RESEARCH SPECIALIST I

at  University of Missouri

JOB DESCRIPTION

The Research Specialist I will join a collaborative team of researchers and higher education coalition leaders working on substance misuse prevention projects in the area of implementation science and practice in higher education settings. The position will be primarily placed in the Department of Psychological Sciences and will collaborate with a team in Student Affairs to conduct research and provide technical assistance to over 20 campuses across the state of Missouri in substance prevention. The job position is for 1 year, renewal contingent upon renewal of grant funds. This is a full-time, benefit eligible position (40 hours per week; physically located in Columbia, MO). We are looking for an independent, detailed-oriented individual with experience/training in qualitative research methods (interviews, focus groups) or clinical interviewing. This position would be ideal for those with a health sciences, public health, or prevention background.

Key Responsibilities:

• Assist with administration of research projects, including conducting focus groups and interviews in collaboration with Project Leads, recruitment and enrollment of participants
• Conduct basic statistical analyses of data with supervision from Project Leads
• Assist with monitoring project budgets, compensating participants, maintain internal project budget logs, and ordering study supplies
• Lead and maintain administrative tasks as assigned
• Assist in preparing reports and grant writing
• Co-supervise undergraduate research assistants
• Attending meetings with community partners; presenting during meetings with campuses
• Assist in coordinating research related events, meetings, and conferences
• Travel to local, regional, and national conferences
• Work independently and take initiative and ownership over projects
• Communicate and collaborate across teams

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

A Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience and at least 1 year of experience from which comparable knowledge and skills can be acquired is necessary.
Completion of the Collaborative Institute Training Initiative (CITI Program) training within the first few weeks of start date.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Training and/or experience with conducting qualitative data collection and/or clinical interviewing (experience with focus groups and/or qualitative interviews)
• 1 year of research or public health/prevention setting
• Basic statistical analyses and experience with software (SPSS or SAS, NVivo, Excel)
• Experience writing brief summaries of results/findings for lay audiences

• Assist with administration of research projects, including conducting focus groups and interviews in collaboration with Project Leads, recruitment and enrollment of participants
• Conduct basic statistical analyses of data with supervision from Project Leads
• Assist with monitoring project budgets, compensating participants, maintain internal project budget logs, and ordering study supplies
• Lead and maintain administrative tasks as assigned
• Assist in preparing reports and grant writing
• Co-supervise undergraduate research assistants
• Attending meetings with community partners; presenting during meetings with campuses
• Assist in coordinating research related events, meetings, and conferences
• Travel to local, regional, and national conferences
• Work independently and take initiative and ownership over projects
• Communicate and collaborate across team