Research assistants (RAs) work with faculty mentors year round across disciplines throughout the Middlebury campus.

These paid or credit-bearing positions provide an enhanced, hands-on component to undergraduate academics.

The extended mentoring relationship and project timelines possible through RA positions create a unique opportunity on campus. Many students begin as RAs as early as their first or sophomore years, and continue subsequent academic years, concluding by working on-campus the summer before their senior year to lay the foundation for a capstone or senior work project.

Research assistant positions are generally restricted to enrolled or continuing Middlebury undergraduates.

Academic Year RAs

During the academic year, paid RAs are limited to working 20 hours a week. Positions can be found by contacting a faculty mentor directly, through your department, or listings by the Student Employment Office (SEO).

Middlebury Summer RAs

Each summer more than 150 students spend the summer with a Middlebury faculty in a mentored research position.

  • A summer research assistant position with a faculty member is a mentored, educational experience which includes training and development opportunities. Students are paid a stipend and have access to discounted on-campus housing and dining. Most students have on-campus positions, with a smaller number of remote positions also available. The 2024 stipend rate is $570 per week for a 40-hour equivalent ($14.25 per hr).
  • Students interested in being a Middlebury summer research assistant should contact potential faculty mentors in fall or winter term. Faculty who do not have funding (through a grant or other Middlebury funds) can apply for up to 10 weeks of stipend plus supplies or travel to support a summer RA but the deadline is the first week of March so please contact faculty by February at the latest.
  • Once a student has secured a position with a faculty mentor, the faculty will submit a SRA form to Undergraduate Research for approval in mid-April. We then work with SEO to set up your summer position.

For a list of activities and more information see the on-campus summer research program.

Summer RA Positions at Other Institutions

Many students find paid or unpaid research positions at other institutions such as colleges, or governmental or private agencies. We maintain a select list of external summer research opportunities.

Training and Safety

Due to the variability of positions by department and discipline, faculty mentors are primarily responsible for ensuring you have the appropriate training to perform the tasks associated with an RA position properly and safely.

Certain positions, particularly in the sciences or work involving human subjects, may need to complete in-person and/or online ethics and safety training.

Support for Research assistants

Undergraduate Research is available to all research assistants for support and guidance. See tips for a positive research assistant experience.

If you have any questions or issues about a RA position or faculty-mentored research relationship you can request a confidential appointment with Dean Lisa Gates at go/appt.

Contact

Email questions to uro@middlebury.edu.

Center for Teaching, Learning, and Research
Davis Family Library, Suite 225
Middlebury, VT 05753