What is a Research Assistant job? Can you only apply if you are already admitted to do a PhD at GW? At universities offering doctoral degrees, many research assistants are also graduate and/or doctoral students. Many graduate student research assistants are expected to perform their research assistant duties as part-time jobs in addition to their responsibilities as a student. Being hired as a research assistant and receiving a stipend for the work is often part of a graduate student’s overall financial package from a university. Is this job only available for the GW graduate students?