Navigating Work-Study Balance: A Student's Guide to Research Positions
A black woman cartoon doing research (Image generated using AI)
In April, my Ask Jonta Kam series explored how to balance work and studies, with a special focus on Research Assistant opportunities. Here is what was covered.
Where do I find research assistant opportunities?
There are several ways to find opportunities. If you are in an academic institution, positions may be advertised through department newsletters and job boards, so make sure that you are subscribed to them.
Look for work-study opportunities at your institution: Some academic institutions have databases for students looking for roles. It could be called a talent bank or career learning network. If you are unsure what your school offers, speak to the career center. These positions tend to be paid roles.
Search for research opportunity programs: Academic institutions may have research opportunity programs. These programs allow you to get academic credit while gaining research experience. There are genuinely two ways to get these opportunities, (1) You apply to a call for research programs and go through an application process like a job interview, (2) You enrol in a research course and have to find a supervisor. While your supervisor, you will create a plan for assignments that you will submit for grading.
Reach out to faculty: Before you email faculty, identify your research interests and spend time learning more about the professor so you can write a tailored email. While you want your email to be tailored, also make sure it is succinct and gets straight to your point. You can also consider emailing a professor whom you take classes. If you plan to do this, make sure you are visible in class by asking questions or speaking to them after class. As well, keep in mind that when cold-emailing, professors all have different working styles, so keep that in mind as you make decisions. There are templates online for cold emails, or you can also ask an AI model to help you to create one. Attending department events and research symposiums are also good ways to connect with faculty, and you can even mention to them that you spoke at an event in your email. Here is a template you can use. You may want to attach your resume and your unofficial transcript to your email. If your grades are not the strongest, then just attach your resume.
Search for research assistant jobs: This can be at academic institutions, United Nations agencies, or research institutions. As research can be done remotely, expand to look at opportunities worldwide. Just make sure that you can handle working in a different time zone.
One page to check out is the Governing Health Lab 2030, which offers Research Assistant opportunities for individuals in low and middle-income countries.
Click here for a list of opportunities by Trinity College, University of Toronto, if you are in the Toronto area.
Should I Work While Studying?
The decision to work during your studies requires careful consideration. Research assistant positions offer valuable research experience but demand thoughtful time management. These helped me learn coding skills, gain familiarity with databases, and also expand my professional network. Before committing, assess your current academic workload and ensure you have bandwidth beyond coursework. Research work can be unpredictable, so flexibility is key.
Benefits include gaining practical experience while studying and building valuable connections with professors and fellow researchers. However, always prioritize your academic success.
Key considerations include:
Your current academic performance and course load
Whether the position offers academic credit or is separate
Time management capabilities
Your financial needs and career goals
Here are some questions to ask yourself before starting:
Can I realistically balance this position with my current academic workload while maintaining good grades?
What specific research skills and professional connections will I gain from this role?
Does the position offer academic credit or compensation that aligns with my needs?
Am I prepared for the unpredictable nature of research work and potential schedule changes?
How does this opportunity align with my long-term career goals and professional development?
How did you balance working and studying?
For me to balance working and studying, it was important to set clear boundaries with my supervisor.
Set health work boundaries: At the beginning of your role, get an insight into what the final product will be and all the steps to get there. This will help you better manage as you can set deadlines for smaller tasks. For me, it also helped to have certain days of the week dedicated to the project, which I let my team know. That way, I had days dedicated to research and other days dedicated to my coursework.
Communication is Key: Schedule regular check-in calls with your supervisor. During these calls, discuss your progress, challenges you encounter, and also share any times you know you will be unavailable. If you have commitments that will impact your work schedule, it is important to let your team know early. Early communication will help you and the team plan for those periods.
Keep track of your hours: Keep track of your working hours so you have an idea of how much time you are spending on projects. You can even keep a detailed time log on a Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet where you indicate the task, which can be useful for including quantifiable measures in your CV. This will help you get a sense of which tasks are taking a long time. Keeping track will also help you know if you are working overtime, as most research assistant jobs are part-time.
Considerations
Research can be unexpected, so as much as you plan, there may be nights when you need to be up late to finish a task.
Make time to regularly check in with the team. This will help you understand the bigger picture of the work and see if you can better support your teammates.
Remember that research work can sometimes require flexibility with timing due to the nature of certain experiments or projects. The key is maintaining open communication with your supervisor while ensuring your academic success.
Want a comprehensive guide from my series? Check out my resources page.
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