Research Intern Needed

Vietnamese Translation, The “Finding Bà Ngoại” Project

THE POSITION

Dr. Samantha Nix is seeking a research intern interested in helping with the “Finding Bà Ngoại” project. At minimum, the intern would provide translations of primary source documents; at maximum, he or she would become a true collaborator in this project. The intern should be fluent in spoken and written Vietnamese (preferably a native speaker in the Southern dialect) and have an interest in contemporary Vietnamese history, including the Vietnam War. The internship will be focused on reading and providing translations for primary documents, including notes on the back of old photos, letters, and webpages. If interested, the intern may also participate in conversations with Vietnamese people and instruct Dr. Nix on the basics of Vietnamese language. Meetings will occur monthly, at minimum, but the intern may complete work in their own time in whatever location is most convenient to them.

 

THE PROJECT

This is a historical and genealogical research project that will (hopefully) culminate in a journey to Vietnam and the development of a book. Dr. Samantha Nix is searching for her maternal grandmother, who gave birth to her mother Lệ, around 1950 and disappeared soon after. Lệ survived the early years of the Vietnam War, met Samantha’s father at the Phú Lợi base camp, and moved to the U.S. in 1972. Soon after the birth of her first child in 1973, Lệ was instructed not to teach her children Vietnamese. Therefore, Samantha grew up unilingual, and needs help translating her mother’s old documents and any other Vietnamese documents related to this project. This is an extremely personal and special project to Dr. Nix and her family. Details about the project and more about Lệ and Samantha’s story can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/findingbangoai

 

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

The research intern will be compensated at a flat rate of $300 per semester from Dr. Nix’s personal funds, as this project is not being funded elsewhere. In addition, the intern will have an opportunity to participate and gain experience in historical/qualitative/genealogical research. The intern will be acknowledged throughout the project (right now via social media outlets, but in the future potentially through a book). Mentorship specific to the development of research skills or graduate school are available as desired.

 

TIME REQUIREMENTS

  • This position is available starting summer 2018
  • The position will be open as long as the intern and work is available
  • 0-5 hours per week expected

 

RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Providing translations in Microsoft Word of written Vietnamese from primary sources
  • Helping with internet research in the Vietnamese language
  • Teaching Dr. Samantha Nix the basics of Vietnamese language

 

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Available to meet in-person on a monthly basis (Tallahassee residents are preferred)
  • Must be willing to respond to email within a reasonable time period
  • Bilingual in Vietnamese (preferably the Southern dialect) and English (written and spoken)
  • Interest in historical, qualitative, and/or genealogical research
  • Interest in Vietnamese history and people, including the Vietnam War
  • Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing

 

TO APPLY

To apply, please send an email to Samantha.Nix@gmail.com by May 4th, 2018 stating your interest in the position. Informal meetings to get to know you will take place April 25th-May 8th, depending on your availability.

 

THE SUPERVISOR

Dr. Samantha Nix is a mixed methods educational researcher by training and has worked with students at Florida State University (FSU) for almost a decade. Throughout her time at FSU, she has directly or indirectly mentored 6 Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) students and advised about 25 Garnet and Gold Scholar Society students. She has worked at the FSU Center for Leadership & Social Change, the Women in Math, Science, and Engineering Living Learning Community, the Physics Department, the Department of Educational Leadership & Policy Studies, and the Center for Postsecondary Success. In 2016, Samantha was the first FSU student to receive the nationally-competitive National Academy of Education/Spencer Dissertation Fellowship. She completed and successfully defended her dissertation (a mixed-methods study focused on perceptions of talent and difficulty in science fields) in March 2018. She has been published with co-authors in Frontiers in Psychology, Research in Higher Education, and Journal of Women and Minorities in Science and Engineering.