Research Assistant I, Remote, Global Health Equity, New Mexico

Mass General Brigham - Boston, MA

Full-time - Entry Level

Boston, MA

Ambulatory Health Care Services

About the position

The BWH Division of Global Health Equity (DGHE) is dedicated to fostering support and coordination of training, research, and service aimed at reducing disparities in disease burden and improving treatment outcomes both domestically and internationally. The Division focuses on a range of health issues, including infectious diseases such as HIV and tuberculosis, as well as non-infectious diseases like cancer, diabetes, and addiction. These health problems disproportionately affect populations in resource-limited settings and are of significant importance to society. The hiring research team, led by Dr. Sonya Shin and Carmen George, has been conducting research on the Navajo Nation for nearly a decade, collaborating closely with the Navajo Nation, Navajo Area health facilities, and various non-profit community partners. This team has a strong partnership with the COPE Program, where Dr. Shin served as the founding director. The Research Assistant will play a crucial role within the BWH Navajo-based Program team. Under the direct supervision of the Research Manager, the Assistant will follow established policies and procedures to provide support for research, monitoring, evaluation, and quality improvement (MEQ) activities. This full-time position will be based on-site in New Mexico, where the Assistant will be responsible for various tasks related to research and evaluation activities, ensuring adherence to study guidelines and protocols. The role involves drafting reports, implementing research activities, creating community dissemination documents, and facilitating communications with stakeholders and study participants. The Research Assistant will also be tasked with recruiting, enrolling, and evaluating potential study participants, conducting surveys and interviews, and collecting non-invasive biometric data. Maintaining participant records, ensuring confidentiality, and updating program materials are essential components of this role. The Assistant will interact with study participants to provide information about study interventions and data collection activities, serve as a liaison between participants and early childhood education staff, and assist with manuscript writing and other technical writing needs for the study staff. Overall, the Research Assistant will contribute significantly to the success of the research initiatives aimed at improving health outcomes in the Navajo Nation.

Responsibilities

• Support research and evaluation activities under the direct supervision of the Research Manager.
• Assist with day-to-day operations of research activities as per study guidelines and protocols.
• Draft reports and create community dissemination documents.
• Recruit, enroll, and evaluate potential study participants.
• Conduct surveys/interviews and schedule participants for study encounters.
• Collect non-invasive biometric data, such as height and weight.
• Interact with study participants regarding study interventions and data collection activities.
• Maintain participant information database for the study, including informed consent and data entry.
• Update program electronic platforms and study-related materials.
• Assist with creating and disseminating study information to participants and stakeholders.
• Interact with stakeholders and study participants regarding patient education and study findings.
• Assist with manuscript writing and other technical writing needs for the study staff.

Requirements

• BS or BA degree.
• At least one year of experience working in community/public health programming or coordinating research activities.
• Knowledge of Navajo culture & language and experience working on initiatives on Navajo Nation.
• Excellent interpersonal skills for working with study participants and stakeholders.
• Strong verbal, oral, and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to take direction and work independently and collaboratively as part of a team.
• Ability to multi-task with strong attention to detail and adhere to deadlines.
• Ability to understand objectives, interpret information, and generate appropriate actions to solve problems.
• Proficient in Microsoft applications including Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
• Willingness to learn and adapt to changing priorities.
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to prioritize a variety of tasks.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience with community-based participatory research methods.