Graduate Assistantships
The library offers professional work experiences for graduate students through graduate assistantships.
Position Descriptions
- Bill Blair Ethnographic Research Graduate Assistant
Position Description
Introduction:
The UNI Museum at Rod Library serves as an educational facility for museology and seeks to inspire critical thinking about world cultures and the natural world through original research, innovative technologies, educational programming, and exhibits. The Bill Blair Ethnographic Research Graduate Assistant is a one year position designed around the basic principles of museum collections research, primarily with objects in the museum's African ethnographic collections. This research is critical for establishing accurate narratives and telling stories about different aspects of African ethnographic history and may be in conjunction with various projects within the UNI Museum. This position will also aid in the improvement of digital scans, photographs, and updated research to increase accessibility and information within the new database.
Position Title: Bill Blair Ethnographic Research Graduate Assistant
Position Type: Support/Hybrid
Reports to: Nathan Arndt, Museum Director & Curator (nathan.arndt@uni.edu)
Terms of Employment:
- For the Fall semester 10 hours per week, beginning August 24, 2026 and ending December 18, 2026.
- For the Spring semester 10 hours per week, beginning January 19, 2027 and ending May 14, 2027.
Compensation:
- Graduate Assistantship stipend is $3,182.50 for a half-time appointment (10 hours per week) per semester. Pay is biweekly and stipend is prorated depending on start date.
- Graduate Assistants and their spouses may qualify for in-state tuition. Spouses must submit marriage certificate to gradcollege@uni.edu.
- Graduate Assistants may receive University holidays and do not work during the interims between semesters.
- For more information regarding Graduate Assistantship procedures review https://grad.uni.edu/faq-grad-assistantship-tuition-scholarship.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Conducts original research on unique African ethnographic materials.
- Plans the appropriate research strategy for the topic.
- Works with primary sources to write an accurate history around the collections.
- Digitizes photographs, objects, and other related materials.
- Assists with database updates as necessary.
- Assists with outreach and events as appropriate.
General Qualifications:
- Must be a full-time (enrolled in at least 9 eligible credits), degree-seeking student in a UNI's graduate program. Online students able to commute to campus are eligible for assistantships.
- Be regularly admitted without provisions to degree status in a graduate degree program.
- Maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.00. First semester graduate students must have an undergraduate GPA of at least 2.75.
- Have an official transcript on file and be fully declared in their graduate major before the start of the assignment.
- Must meet and complete I-9 eligibility to work in the United States.
- Must complete UNI’s mandatory employee training timely.
- See detailed eligibility on https://grad.uni.edu/faq-grad-assistantship-tuition-scholarship.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Research and/or Public History Experience.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Experience conducting historical research and or ethnographic work.
- Basic knowledge of research skills.
Application Process and Deadline:
To apply, submit the Assistantship application form. Attach: resume and cover letter. The contact receiving your submission is Marykaye Roberts (marykaye.roberts@uni.edu).
Applications received by March 20 will be given full consideration.
UNI is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any basis protected by federal and/or state law.
- Digital Accessibility Graduate Assistantship
Position Description
Introduction:
Rod Library is seeking a Digital Accessibility Graduate Assistant in the Digital Scholarship Unit. This position will play a key role in making unique cultural heritage collections discoverable and usable by everyone. The Digital Accessibility Graduate Assistant will work closely with UNI departments and students to create training materials, provide instruction, and ensure that materials created for UNI coursework are accessible and available for teaching, learning, and research worldwide.
Position Title: Digital Accessibility Graduate Assistantship
Position Type: Support/Hybrid
Reports to: Olivia Waller, Digital Services Coordinator (olivia.waller@uni.edu)
Terms of Employment:
- For the Fall semester 10 hours per week, beginning August 24, 2026 and ending December 18, 2026.
- For the Spring semester 10 hours per week, beginning January 19, 2027 and ending May 14, 2027.
Compensation:
- Graduate Assistantship stipend is $3,182.50 for a half-time appointment (10 hours per week) per semester. Pay is biweekly and stipend is prorated depending on start date.
- Graduate Assistants and their spouses may qualify for in-state tuition. Spouses must submit marriage certificate to gradcollege@uni.edu.
- Graduate Assistants may receive University holidays and do not work during the interims between semesters.
- For more information regarding Graduate Assistantship procedures review https://grad.uni.edu/faq-grad-assistantship-tuition-scholarship.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Develops Blackboard modules for accessibility requirements for theses, dissertations, and graduate research projects.
- Develops documentation of requirements and instructions for creating accessible theses, dissertations, and graduate research projects.
- Develops and holds instructional sessions for creating accessible theses, dissertations, and graduate research projects.
- Reviews submitted files for compliance with University accessibility standards.
- Coordinates transfer of files to Digital Services for long-term access and preservation.
General Qualifications:
- Must be a full-time (enrolled in at least 9 eligible credits), degree-seeking student in a UNI's graduate program. Online students able to commute to campus are eligible for assistantships.
- Be regularly admitted without provisions to degree status in a graduate degree program.
- Maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.00. First semester graduate students must have an undergraduate GPA of at least 2.75.
- Have an official transcript on file and be fully declared in their graduate major before the start of the assignment.
- Must meet and complete I-9 eligibility to work in the United States.
- Must complete UNI’s mandatory employee training timely.
- See detailed eligibility on https://grad.uni.edu/faq-grad-assistantship-tuition-scholarship.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience with Blackboard
- Experience with Adobe Acrobat
Application Process and Deadline:
To apply, submit the Assistantship application form. Attach: resume and cover letter. The contact receiving your submission is Marykaye Roberts (marykaye.roberts@uni.edu).
