ISH Opportunities 2024-2025

The UCLA Initiative to Study Hate (ISH) is pleased to announce a new call for applications for Graduate Student Researchers to support its continuing research partnership with the California Commission on the State of Hate (read more about the Commission below). The GSRs will have the opportunity to work directly with Commission members and staffers, providing essential research that will support the Commission in its advisory capacity for policymakers.

Researchers will work with ISH beginning in Winter Quarter (as soon as possible) and ideally until the end of the academic year. FTE % is negotiable, though our preference is that GSR is available at least 7-8 hours per week. The GSRs will work on one of the following projects (1-4)—which will include a combination of research and the production of a literature review—or (5), a discrete research project working with Dr. Yotam Shem-Tov, Assistant Professor of Economics or (6) the development of a research project plan to track acts of hate reported in news outlets across California:

• Synthesis of research and information about organized hate groups and related groups in California, including their prevalence, activities, strategies, and impact on California.
• Compiling of information about existing deprogramming and rehabilitation programs for hate crime offenders and synthesis of research and information about their efficacy.
• Synthesis of research and information on the characteristics of offenders of hate crimes and hate incidents, particularly their motivations. This could also include information about demographics, typologies of offenders introduced in the literature, likelihood of recidivism, and potential solutions to prevent recidivism.
• The GSR will also be called upon to provide as-needed technical and research assistance on hate. This could involve proofreading research memos; checking citations for format and substance; and assisting with finding citations. This may also include straightforward data tasks, such as data compilation, data collection, etc.

We are seeking one GSR to work on the following discrete research project:

• Working directly with Dr. Yotam Shem-Tov, this project will involve using administrative records from the Los Angeles District Attorney to provide new and policy relevant information about hate crime offenders. First, the GSR and Dr. Shem-Tov will work together to estimate the recidivism rate with respect to future hate crime and future other crimes. Second, they will work together to calculate the criminal history of hate crime offenders. Third, the team will examine the impact of more and less severe punishment on recidivism among this population. Applicants for this position should have proficiency in STATA for data analysis (e.g., regression modeling, panel data analysis, coding loops, macros, merging and manipulating datasets), as well as past experience in coding and programming in social science research.

We are seeking one GSR to work on the following discrete research project:

• We are seeking a research expert on communications and media to develop a research project plan to track acts of hate reported in news outlets across California. The project should identify and justify which news outlets to monitor, how they will be monitored, and a high-level plan for coding news reports. The plan should also address potential challenges, such as how to make determinations about whether an incident is an act of hate. Post-doctoral scholars, adjunct faculty, or other researchers who are interested in this project should reach out to us to express their interest.

ISH is particularly interested in candidates with expertise in psychology, public health, social work, sociology, or other relevant fields. Experience in quantitative research methods is required, and experience in both quantitative and qualitative methods is preferred. Prior experience with client-facing research or work experience is preferred.

To apply, please submit your resume, cover letter, and the name of one reference no later than February 17 at 11:59pm PT via THIS form. Please indicate in your cover letter which project(s) you would be most interested in pursuing and why. Please also specify the sources you will draw from to compile information (e.g. organizations, databases, etc.) and a description of your expertise in various research methods and data analysis programs.

Please send any questions about this position to amora@college.ucla.edu.

All applicants must be in good academic standing and eligible to be hired as a GSR during the Winter and Spring Quarters 2024.