Communications Student Assistantship, Office of Research, Innovation & Economic Development

Location: Albany, NY Category: Student Assistant Positions Posted On: Fri Mar 27 2026 Job Description:

The SUNY System Administration Office of Research, Innovation & Economic Development (ORIED) seeks a Communications Student Assistant. The Student Assistant will report to Saralyn Armer, Strategic Research Communications Manager, and assist in creating and conveying information on SUNY's strategic initiatives related to research to diverse audiences, both internal and external to SUNY. These communications will include scientific and technical concepts in a broad range of fields and be published in a variety of forms, including, but not limited to newsletters, social media posts, videos, reports, blogs, presentations, and infographics. The Student Assistant will be a part of the process to find compelling story angles, distilling information, and assisting in building content campaigns. This is an opportunity to apply their academic learning in a professional setting while contributing to the amplification of SUNY research. The assistantship is only open to currently enrolled SUNY students. Graduate and doctoral students with a focus in Communications, Marketing, Journalism, Video Production and/or Graphic Design are encouraged to apply, and we strongly encourage first-generation college students to apply. Interested candidates are invited to apply by submitting a cover letter, resume, and portfolio or campaign work sample.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:
Assist with gathering and disseminating information on SUNY's diverse research activities, initiatives, and impact
Collaborate on the creation, revising, and tracking of newsletters, social media campaigns, graphics, videos, presentations, reports, web pages, press releases and various other forms of written and multimedia content
Participate in meetings with ORIED staff, the Office of Press and Communications, and the Research Foundation for SUNY to surface, develop, and amplify research stories
Provide general project and administrative support to various research-related initiatives which may include activities such as:

Assist with gathering campaign and audience metrics from communication outlets
Collaborate on the preparation for monthly research marketing campaigns
Gathering and organizing data on researchers, funders and research activities and priorities
Supporting task forces, cross-campus collaborations, site visits, and other key activities
Proofread and light copy-edit of documents, briefings, papers, campaigns, and e-mail blasts

Job Requirements:
Required:
Experience in graphic design with software such as Adobe Creative Suite, including Adobe Express or Photoshop, Adobe Premiere, and/or Terminal 4 (T4); experience with data visualization tools such as Tableau or Power BI a plus Experience with social media content creation (video and carousel) for SUNY Research campaigns
Experience with creating and using infographics, data analyses, and data visualizations in communications and presentations is a plus
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Teams, SharePoint, Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Forms)
Proficiency in creating slide presentations with visual impact to advance strategic goals and objectives
Familiarity or willingness to learn content management systems for basic web content posting
Basic understanding of story narratives
Basic editing skills
Excellent verbal and written communications skills
Eagerness to learn on the job and develop/improve on a variety of skillsets in the communication field
Ability to meet deadlines while balancing multiple priorities
Ability to work both independently and collaboratively
Flexibility to adapt to changing needs and directions
Currently enrolled as a SUNY student

Preferred:
A 3.0 or better GPA
Experience in video editing
Training or experience in information design
Science communications background
Experience in an academic or commercial research environment
Academic concentration in either Communications, Marketing or Journalism
Interest in one or more of SUNY's strategic research priorities: Artificial Intelligence, Biotechnology, Energy and Sustainability, Microelectronics (Semiconductors), and Quantum Computing

Additional Information:
Time and Salary: The assistantship is for the summer of 2026, with a possibility to extend into the fall semester of 2026. This position is for up to 29 hours a week between 10 AM and 4 PM, Monday through Thursday. The rate of pay is $16 per hour for undergraduate students, $18 per hour for graduate students, and $20 per hour for doctoral students.