For Graduate Students

Graduate Assistantship (Spring 2026)

The Cohen Institute for Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Keene State College is launching a pilot of a newly-funded Graduate Assistant program during the Spring 2026 semester. This competitive opportunity will provide one graduate student the opportunity to collaborate with Cohen Institute staff and KSC faculty members to develop, promote, and implement projects that are aligned with the Institute’s mission.

For Spring 2026, only those students who are enrolled in either the M.A. in History and Archives or the M.A. in Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Keene State College are eligible to apply for this opportunity.

For the spring semester, we are seeking a graduate student who would be interested in supporting one of the following areas:

Working with the KSC Archives team to further develop the Special Collection in Holocaust and Genocide Studies. This might include: processing new materials, developing lesson plans and/or special events; hosting primary source literacy workshops for students, faculty, or community members; and more. Please reach out to Prof. Rodney Obien if you wish to learn more about this opportunity.
Working with a full-time, tenure-track faculty member in the M.A. in Holocaust and Genocide Studies program on a specific research project or scholarly initiative. This might include assisting Prof Brian Crim with a research project concerning German and Austrian Jews serving in the US military during World War II or working with Prof. Ashley Greene on the Edinburgh-Brown Guidelines on the Legal Parameters of Genocide. Please reach out to Prof. Brian Crim or Prof. Ashley Greene if you wish to learn more about these opportunities.

This role offers meaningful mentorship, practical professional and scholarly experience, as well as the opportunity to collaborate on scholarly projects, creative endeavors, or public-facing initiatives. Moreover, this role offers the unique opportunity to be an integral part of a growing and innovative hub of research and community outreach in the field of Holocaust and Genocide Studies.

Key Responsibilities:

Collaborate with Cohen Institute staff and full-time, tenure-track faculty on dedicated, mission-aligned scholarly, creative, and/or public-facing projects.
Assist in project activities, including (but not limited to) research, administration, planning, meetings, and event coordination.
Commit to an average of 15 hours of work/research per week.
Contribute to scholarly activities under the guidance of the faculty and Institute staff.
Maintain regular communication and attend scheduled check-ins with the supervising faculty and staff member.
Participate actively in project meetings and team discussions with peers, faculty, and staff.
Exercise initiative in developing research or creative techniques and skills relevant to the project.
Work diligently and independently when necessary to accomplish established project objectives.
Communicate progress regularly to the Cohen Institute staff and/or faculty members and meet project deadlines.
Write a letter of reflection and appreciation to the Institute’s funding donor at the end of the semester.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must:

Be a continuously enrolled graduate student in the M.A. in History and Archives or the M.A. in Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Keene State College.
Possess a strong academic record (3.5 GPA or higher preferred).
Demonstrate excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Show a commitment to research, collaboration, and professional development.
Be able to manage time effectively and work independently, and also to work as part of a team.
Have a clear interest in contributing to projects aligned with the Institute’s mission.
Students who are able to work on campus (rather than fully remotely) are preferred.

Compensation

This is a funded opportunity. The Cohen Institute Graduate Assistant will receive $7,000 for the spring semester (subject to successful completion of responsibilities), which will be applied to their tuition via Financial Aid.
Continued appointment is contingent on satisfactory performance and alignment with the evolving needs of the project and/or the Cohen Institute.
The student must complete the onboarding paperwork in a timely manner to receive funds.

Application Timeline

Applications Open: Monday, November 10, 2025
Applications Due: Monday, December 1, 2025, by 5:00 pm
Review of Applications: Beginning Tuesday, December 2, 2025
Notification of Decisions: By Friday, December 12, 2025

Application Instructions

Interested applicants should prepare the following:

A current resume or CV
A personal statement (1-2 pages, single-spaced) describing interest in the Cohen Institute Graduate Assistant program, relevant experience, and alignment with the Cohen Institute mission. The statement should also indicate which area (Archives or HGS research) the student is hoping to support.
Unofficial transcripts (undergraduate and graduate) documenting GPA
Contact information for one full-time, tenure-track faculty member in the M.A. in History and Archives or the M.A. in Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Keene State College with whom the candidate would like to work. The candidate should discuss the possibility of partnering with this faculty member before applying and have their sign-off.

All materials must be submitted by Monday, December 1, 2025, at 5:00 pm (ET). APPLY HERE

Questions

Keene State College graduate students considering applying to the program are encouraged to contact the Cohen Institute team in advance of the deadline with any questions. The best point person to answer questions about this program is the Institute’s Program Design Consultant, Dr. John Sturtz.