Graduate Student Opportunities

The Parkinson School is dedicated to making education both accessible and affordable. Along with potential scholarship opportunities, the school offers paid graduate student positions that provide hands-on experience in research, community engagement, and scholarship. The available positions for incoming Parkinson graduate students are paid roles, with compensation provided bi-weekly, and do not include a benefits package. These positions offer invaluable experience while supporting your academic journey.

If eligible, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) using Loyola’s School Code 001710 for additional financial aid consideration. For more details, visit the LUC Financial Aid Office.

Submit your application to the Parkinson School graduate program by the February 1 priority deadline. The application and selection process for paid graduate student opportunities will open in Spring 2026, with additional details shared at that time for graduate student applicants.

1. Micro Research Graduate Assistants: engage in a short-term (micro) research project over the course of one semester. Students provide professional-level support related to research and creative activities that contribute to the creation and development of a defined research project, under the direction of a faculty member.

• • Activities may include searching for and reviewing published literature on a research topic; Helping to develop a project methodology; Assisting with lab work; Attending team or project meetings; Assisting in developing resources for project management; Collecting, entering and analyzing data; Assisting with manuscript or grant development; Preparing reports or presentations; Corresponding with funding agencies; Assists with development and evaluation of instructional materials and/or curricula; Assists in specialized administrative, technical or editorial duties connected to research and creative activities; Prepares reports as needed
  • Knowledge, skills, and abilities: Knowledge of issues about the area of assignment; Knowledge of higher education research principles and practices; Skill in organizing resources and establishing priorities; Skill in planning, organization, and coordination of activities; Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships; Skill in both verbal and written communication; Skill in the use of personal computer and related software applications
  • Minimum qualifications: Currently admitted to a degree program at Loyola University Chicago. Students will meet with a faculty advisor every two weeks and will submit a written description of the overall project, including outcomes and a description of what they learned. Students will be encouraged to attend the “Evening of Excellence” with their faculty advisor at the end of the Spring semester and prepare an abstract to be submitted to the St. Alberts Day student research symposium in the Fall.
  • Time Commitment: The Micro Research Graduate Assistant position will take place during one semester. Students will complete a maximum of 100 hours and will earn $20/hour.
  • Contact: Pam Xaverius, Associate Dean of Research and Scholarship, pxaverius@luc.edu

 

2. Community Equity Response Collaborative: Loyola (CERCL) Community Engagement Fellowship: This interdisciplinary fellowship welcomes students from all schools including medicine, public health, nursing, business, social work, and law students. This fellowship aims to develop students’ community engagement skills to empower them to be actors of change in their communities, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, and develop professional community and effective advocacy skills. Our goal is for fellows to build skills in navigating complex relationships, critical thinking, and collaborating across multiple institutional entities.

• • Activities may include working alongside Loyola faculty members and collaborating with community members and leaders in the Chicagoland area (Proviso Township) to identify systemic barriers to health and design and implement efficient, effective, and sustainable solutions.
  • Minimum qualifications: Loyola University Chicago student from any discipline, undergraduate or graduate level.
  • Time Commitment: This fellowship requires 5-6 hours per week of work. This will include learning about Maywood, completing assignments on Sakai, meeting with community partners, and meeting with the group every Tuesday evening. Weekly meetings every Tuesday of the semester start the first week of the academic semester and go until the last. The first and last meetings will be in person in Maywood and the other meetings will be on Zoom. The meetings will be from 5-6:30 pm and the first and last meetings will be longer from 3-6:30 pm. In-person meetings will include the first and last meetings in Maywood, IL, and additional meetings with your community partners may be in person.
  • Contact: Nallely Mora, Research Assistant Professor, nmora@luc.edu

 

3. Loyola Stands Against Gun Violence Fellowship: is a year-long violence prevention advocacy program available for graduate-level students enrolled at least part-time in a Parkinson School of Health Sciences and Public Health graduate program. Up to three student positions may be available yearly.

• • Activities: Fellows participate in violence prevention advocacy, community engagement, and lead the coordination of the annual Community Advocacy and Violence Prevention Summit which involves organizing and participating in Summit subcommittee meetings, conducting research for potential session topics and guest speakers, communicating with community members, assisting with coordination of logistics of the event.
  • Knowledge, skills, abilities: self-directed, strong communication, time-management, and planning skills. Passionate about advocacy community engagement and safety.
  • Time Commitment: Positions begin in Fall semester and are hybrid and flexible. Students must be able to work independently and excel in time-management skills. Fellows are expected to attend monthly committee meetings and events as permitted by their school schedule. Most work will take place remotely with some in-person events held at Health Sciences and Lakeshore campuses. On some occasions, events and meetings may take place in the evening, and/or off community. The pay rate for this opportunity is $20/hour. Students will complete between 5 and 10 hours per week.
  • Contact: Lucia H. Garcia, Assistant Dean of Student Affairs, lucgarcia@luc.edu

 

4. Substance Use Epidemiology & Data Science Research Assistantship: Join a research team led by Dr. Fares Qeadan, focused on advancing data-driven solutions to substance use and health inequities. The team conducts innovative research in public health and addiction science, particularly in substance addiction. The projects leverage large-scale datasets (e.g., NSDUH, BRFSS, ACHA, Cerner Real-World Data) and apply advanced statistical, epidemiological, and computational methods with work spanning:

• • College student health, including substance use, mental health, and campus-based interventions
  • American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) health, using national surveillance systems and community-level data
  • Pharmacological innovation, such as repurposing GLP-1 receptor agonists (e.g., Ozempic) for treating addiction and comorbid conditions
  • Student Role & Responsibilities: Import, manage, and analyze public health and addiction-related datasets; conduct literature reviews and policy/environmental scans; perform statistical modeling and data visualization in SAS, R, or STATA; assist in drafting manuscripts, reports, and data briefs; support the preparation of NIH and foundation grant submissions; participate in weekly team meetings and research workshops.
  • Supervision: Students will be directly mentored by Dr. Fares Qeadan, Associate Professor of Biostatistics and NIH-funded Principal Investigator. Mentorship includes skill-building in applied biostatistics, health equity research, and academic writing, with opportunities for co-authorship and conference presentation. 
  • Qualifications: 
    • Biostatistics track students entering their first semester in the MPH program.
    • Interest in addiction science, substance use, digital public health, or health disparities
    • Familiarity with statistical software (SAS, R, or STATA) or willingness to learn
    • Strong analytical and communication skills
  • Time Commitment: Minimum: 8 hours/week; Maximum: 19.5 hours/week; engagement preferred across both Fall and Spring semesters; Remote and hybrid arrangements possible
  • Availability for Academic Year 2026–27: 2 positions available to early admission applicants starting the program in Fall 2026. Inquiries will be taken as of Oct 2026.
  • Contact: Fares Qeadan, Email: fqeadan@luc.edu. Subject of email should be: “Substance Use Graduate Assistant Position.”