Environmental Justice: Pollution in Our 
Neighborhoods
NEIGHBORHOOD-BASED RESEARCH POSITION 
GRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANT

The Green Institute is a non-profit community 
development organization that works to promote 
environmental stewardship and sustainable 
economic development in the Phillips neighborhood 
in South Minneapolis. The Green Institute is 
looking for a Graduate Research Assistant to help 
them characterize the disparate exposure to air 
pollution by subpopulations categorized by 
income, type of transportation used (buses vs. 
cars), and geography (different neighborhood, 
urban core vs. suburban), as a way to build 
neighborhood knowledge of the issue. This project 
would be the start of a monitoring program that 
would look at a research plan that would benefit 
neighborhoods. 

RESPONSIBILITIES:
Under the supervision of Carl Nelson at the Green 
Institute the Graduate Research Assistant will: 
(1) Establish an advisory committee with 
membership from various neighborhood 
organizations and the MN Dept of Health, U of M 
Dept. of Public Health, and MN Pollution Control 
Agency. Coordinate at least 3 meetings of the 
advisory committee. (2) Investigate current 
pollution monitoring that MPCA and U of M are 
doing, and research technology and requirements 
for a neighborhood monitoring system. (3) Develop 
a research plan for a neighborhood monitoring 
system, and what role MPCA, Dept. of Public 
Health and neighborhood groups would play in that 
system. (4) Write several articles for the 
neighborhood newspapers.

QUALIFICATIONS:
1.	Registered graduate student in Public 
Health or related field
2.	Enthusiasm and willingness to work with 
neighborhood groups
3.	Quantitative research skills required
4.	Excellent writing skills
5.	Ability to work with diverse communities
6.	Experience with pollution monitoring 
technology preferred

SALARY & HOURS: up to $13.85/hour, $15.25 
starting 6/13/05, 260 hours total

DURATION & APPOINTMENT:  		
Summer 2005, starting in May/June 
APPLICATION: Applications taken until filled. 
Send cover letter and resume to Carl Nelson, The 
Green Institute, 2801 21st Avenue South, Suite 
110, Minneapolis MN 55407. Email: 
cnelson@greeninstitute.org; Phone: 612-278-7117 
Fax: 612-278-7101