Research Opportunities: Part-Time Positions with Pay at Princeton University
Princeton University offers a variety of part-time research opportunities for undergraduate students across multiple departments. These jobs can provide valuable work experience, help hone skills for independent work, and bolster resumes.
To begin your search, explore the following strategies:
University Job Portals
Check Princeton’s official academic and student job websites regularly for research assistant positions targeted at undergraduates. Positions such as Undergraduate Research Assistant roles are often posted with specific project descriptions and hourly pay rates, like the temporary computer vision research assistant role at $15/hour.
Department Websites
Visit the websites of departments you are interested in (e.g., Anthropology, Computer Science, Physics). These often list research opportunities or contact information for faculty members looking for undergraduate help.
Campus Job Boards & Student Groups
Explore Princeton-specific student job boards or reach out to student organizations focused on research — they often share openings or can recommend professors seeking undergraduates.
Contact Faculty Directly
Email professors whose research aligns with your interests to inquire about part-time research openings. Professors often hire motivated undergraduates even if no formal ad is posted.
Research Programs for Undergraduates
Investigate formal undergraduate research programs at Princeton such as the SURF (Student Undergraduate Research Fund) or departmental internships, which provide funding and placement for research work.
It's important to note that while searching, you may come across postdoctoral, lecturer, or full-time research roles requiring advanced degrees, which are not suited for undergraduates. However, specific undergraduate research assistant jobs like the temporary computer vision project do exist and can be found via Princeton’s job platforms or external academic job boards.
To contact Xander Jenkin '25, the Natural Sciences Correspondent for this article, about a specific on-campus research job or general questions, email [email protected].
Jobs can have varying time commitments, with some being semester or year-long. Wages for these jobs start at $16 an hour and can fulfill a federal work-study requirement. Working a part-time research job can provide an opportunity to interact with faculty beyond just taking courses.
It's recommended to reach out to the staff who posted job listings of interest. Part-time research jobs are available across various departments, including SPIA, Psychology, Politics, Neuroscience, Physics, African American Studies, Music, Chemical & Biological Engineering, History, Electrical & Computer Engineering, and others. These jobs can be found on Princeton's JobsX website by selecting the "Undergraduate Jobs" type, filtering the categories to "Research," and choosing the time frames of Fall, Spring, or the overall academic year.
Working a part-time research job can be a valuable addition to your academic experience at Princeton University.
- Undergraduate research opportunities at Princeton University can support education-and-self-development, as these jobs often involve independent work such as the junior paper.
- Online-education platforms could also facilitate learning about the topic of one's research, enabling a comprehensive understanding and successful completion of independent work.
- Achieving success in undergraduate research may lead to prestigious recognition, such as being highlighted in an academic publication or receiving a scholarship from programs like the SURF program.
