Healthy Materials Lab and Donghia healthier Materials Library (DhML) is looking for Student Research Assistants and Student Library Assistants.

Please read the description of the opportunities below and apply now to the button on the left to be considered.

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In this role, you will work with the DhML and HML materials team as we expand our fundamental materials research and evaluation projects, add to Healthy Materials Lab’s web-based Materials Collection, source materials for the library, assist in the development of practice-based materials implementation tools, and help us transform housing for the future. These highly competitive, future-oriented positions prove valuable and well-appreciated on resumes with architecture and design offices. This is an on-campus position for 9-18 hours per week. Work assignments will be split between the Healthy Materials Library and the Donghia healthier Materials Lab.

This is a union position at $22.08 based on student employment

Requirements:

• Rising senior or Graduate student at Parsons School of Design majoring in a design field.

• Strong sense of team commitment, demonstration of diligence, prepared to complete tasks successfully, and flexible to take on new projects and assignments.

• Interest or experience in design research, especially about compositions of materials and products and their link to health outcomes

• Comfortable in contributing to a creative process with a team

• Able to assist students, faculty, and design professionals visiting the library

• Ability to learn and adhere to library systems including databases, and organizational systems, and to organize research clearly and coherently

• Experience in successfully managing project timelines, and work process

• a prerequisite for starting the position is the completion of the HML four-course online certificate program in Healthier Materials and Sustainable Buildings

• Commitment to work during Summer 2023, Fall 2023, and Spring 2024

Desired Qualifications:

• Detailed orientated, visual thinker, with excellent written and verbal communication skills

• Experience in or understanding of materials, design and selection processes

• Expertise in visual documentation processes

• Skills in graphic communication design, adobe suite, and AutoCAD is a plus

• Friendly, flexible, collaborative spirit

Job Duties and Responsibilities:

• Organize and maintain research databases

• Conduct fundamental materials research following established processes

• Build and document materials collections and source materials for DhML’s physical material collection

• Assist in developing tools to assist designers and architects change materials specifications

• Assist library visitors, give presentations about the work of HML and DhML for visitors, and other ad hoc library-related tasks

• Experience working in a variety of communities; particularly with a strong ability to respectfully represent and advocate for individuals from historically under-represented communities

In this role, you will work in the Donghia healthier Materials Library located at Parsons East Building 25 East 13th St, 3rd floor. The mission of the Library is to create a friendly and inviting environment for current students, faculty, alumni, and NYC design professionals to promote materials investigation and exploration and YOU can be a part of the team! This is an on-campus, in-person position for 9-12 hours/week.

Requirements:

• 2nd-4th year undergraduate or graduate student at The New School
• Experience with materials research is highly preferred. Assignments may be tailored to level of experience and areas of interest.
• Must be a team player, organized, able to multi-task and to create a welcoming environment for visitors. Experience in managing project timelines, conducting independent web research and work process
• Detailed orientated, visual thinker, with good written and verbal communication skills. Graphic design and excel skills are a plus.
• Completion of the four-course online certificate program in Healthier Materials and Sustainable Buildings will be a prerequisite for starting the position.
• Must be available to begin training in partial Summer 2023, with a firm commitment for Fall 2023.

Job Duties and Responsibilities:

• Open and close the Library
• Learn and adhere to library systems including databases, and organizational systems
• Maintain the order of the Library by keeping the space presentable and organized, processing checkouts and returns, labeling and refiling samples.
• Engage with visitors. Assist students, faculty and design professionals visiting the library. Give presentations to visiting classes on the work of the library and HML.
• Conduct research to source materials for DhML’s physical material collection. Provide complete and clearly organized spreadsheets.
• Communicate with manufacturers to procure information about products and to request samples
• Assist Senior Researcher with administrative and ad hoc projects

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis with preference to students who apply before May 1.

Healthy Materials Lab is convinced that the strength and resilience of a team comes from diversity, equity and inclusion. We strongly encourage applicants to apply who are BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, people of color), LGBTQ, women, immigrants, and people with disabilities.