Research & Evaluation Analyst: Postsecondary Education in Prison

This is a federal work-study position created in partnership with the PKG Center for Social Impact, open to students who have federal work-study eligibility. If you are unsure if you are eligible, please reach out to mitfws@mit.edu.

The Educational Justice Institute at MIT

Position title: Research & Evaluation Analyst: Postsecondary Education in Prison

Location: Hybrid – Boston. Primarily remote, with in-person attendance required for events and occasional visits to carceral facilities and community organizations.

Position Overview

The Educational Justice Institute (TEJI) at MIT creates sustainable solutions to mass incarceration, social injustice, and barriers to reentry through education and emerging technologies — providing transformative learning experiences for incarcerated learners. Through partnerships with higher education institutions, correctional agencies, and community organizations, TEJI expands access to meaningful educational opportunities and advances the impact of postsecondary education in carceral settings.

TEJI is seeking an MIT Work Study student to support research and course evaluation initiatives focused on understanding learner experiences, improving educational programming, and advancing research on higher education for incarcerated learners. The student analyst will contribute to the development and implementation of learner-centered research activities, including survey design, stakeholder engagement, data collection, and analysis.

The student analyst will support ongoing evaluation efforts examining the role of motivation, self-efficacy, and learner experiences in prison-based educational programs. Working with TEJI staff, research partners, and collaborators across MIT, the student will contribute to research activities designed to improve educational offerings, inform evidence-based practices, and expand the research literature on postsecondary education in carceral settings.

The student analyst will work independently while collaborating regularly with TEJI staff and research partners. Applicants should be organized, detail-oriented, and interested in education research, program evaluation, social science research, and/or educational equity.

Responsibilities may include:

Contribute to the design, refinement, and administration of pre-course and post-course surveys examining learner motivation, self-efficacy, educational experiences, and outcomes among students enrolled in TEJI courses.

Responsibilities may include:

Contribute to the design, refinement, and administration of pre-course and post-course surveys examining learner motivation, self-efficacy, educational experiences, and outcomes among students enrolled in TEJI courses.
Collaborate with TEJI staff and research partners, including MIT’s Teaching + Learning Lab, to refine survey instruments using evidence-based evaluation methods, human-centered design principles, and ethical research practices.
Conduct stakeholder engagement activities with incarcerated learners, individuals in reentry, family members, and community organizations to better understand experiences, priorities, barriers, and support needs.
Support usability testing and iterative refinement of survey instruments and feedback tools to ensure they are accessible, meaningful, and aligned with the needs and preferences of intended users.
Collect, organize, clean, and analyze qualitative and quantitative research data to identify trends, evaluate program effectiveness, and inform continuous improvement of TEJI educational programming.
Prepare research summaries, reports, presentations, and data visualizations to communicate findings to TEJI staff, research partners, and stakeholders.
Conduct literature reviews and background research related to higher education in prison, learner experiences, educational access, reentry, and program evaluation.
Participate in project meetings and contribute to ongoing research activities related to higher education in prison, learner experiences, and educational equity.

Preferred skills, qualifications and other requirements:

Must qualify for MIT’s Federal Work Study program.
Currently enrolled as an undergraduate or graduate student at MIT.
Strong written and oral communication skills, with the ability to synthesize information and communicate findings effectively.
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple research activities and meet deadlines.
Interest or experience in education research, social science research, program evaluation, public policy, justice studies, or related fields.
Experience with survey design, data collection, or research evaluation methods preferred.
Familiarity with survey platforms such as Qualtrics preferred.
Experience with data analysis or visualization tools (e.g., Excel, Tableau, or similar platforms) preferred.
Ability to work independently while also collaborating effectively with interdisciplinary teams.

Please note: any in-person visits to carceral facilities will require a background check

Supervision Received

Name of designated student supervisor: Helen Hamady / Carole Cafferty

Title of student supervisor: Policy & Strategic Initiatives Lead / Director

Email of student supervisor: hamady@mit.edu / cafferty@mit.edu

Weekly Hours: 5–10 hours per week
Department: The Educational Justice Institute (TEJI)
Start Date: Flexible

Compensation: $21-$25 per hour