Join

Ignite is always looking for talented and motivated people who are interested in our multi-disciplinary research collaborations. We offer flexibility, inclusion, collaboration and we put people who use our research at the heart of what we do. 

For job applicants: All positions that are open and receiving applications are active in the William & Mary Employment portal William & Mary | Home (wm.edu). 

For undergraduate students: Ignite Research Assistants are undergraduate members of the lab, with most students joining in late summer or early fall at the start of the academic year. On rare occasions, students may be added mid-semester if new projects emerge, but this is the exception rather than the norm.

The Research Assistant role is designed to provide hands-on training and education in global public health research. Fellows engage in the full research process—from formulating research questions through data collection and analysis to the publication and dissemination of findings. The overarching goal is for students to develop and apply critical knowledge and practical skills in global public health research.

Research Assistants are placed on specific research teams based on project needs and interests. Opportunities to join Ignite as a Research Fellow will be posted on this page when positions are available.

2026-2027 Academic Year Research Assistant Positions

Ignite Global Health Research Lab

The Ignite Global Health Research Lab is now reviewing applications for research assistants for the 2026–2027 academic year. Applications will be reviewed through Friday, August 28, after which selected students will be matched with project teams the following week.

Students will have the opportunity to work with faculty on active global health research projects involving epidemiology, health policy, geospatial analysis, data science, and global health systems.

Maternal Health Outcomes and Remotely Sensed Data

This project examines maternal health outcomes from Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) using remotely sensed environmental and geospatial data from Google Earth Engine and other satellite-based sources. The goal is to understand how environmental and contextual factors influence maternal health outcomes at localized scales.

RA activities may include: collecting and managing spatial and survey data, linking datasets, conducting geospatial analyses, and assisting with statistical analysis.

Positions: Approximately 2 RAs; graduate students or students with strong quantitative/geospatial skills preferred.

Childhood Vaccination Policies in Sub-Saharan Africa

This project involves a comprehensive review of childhood vaccination policies across countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, with a focus on national policy frameworks, implementation strategies, and gaps in vaccination coverage.

RA activities may include: conducting structured literature searches, locating and reviewing national policy documents, extracting and organizing policy data, and contributing to cross-country comparisons.

Positions: Approximately 2 RAs.

Surgical Need Index (SNI)

The Surgical Need Index (SNI) is a comprehensive index that combines clinical, economic, geospatial, and socioecological data to characterize pediatric surgical care needs and outcomes across the Global South. The project brings together multiple datasets to identify where unmet surgical needs are greatest and support more equitable allocation of resources.

RA activities may include: data wrangling, statistical analysis and model development in R or Python, and geospatial analysis using ArcGIS, QGIS, and/or AccessMod 5.

Ideal for students interested in: data science, epidemiology, GIS, global surgery, or quantitative global health research.

Global Health Contact Repository (GHCR)

The Global Health Contact Repository (GHCR) is a data resource of professionals and practitioners working in global health and health policy. The repository is designed to support survey research, data inquiries, and the development of collaborative global health partnerships across institutions and countries.

RA activities may include: questionnaire development, systematic contact collection and data management, working with survey platforms, and qualitative data coding and analysis using R and/or QualCoder.

Ideal for students interested in: global health, health policy, survey research, qualitative methods, or research data management.

Who Should Apply?

We welcome applications from students with a range of backgrounds and experience levels. You do not need to already know every method or software program listed above. We are particularly interested in students who are dependable, curious, willing to learn, and interested in contributing consistently to a research team.

Depending on the project, useful skills and interests include epidemiology and global health, health policy, economics, statistical analysis in R, Python, or Stata, GIS and spatial analysis, literature and policy reviews, data collection and management, survey research, and qualitative research methods.

How to Apply

Students interested in joining an Ignite research team for the 2026–2027 academic year should complete the Ignite Student Interest Form by Friday, August 28:

Apply to Ignite

In the application, please indicate the project(s) you are most interested in and describe any relevant coursework, research experience, technical skills, or other experience you would bring to the project.

Application review closes Friday, August 28. Students selected for research assistant positions will be matched with project teams the following week.