Slavery Studies
- Experience assisting with events and event promotion
- Availability during July 9-12, 2026
- Proficiency at updating websites using WordPress software
- Proficiency at reading and writing French
Additional Details
Students must provide their own laptop.
Successful applicants will be hired and paid through the UMass student payroll system and are subject to all terms, conditions, and policies of student employment at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. This will require a completed I-9 form indicating one is eligible to work in the United States. International students who may be studying on an F-1 visa are eligible, however this appointment will count as a 20 hour per week work obligation and not allow for further employment during periods classes are in session.
Work Schedule
Flexible schedule, between 8am-5pm Monday to Friday.
Evening and weekend hours are expected during Slavery North academic conference from Thursday, July 9 to Sunday, July 12, 2026.
Between May 18-August 31: not to exceed 40 hours/week.
Between September 8-May 12: not to exceed 10 hours/week.
Salary Information
Pay rate of $20.00/hour
Physical Demands/Working Conditions
Typical Office Environment.
Special Instructions to Applicants
Please submit the following materials for consideration to: [email protected]
- Resume
- Cover Letter
- List of 3 professional references (include name, position, email, and phone number for each reference)
The University of Massachusetts Amherst welcomes all qualified applicants and complies with all state and federal anti-discrimination laws.
Advertised: 26 March 2026 Eastern Daylight Time
Deadline: Open until filled
Questions can be directed to: [email protected]
