Research Associate 1, GAB
University of Miami

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The Research Associate 1 will support research activities under the direction of a principal investigator (Audrey Harkness, PhD) and a designee of the principal investigator (Mae Tidd, PhD). Dr. Harkness leads the REACH (Research Engagement and Community Health) Equity Team which focuses on addressing HIV and behavioral health (mental health/substance use) disparities affecting key populations affected by the HIV epidemic, with a focus on Latino men who have sex with men (Latino MSM) and using implementation science to achieve HIV health equity.

The position is full-time and in-person at the School of Nursing and Health Studies at the Coral Gables campus of the University of Miami.

CORE JOB FUNCTIONS

Understands, interprets, creates, and follows research protocols and procedures.

Conducts literature searches as requested by the PI or delegate of PI.

Ensures all research is undertaken according to good research practice and in compliance with lab and IRB approved protocols.

Collects data, recruits and retains participants in research studies,

Performs basic statistical and qualitative analysis of collected data

Carries out all aspects of study visits, including scheduling, reserving rooms, paying participants, completing interviews/focus groups, documenting completion of a study visit, etc.

Communicates with all members of the research team on a daily basis to provide study updates.

Keeps abreast of current publications relative to methods, techniques, and developments within the area of research.

Participates in the publication of significant results.

Adheres to University and unit-level policies and procedures and safeguards to University assets.

This list of duties and responsibilities is not intended to be all-inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties or responsibilities as necessary.

CORE QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

Bachelor's Degree in relevant field (e.g., psychology, public health, health studies, global health, sociology, nursing, or other related fields) required

Certification and Licensing:

Not Applicable

Experience:

Prior experience working or volunteering in a research lab, preferred but not required

Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes:

• Bilingual (English/Spanish) - required
• Knowledgeable about HIV - preferred but training available
• Ability to convey information effectively via written and spoken word
• Ability to work independently and in a collaborative environment
• Ability to be proactive and anticipate the needs of the project (i.e., work "ahead" of tasks being assigned)
• Ability to follow verbal and written instruction
• Ability to problem solve (i.e., find potential solutions to problems/barriers to research tasks independently)
• Skill in completing assignments accurately and with high attention to detail
• Ability to analyze, organize, and prioritize work under pressure while meeting multiple concurrent deadlines
• Strong analytical skills
• Comfortable working with videochat platforms (including Zoom and Microsoft teams) and other electronic project management programs (e.g. Microsoft Planner)
• Experience with qualitative interviewing and analysis (preferred, not required)
• Experience with quantitative data cleaning and analyses (preferred, not required)
• Experience setting up REDCap surveys (preferred, not required)

DEPARTMENT ADDENDUM

The Research Associate 1 (RA1) will support the following project:

SOMOS Alianza: This project is a strategic alliance of researchers and community-based implementers (i.e., people who deliver HIV services) in Miami, Orlando, and San Juan, with the goal of identifying interventions and strategies that local organizations use to improve the reach of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and mental health/substance use treatments to Latino gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men. Community-based implementers in SOMOS Alianza have many grassroots/locally developed strategies to improve reach of PrEP and mental health/substance use treatments, and our goal as researchers is to learn from these locally developed strategies. We (the research team) will characterize and assess the degree to which the strategies currently used by SOMOS Alianza organizations align with the existing evidence base to build an online Dashboard that showcases these locally developed strategies. Finally, in the later years of the project, we will give access to this Dashboard to HIV organizations across the US and evaluate if the Dashboard is helpful to other organizations in promoting PrEP and mental health/substance use treatment reach to Latino MSM.

Within this project, the RA1 will be primarily responsible for helping with protocol development, data collection and management, creating REDCap surveys, and conducting basic statistical and qualitative analyses, and other support tasks as necessary. The RA1 will also help with recruiting implementers and organizations for the Dashboard in the later years of the project/position.

Department Specific Functions

• Contribute to applied research activities by collecting and analyzing data, maintaining databases, etc.
• Understand and interpret research protocols and procedures
• Assist with developing, maintaining and implementing standard operating procedures for the project
• Carry out research activities in accordance with IRB approved protocols (as applicable)
• Assist with study start up (e.g., assembling protocols, supporting training activities, assisting with developing data collection materials, programming REDCap, etc.)
• Assist with exporting and managing REDCap data
• Assist in recruiting and retaining community-based implementers in SOMOS Alianza project
• Assist with on-site data collection: field observation notes/jotting, informal and formal interviews, reviewing strategy workflows/SOPs
• Assist with data collection debriefs with PI and delegate of PI
• Assist with and facilitate virtual data collection (i.e., interviews, focus groups, surveys)
• Assist with qualitative data analysis via coding (directed by PI or a delegate), data cleaning, analyses, and data integration
• Assist with and conduct literature reviews
• Assist with basic statistical analyses of survey data
• Collaborates with PI, collaborators, and other staff to support publication of findings in scientific journals
• Complete weekly individual meetings with supervisor and prepare detailed agendas for meetings (as needed)
• Prepare agendas for project specific meetings and lab meetings
• Take detailed minutes at project specific meetings and distribute them to the team
• Speak and write in both English and Spanish for most of the responsibilities listed
• Advance knowledge related to job duties through continued education, training and/or research, as assigned by supervisor

This list of duties and responsibilities is not intended to be all-inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties or responsibilities as necessary.

Note that this position does require some travel within Miami, to Orlando area (e.g., train, car) and to the San Juan/Puerto Rico area (flying), particularly in the first 1-2 years of the position .

The University of Miami is an Equal Opportunity Employer - Females/Minorities/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities are encouraged to apply. Applicants and employees are protected from discrimination based on certain categories protected by Federal law. Click here for additional information.Job Status:Full timeEmployee Type:StaffPay Grade:A5

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