Tracking Illicit Economies via Satellite Imagery GRAD RA (AY 25-26 C91355)

Dr. Katharine Petrich is hiring two students to work remotely/on-campus to support a continuing research project leveraging satellite imagery, machine learning models, and geospatial data to monitor and mitigate illicit activities in Colombia and Venezuela. This includes analyzing illegal mining, deforestation, drug trafficking, and coca cultivation in conflict-prone border regions.

This position is compensated at the Level C rate on the MIIS student wage scale: $17.50 - $18.00 per hour.

• ​​Assemble data for several relevant databases using media reports, government documents, nonprofit reports, social media accounts, etc in Spanish and English 

• ​Identify patterns in territorial disputes, organized crime activities, and environmental degradation in the zone of interest 

• ​Conduct image/geospatial annotation 

• ​Write literature reviews 

• ​Examine the underlying socioeconomic and governance challenges which act as drivers 

• ​Write and present findings to internal/external audiences 

Requirements

• ​​Research methods experience  

• ​​Interest in satellite imagery/geospatial data 

• ​Experience working in remote-first teams 

• ​Social media/open source intelligence experience 

• ​Spanish language at 300 level preferred 

Student Employment Eligibility:

Unless restricted by certain visa status, all students with an active status for the semester are eligible for jobs on campus.

Students on leave or withdrawn are not eligible to work in student employment positions until the semester in which they return. If you are currently withdrawn or on leave you are eligible to be employed in staff positions.

Some may be restricted due to financial aid status. International students (non-resident aliens) may not work off campus unless they have applied for and received work authorization from the United States government. (An F-1 visa does not give work authorization.) Off campus work study positions are available only to U.S. citizens on financial aid with a federal work study component.

Student are not eligible to work remotely from International locations.

Hour Limitations:

All student employees are limited to working no more than 20 hours per week in on campus jobs during the academic year (this includes exam periods). The only exception is when there is a full week when school is not in session. Specifically: February recess, Spring recess, and full weeks of December or summer recess. During these time periods only, students can work up to 40 hours per week. International Students: Visa restrictions prohibit international students from exceeding 20 hours of work per academic calendar week.