STW: Undergraduate Research Assistant

I am seeking an undergraduate student to assist with research activities for 10 hours per week during the Spring 2026 semester. Are you interested in using, or learning how to use, data and maps to better understand the world? If so, stop by my office (419 McEniry Hall) to chat about the position or send me an email (jblekkin@charlotte.edu).

This research position will focus on evaluating food access in North Carolina, with a special emphasis on using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to explore where people live, where food is available, and how food accessibility changes across space.

What I’m looking for:

• An undergraduate student who is curious about geography, urban studies, food security, or related fields.
• Familiarity with GIS software (ArcGIS, QGIS, or similar) — experience is a bonus, but not required.
• Good attention to detail and an interest in learning new skills.

What you’ll do:

• Help collect, organize, clean, and visualize spatial data related to food banks / pantries, transportation networks, and other urban infrastructure.
• Support research tasks such as literature reviews and data documentation.

 Why join us?

• Be part of meaningful research on food security and urban life.
• Build hands-on GIS skills that are useful for many careers.
• Flexible hours that work around your class schedule.