Research Assistant
The Health Behavior & Society Department is seeking candidates to work as a Research Assistant, who will assist with day-to-day data collection and study implementation for a community-based public health research project in support of faculty investigators and research staff. Responsibilities include conducting structured interviews, preparing and managing participant data using REDCap, and supporting logistical and administrative functions of the study. Work may involve using basic statistical tools, contributing to data quality assurance efforts, and supporting other research-related tasks.
Specific Duties & Responsibilities
- Participate in structured data collection activities in the field, including participant recruitment, screening, informed consent, and survey administration, all conducted through REDCap.
- Support the accurate and timely completion of fieldwork by adhering to standardized protocols.
- Perform data entry and upload survey responses from mobile units using REDCap, ensuring accuracy and data integrity.
- Conduct basic data quality checks and contribute to cleaning measures to ensure completeness and consistency within REDCap.
- Prepare and organize materials for data collection shifts and assist with end-of-day tasks such as inventory and vehicle sanitation.
- Assist with running routine reports on participant status and follow-up using REDCap dashboards and project tracking logs.
- Coordinate closely with field supervisors and other team members to ensure efficient workflow and communication.
- Support administrative functions such as appointment scheduling and participant tracking within REDCap or associated systems.
- Provide occasional in-office research support, including file organization, preparation of study materials, and other project logistics.
- Conducting literature searches to support ongoing research efforts.
- Assisting in summarizing field data for internal reports or presentations.
- Supporting the development of new field procedures to improve data collection efficiency.
- Ability to work independently in community-based settings and maintain professionalism.
- Cultural competence and demonstrate empathy in working with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office; familiarity with survey tools and statistical software (e.g., Stata) is a plus.
- Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple responsibilities.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Position Details:
- Minimum of 2 shifts per week required; additional availability preferred.
- Shifts are 4–5 hours, weekdays & weekends, and scheduled monthly based on team availability.
- Applicants should be comfortable working in mobile settings and engaging with community members directly.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor's Degree in related discipline.
- Additional related experience may substitute for required education, to the extent permitted by the JHU equivalency formula.
Preferred Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in public health, social sciences, psychology, or a related field.
- Experience with harm reduction or working with vulnerable populations.
- Familiarity with REDCap or similar data capture systems.
- Prior research or public health fieldwork experience.
Classified Title: Research Assistant
Job Posting Title (Working Title): Research Assistant
Role/Level/Range: ACRO40/E/03/CD
Starting Salary Range: $17.20 - $30.30 HRLY (Commensurate with experience)
Employee group: Casual / On Call
Schedule: Flexible: to be determined at the time of hire
Exempt Status: Non-Exempt
Location: School of Public Health
Department name: HBS-Research Projects
Personnel area: School of Public Health