Applications received by March 20 will be given full consideration.
UNI is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any basis protected by federal and/or state law.
- Digital Stewardship Graduate Assistantship
Position Description
Introduction:
Rod Library is seeking a Digital Stewardship Graduate Assistant to assist in the Distinctive Collections & Digital Strategies Division. This position will play a key role in preserving our unique cultural heritage collections and making them discoverable and usable for teaching, learning, and research at UNI and beyond.
Position Title: Digital Stewardship Graduate Assistantship
Position Type: Support/Hybrid
Reports to: Daniel Hartwig, Associate Director (daniel.hartwig@uni.edu)
Terms of Employment:
- For the Fall semester 10 hours per week, beginning August 24, 2026 and ending December 18, 2026.
- For the Spring semester 10 hours per week, beginning January 19, 2027 and ending May 14, 2027.
Compensation:
- Graduate Assistantship stipend is $3,182.50 for a half-time appointment (10 hours per week) per semester. Pay is biweekly and stipend is prorated depending on start date.
- Graduate Assistants and their spouses may qualify for in-state tuition. Spouses must submit marriage certificate to gradcollege@uni.edu.
- Graduate Assistants may receive University holidays and do not work during the interims between semesters.
- For more information regarding Graduate Assistantship procedures review https://grad.uni.edu/faq-grad-assistantship-tuition-scholarship.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Assists with the transfer, identification, and preparation of digital files for long-term preservation and access.
- Creates metadata to enhance searchability.
- Assists with migrating and ingesting files from other platforms into the digital preservation platform.
General Qualifications:
- Must be a full-time (enrolled in at least 9 eligible credits), degree-seeking student in a UNI's graduate program. Online students able to commute to campus are eligible for assistantships.
- Be regularly admitted without provisions to degree status in a graduate degree program.
- Maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.00. First semester graduate students must have an undergraduate GPA of at least 2.75.
- Have an official transcript on file and be fully declared in their graduate major before the start of the assignment.
- Must meet and complete I-9 eligibility to work in the United States.
- Must complete UNI’s mandatory employee training timely.
- See detailed eligibility on https://grad.uni.edu/faq-grad-assistantship-tuition-scholarship.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Attention to detail
- Experience with Excel
- Experience with Asana or other project management software
Application Process and Deadline:
To apply, submit the Assistantship application form. Attach: resume and cover letter. The contact receiving your submission is Marykaye Roberts (marykaye.roberts@uni.edu).
Applications received by March 20 will be given full consideration.
UNI is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any basis protected by federal and/or state law.
- (POSITION FILLED) Graduate Assistantship for Rural School Collections
Position Description
Introduction:
The UNI Museum’s The Center for the History of Rural Iowa Education and Culture (CHRIEC) in Rod Library maintains archival, historical, and research collections; collects oral histories; and provides programming that seeks to advance scholarship and support the educational, research, and service missions of the university. The Center is seeking a Graduate Assistant to assist in stewarding, maintaining, and providing access to these important Rural School Collections. This position will focus primarily on digital curation, digital preservation, and accessioning of the collection.
Position Title: Graduate Assistantship for Rural School Collections
Position Type: Support/Hybrid
Reports to: Nathan Arndt, Museum Director & Curator (nathan.arndt@uni.edu)
Terms of Employment:
- For the Fall semester 10 hours per week, beginning August 24, 2026 and ending December 18, 2026.
- For the Spring semester 10 hours per week, beginning January 19, 2027 and ending May 14, 2027.
Compensation:
- Graduate Assistantship stipend is $3,182.50 for a half-time appointment (10 hours per week) per semester. Pay is biweekly and stipend is prorated depending on start date.
- Graduate Assistants and their spouses may qualify for in-state tuition. Spouses must submit marriage certificate to gradcollege@uni.edu.
- Graduate Assistants may receive University holidays and do not work during the interims between semesters.
- For more information regarding Graduate Assistantship procedures review https://grad.uni.edu/faq-grad-assistantship-tuition-scholarship.
Primary Responsibilities:
- Physical collection responsibilities include rehousing materials into archival folders and boxes; creating index labels for microfilm holdings; corresponding with donors; digital collections management and implementation into the museum database, or other archival systems.
- Digital collection responsibilities include, but are not limited to scanning Primary Source Material and entering into the database; researching county history and updating information within the database; and digitizing microfilm and slides.
- Assists staff with the transition of the collection to a new database.
- Assists with rural school research requests.
General Qualifications:
- Must be a full-time (enrolled in at least 9 eligible credits), degree-seeking student in a UNI's graduate program. Online students able to commute to campus are eligible for assistantships.
- Be regularly admitted without provisions to degree status in a graduate degree program.
- Maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.00. First semester graduate students must have an undergraduate GPA of at least 2.75.
- Have an official transcript on file and be fully declared in their graduate major before the start of the assignment.
- Must meet and complete I-9 eligibility to work in the United States.
- Must complete UNI’s mandatory employee training timely.
- See detailed eligibility on https://grad.uni.edu/faq-grad-assistantship-tuition-scholarship.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience working in a museum or archives.
- Experience working with museum databases.
- Experience working with digital media or scanners.
- Organized and proactive about asking questions and implementing feedback.
- Adaptable to a quickly changing schedule.
- Comfortable working with the public and completing research requests.
Application Process and Deadline:
To apply, submit the Assistantship application form. Attach: resume and cover letter. The contact receiving your submission is Marykaye Roberts (marykaye.roberts@uni.edu).
Applications received by March 20 will be given full consideration.
UNI is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to any basis protected by federal and/or state law.