Graduate Assistant – Carolina Demography

Position Overview

Carolina Demography, the applied demography research unit at the Carolina Population Center
at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, is seeking a qualified graduate assistant
for an hourly position. The graduate assistant will support a research project partnering with
the Office of Language and Communication Access (OLCA) under the North Carolina Department of
Health and Human Services.

The primary objective is to review the existing literature related to counting the population
that is deaf and hard-of-hearing, with a focus on American Sign Language (ASL) speakers, and
assess the feasibility of estimating this population in North Carolina using existing data sources.

Position Details

• Department: Carolina Demography, Carolina Population Center
• Location: 123 W Franklin St, Suite 210, Chapel Hill, NC 27516 (hybrid/remote options)
• Project Duration: September 7, 2026 – December 15, 2026
• Time Commitment: 10–20 hours per week (logged in the TIM system)
• Compensation: $22/hour
• Position Type: Graduate Assistant

Key Responsibilities

1. Landscape Assessment & Literature Review

• Conduct a comprehensive review of scholarly and applied demographic literature
  regarding methods and data used to count deaf and hard-of-hearing populations.

2. Data Source Evaluation & Methodological Review

• Identify and critique potential regional, state, and national data sources to improve
  population counts of deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals, with a focus on ASL speakers.
• Outline alternative mathematical or statistical models suitable for low-incidence
  subpopulation forecasting.
• Map out logistical challenges, data access constraints, and privacy regulations.

3. Advisory Committee Support & Stakeholder Engagement

• Assist in establishing and coordinating an Advisory Committee of regional subject matter experts.
• Schedule committee meetings, record detailed minutes, and compile expert feedback.

4. Deliverable Drafting

• Serve as a co-author of the final Landscape Analysis and Feasibility Study report.
• Produce maps and data visualizations associated with the final report.

Qualifications

Required Experience

• Current Enrollment: Must be an active graduate student at UNC-Chapel Hill.
• Field of Study: Master’s or Ph.D. track in Sociology, Public Health,
  Statistics, Public Policy, or a related field.

Required Skills

• Independence: Proven ability to work under limited supervision while
  meeting strict project milestones.
• Data Literacy: Familiarity with evaluating the appropriate use and
  limitations of publicly available and protected datasets.
• Communication: Exceptional academic writing skills to translate
  technical demographic constraints for state policymakers.

Contact Information

For more information, please contact
Nathan Dollar, Director of Carolina Demography, at
ntdollar@unc.eduntdollar@unc.edu.