Term: Fall 2025 (Soc 320, Section 039)
Status: OPEN
Contact: Please contact Skye Xollo at xollo@wisc.edu to apply for this position. See details below. It is available for 2-3 credits.
Description: The Human Rights Data Lab supports mixed methods, computational research examining the role of activist networks in shaping international human rights policy. This project investigates how civil society organizations use the language of human rights to frame their advocacy across different geopolitical levels—from local communities to the United Nations.
Enrolled undergraduate will assist in the building of a large, original dataset of human rights organizations by analyzing publicly available documents (e.g., mission statements, annual reports, and websites) and coding for key themes, geographic scope, and issue framing using a structured keyword bank.
Applicants should have a strong interest in interdisciplinary science in at least one of the following fields: legal studies, international relations, sociology, activism, human rights, and computational social science.
Duties (Hybrid or Remote):
- Systematic data entry and document analysis using a structured codebook.
- Thematic coding of human rights language across multiple international frameworks.
- Weekly lab meetings with research team.
Requirements:
- No prior research experience is required! Students will receive thorough training in data entry, document analysis and thematic coding.
- Command of written English is required. Familiarity with reading in Spanish or French is helpful but not required.
To Apply: Please contact Skye Xollo at xollo@wisc.edu. Applicants should write a short paragraph indicating why they are interested in joining the lab and include an attached resume. The ideal candidate would also be open to continuing with a second semester in Spring 2026. Available for 2-3 credits.