Community-Based Research Graduate Research Assistant openings, Spring 2025

Image that says, CURA is hiring Spring GRAs!

This GRA position will support Justice-Impacted Individuals Voting Effectively (JIIVE) on the project titled “Ending the Punishment of Food Through Replanting the Seeds of Justice.” The project aims to explore food justice within Minnesota’s prison system by investigating land use and opportunities for urban agriculture as a means of addressing food insecurity and supporting reentry for justice-impacted individuals. The project will focus on historical land ownership, potential for food production on underutilized MN DOC land, and envisioning community-centered land uses, with the goal of producing advocacy resources. Due to confidentiality constraints, data on prison food quality and procurement practices may be limited; alternative data sources, including public reports and firsthand accounts, will be explored to address these gaps. The final deliverables include a Story Map, executive report, and advocacy materials that support JIIVE’s long-term mission of achieving equity after incarceration.

Job ID: 365484
Job posting link
Job posting link for current UMN employees

This GRA position will support the Minnesota Homeownership Center’s project, "Quantifying Equitable Homeownership Access in Minnesota by Race and County." The project aims to assess and visualize racial disparities in homeownership across Minnesota. Through this research, the Center will develop actionable insights for policymakers and housing advocates, helping them target interventions to reduce homeownership inequities by addressing both county-level and racial disparities in the housing market. The GRA will play a critical role in gathering and analyzing data to inform the Minnesota Homeownership Center's strategic plan and upcoming policy recommendations. Key activities include developing a Tableau-based data visualization tool, quantifying housing affordability needs by county and race, and collaborating with a committee of housing data experts from statewide organizations. The project’s outcomes will guide future housing policy, supporting the Center’s mission of advancing equitable homeownership opportunities across Minnesota. Preference will be given to students who are available and interested in a 2+ semester appointment.

Job ID: 365468
Job posting link
Job posting link for current UMN employees

Don't forget that you can apply anytime for the Kris Nelson Community-Based Research Program with the new rolling application process!

Lee Guekguezian

Lee Guekguezian (she/her) is a community-based researcher committed to decision-making justice and elevating lived experiences through research. As a program director at the Center for Urban and Regional Affairs (CURA), they lead initiatives that connect university resources with community-driven projects across Minnesota. Their work focuses on facilitating trust-based collaborations, translating complex findings into accessible narratives, and using data visualization to explore patterns of displacement, ownership, and investment.

Lee holds a Master’s in Urban and Regional Planning from UCLA and a degree in Geography from Macalester College. Their experience spans affordable housing policy and funding, spatial analysis, and program evaluation, working to democratize research and data to amplify community narratives. Outside of work, Lee enjoys biking around the Twin Cities, making rugs, and being a regular at iPho in St. Paul.