CEGU

Position Title: Undergraduate Research Assistant – Green Schoolyards for Community Health & Urban Climate Resilience

Department / Project: Committee on Environment, Geography and Urbanization and Institute for Climate & Sustainable Growth, University of Chicago

Supervisor(s): Dr. Sabina Shaikh (with Dr. Laura McGuinn)

Location: Chicago, IL (on campus and on site at local Chicago schools and community sites)

Duration: December 1 through June 30^th, possible option to continue in summer 2026.

Hours: Up to 10 hours/week (flexible schedule)

Compensation: $20/hour

Start Date: December 3^rd, 2025 (or soon after)

Application Deadline: November 26^th, 2025

Project Background

The Green Schoolyards project investigates the transformation of paved school properties into permeable green infrastructure through the Space to Grow program in Chicago. The program aims to improve children’s physical and mental health, mitigate flooding, reduce urban heat island effects, improve air and water quality, and enhance community resilience to climate‐related risks. This pilot project will collect baseline environmental and exposure data at schools with and without green schoolyards, compile additional data from city, census and other sources, and engage community and school groups. For more information, see the project page.

Position Overview

The undergraduate research assistant will support the project through data collection and management, mapping, literature reviews, and community engagement. This role offers hands‐on experience in urban sustainability research, green infrastructure, public health, and community‐based methods.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist in organizing and conducting field measurements at schoolyards (e.g., temperature/heat measurements, surface permeability, greenness indices) and in outdoor/indoor spaces.
• Support surveys or interviews with school staff, students, and community stakeholders about their outdoor spaces, perceptions of green schoolyards, and well‐being indicators.
• Conduct literature reviews on topics such as urban green infrastructure, schoolyard greening, stormwater management, youth physical/mental health and climate resilience.
• Help manage and clean datasets, enter survey responses, and create summary tables/visualizations and maps.
• Assist with creating outreach materials for community partners and stakeholders.
• Attend project meetings and potentially co‐attend school/community engagement events.
• Adhere to project protocols concerning ethics (human subjects, if applicable), field safety, data quality, and confidentiality.
• Perform other research support tasks as needed (e.g., literature tracking, document formatting, assisting with data collection tasks).

Qualifications

Required:

• Currently enrolled as an undergraduate student at the University of Chicago with interest in urban climate planning, green infrastructure, public health, and community engagement.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint (or equivalent programs).
• Fluency with GIS software and data collection
• Familiarity with the City of Chicago, neighborhoods, and online data sources
• Flexibility to work agreed hours and attend scheduled field visits (including outdoors in Chicago weather).
• Comfortable working both independently and as part of a team.

Preferred:

• Coursework or experience in one or more of the following: environmental science, urban studies/planning, geography, public health, sustainability, GIS or data analysis.
• Experience with survey tools, field work, sensors/data loggers, GIS/spatial analysis, or data visualization.
• Experience or interest in community engagement and outreach
• Able to travel (by CTA or other transport) to school sites in Chicago

How to Apply

Please submit the following materials to this Box folder by November 24, 2025:

1. A brief cover letter explaining your interest in the project, relevant skills/experience, and availability.
2. A current resume or CV.
3. A short list of relevant coursework and/or experience (can be included in resume or cover letter).
4. Contact information for one reference (e.g., professor, advisor).

All Program Assistants will support CEGU events by managing small and large event logistics; event set up and breakdown, managing catering; creating content for event promotion; distributing posters; and managing social media during events

In addition, each Program Assistant will be assigned to one of the following roles depending on qualifications and experience:

Programming: in support of the CEGU Exhibitions program, specific responsibilities include processing exhibition proposals, managing images and label generation, and assisting with exhibition installation

Communications: specific responsibilities include organizing, writing, designing, editing, and proofing content for CEGU email newsletters, social media campaigns, multimedia content, and website.

Engagement: specific responsibilities include updating the CEGU alumni database, professional communications with alumni including interviews and website features, and identifying content and updating the CEGU student opportunities page and the LinkedIn group.

Ideal candidates will possess strong communication skills, a high level of organization, close attention to detail, the ability to track progress, maintain a consistent workflow, and to complete regular and spontaneous tasks during regular work hours. Candidates will be expected to keep a regular work schedule and meet weekly deadlines. Experience in a professional setting is preferred.

Program Assistants will be expected to attend in person events and work on site in the CEGU offices, as needed. The positions will start on September 29, 2025 and run for the duration of the academic year for 5–10 hours per week at a rate of $19–21/hour. The positions report directly to an assigned CEGU staff or faculty member, and communicate regularly with CEGU leadership.

About CEGU: The Committee on Environment, Geography and Urbanization (CEGU) is an interdisciplinary platform for critical thinking, advanced research, and innovative pedagogy on the societal and spatial dimensions of climate change, biodiversity loss, and other kinds of environmental transformation. It is a degree-granting unit in the Division of Social Sciences focusing on interdisciplinary research and teaching in environmental social science and environmental humanities. CEGU is currently comprised of over 50 affiliated faculty, over 120 undergraduate majors and minors, and a vibrant community of graduate students from other disciplines. CEGU is the home of a rapidly growing undergraduate major and minor program and associated courses, and a PhD certificate.

To apply, please upload↗ a single PDF file containing a short cover letter detailing relevant experience, a resume, and the names of two references. Please also note  whether you are eligible for Federal Work Study. Applications will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis until September 10, 2025.

Please direct any questions about the position to cegu@uchicago.edu↗.