Research Assistant: History and the Politics of Place (History)
We encourage work-study and non-work-study students to apply. This internship is only open to undergraduate students with a declared or proposed Humanities major or minor and requires work authorization.
Application Deadline: October 19, 2025
The Humanities Experiential Learning Opportunities in Research (EXPLORE) Program connects undergraduate Humanities majors and minors with faculty-led projects in the division for paid research positions. Fellows gain valuable mentorship and practical experience.
Details
Duration: January 2026-June 2026
Hours: 10 hours/week
Pay: $20/hour
Mentorship: Regular check-ins and support from History Professor and Merrill College Provost Aims McGuinness.
About the project
How do human beings construct a collective sense of place? Why do places become associated in our imagination with certain “iconic” events, while other histories are erased or suppressed? You will explore these questions through historical research in primary and secondary sources about the following places and histories: Santa Cruz and the environmental, cultural, and social history of our region; Milwaukee and the history of democratic socialism; and Panamá and the Panama Canal. How have each of these places become identified with specific histories through different forms of historical narrative, including history books, museums, monuments, fiction, and film?
What You’ll Do
- Weekly Meetings(20%): one 90-minute meeting with Prof. McGuinness
- Historical Research (20%): locate, read, summarize, and analyze secondary sources (existing scholarship) and primary sources (archival documents, newspapers, films, photographs, etc.).
- Assembling Research Notes into a bibliography (20%)
- Oral History/Interviewing (20%): Assist in the process of interviewing relevant experts (sound and video recording).
- Digital Resource (20%): Create a public, online, digital resource related to place and history using digital tools such as Omeka or ArcGIS StoryMaps.
- Humanities EXPLORE Programming (5%): Attend a quarterly meeting when possible and participate in asynchronous Canvas experiential learning reflection.
Eligibility & Qualifications
- You must be a declared or proposed major or minor in a Humanities Division department and have good academic standing. If proposed, declare by June. (required)
- Eligible majors: Applied Linguistics and Multilingualism, Classical Studies, Critical Race and Ethnic Studies, Feminist Studies, History, Jewish Studies, Language Studies, Linguistics, Literature, Philosophy, Spanish Studies
- Eligible minors: Black Studies, Classical Studies, East Asian Studies, History of Consciousness, History, Italian Studies, Jewish Studies, Language Studies, Linguistics, Literature, Middle Eastern and North African Studies, Philosophy, Spanish Studies
- You have work authorization (required)
- You can work independently and collaboratively (required)
- An interest in exploring critical perspectives on place and history. (required)
- Strong organizational and communicative (writing) skills (required)
- Previous coursework in history or historical research. (preferred)
- Some familiarity or a willingness to learn about digital tools such as Omeka or ArcGIS StoryMaps. (preferred)
What You’ll Learn
- How to do historical research in a wide variety of sources, including archival sources, museum exhibitions, photographs, political tracts, pamphlets, interviews, and landscapes.
- How to create and organize research notes, including digital notes and handwritten field notes.
- How to create digital resources that share information about place history in visually compelling ways.
- How to join in conversations about place and history with diverse communities.
How To Apply
- Updated resume
- 1-page cover letter addressing:
- Why you’re interested in this role
- How your background and skills apply
- What you hope to gain from the experience
- Address your letter to Professor Aims McGuinness
Review these resume and cover letter resources to ensure you are a strong candidate! For application help, see Humanities Career Engagement.
Questions? Email Kylie Rachwalski at hum-experiential-learning@ucsc.edu.
The Mellon Foundation, The Helen and Will Webster Foundation, The Humanities Institute, the UCSC Humanities Division, and private donors generously support the Humanities EXCEL Program.
Misconduct Disclosure Requirement
As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.
- “Misconduct” means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant’s previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC’s policies addressing some forms of misconduct: