The primary role of a Research Assistant (RA) is to provide assistance to a faculty mentor to enhance the value and effectiveness of AFIT sponsored research, which feeds and enhances AFIT graduate education and coursework.
RA duties will generally include activities directly supporting sponsored research including, but not limited to: maintaining labs, equipment, hardware, and software; literature reviews; collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data; adapting existing equipment to support new research; and developing research products such as papers, presentations, and code that support sponsored research deliverables.
RAs work under the close supervision of an experienced graduate faculty member, and the association is meant to be collegial and educational. In consultation with the supervisor, the RA works to gain research skills and to enhance his/her grasp of the essentials of the academic discipline, the conduct of research, the role and responsibilities of a faculty member, and the role of technology in support of the Air Force. RAs will perform duties consistent with their prior academic preparation and experience.