Special Research Project: Myanmar

We are seeking volunteers from around the globe for a special research project opportunity focused on Myanmar.

If you’re ready to apply for this research project (as a volunteer or intern), please use our Jotform application.

For more information, please continue reading.

Special Research Project Summary

One of our current projects is a critical special issue on Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) involving the curation of written and audiovisual works from the people of Myanmar. This ongoing project is in its early stages of development as we close out 2024. As a Special Research Project Volunteer working on our Myanmar project, you will have the choice to complete any number of research assignments exploring the ecology, culture, history, and politics of Myanmar for the purpose of contextualization of the critical special issue within the place of Myanmar, taking an “expanded time horizons” systems wisdom approach to this research.

Your work will include archival research at the Library of Congress and any number of special collections at university libraries and public archives across the globe, accessed online or in person (as relevant). You will embark on transdisciplinary exploratory pathways to gather primary source evidence supporting contextual perspectives of Myanmar within, across, and beyond the topic areas listed above, for the purpose of publication in future feature stories in The Upper New Review, potentially in print and interactive formats. You will be responsible for categorical organization of findings, potentially curated as research reports, whitepapers, or multimodal presentations. You will be encouraged to defy the disciplines.

You will have the opportunity to work with Upper New leadership to explore and demonstrate pathways of growth across functional, cultural, and critical ecological literacy while investigating systems thinking mind shifts, principles of system wisdom practice, and the deep shifts of the fourth industrial revolution.

Special Research Project Responsibilities

Collaborate with Upper New leadership to design and understand the scope, timeline, and outputs for one or more special research assignments.
Conduct all necessary research (including interviews, if necessary) to gather relevant material for assigned research tasks.
Work autonomously and with other members of the Upper New team to complete all research tasks in a timely manner.
No fact goes unchecked. We do not guess, we confirm every piece of information.
Track and manage all citations, as relevant to each research project. (We use footnotes in our WordPress articles and PDF documents).
Work with Upper New leadership to meet deadlines for drafting, revision, and completion (and use in publications) of each assigned research task.
If necessary, work with other researchers to compare notes and discuss, critique, expand, and improve each other’s research project trajectories.
Maintain an exploratory transdisciplinary mindset.
Practice systems thinking and systems wisdom.
Engage as a lifelong learner.

Experience

Excellent independent exploratory research skills
Familiarity with research and citation management (APA format preferred)

Experience planning and executing multimodal transdisciplinary research projects preferred, but not required
Proficiency with Google Workspace (G-Suite)
Excellent proactive written and verbal communication
Proactive problem solving ability
Excellent time management
Able to work independently and in relevant team structures
Comfortable with remote/hybrid workflows and environments