Visiting Research Associate II

Position Summary

The Department of Medicine at the University of Illinois Chicago is seeking a Research Associate II to support two NIH-funded studies evaluating a meditation program delivered via mobile health (mHealth) technology for justice-involved youth. One study is a fully-powered randomized controlled trial (RCT) conducted in Cook County, Illinois, and the other is a multisite pilot trial in Oregon and New York. Both studies are housed in the Center for Dissemination and Implementation Science (CDIS), which engages traditionally underserved populations and is committed to addressing health disparities through community partnerships and rigorous research. This position will primarily focus on these meditation studies, though the Research Associate may support additional NIH-funded clinical trials as needed. Bilingual Spanish-speaking candidates are strongly encouraged to apply to help ensure accessibility and engagement across all study sites.

AIM (Action In Mindfulness) is a meditation app that was adapted for relevance to the lives of young people who have been placed on probation through collaboration with a wide range of community stakeholders (e.g., justice-involved youth, mediation experts, juvenile justice officers).

Duties & Responsibilities

• Perform surveys, interviews, observations or uses other methods according to established research protocols.

• Collect, process and analyze data. Summarize research and test results.

• May assist with study protocol development.

• Coordinate the ordering, inventory and maintenance of equipment, instruments and data collection and analysis tools.

• Prepare and contributes statistical data and pertinent information for papers, grants and other documents.

• Complete required documentation for regulatory agencies.

• Perform other related duties and participate in special projects as assigned.

• DEPARTMENT SPECIFIC DUTIES

• Conduct participant interviews, obtain parent permission and informed consent, communicating in English and Spanish as needed, in accordance with established research protocols.

• Implement data collection protocols and procedures for CASI programming and web-based data collection, primarily via REDCap.

• Conduct recruitment of participants across multiple avenues, including direct and indirect, virtual and in-person methods.

• Assist in outreach with juvenile justice entities, community partners, and the research team, including building new relationships and maintaining existing partnerships.

• Collect and analyze qualitative data from study participant interviews.

• Assist in developing study forms, measures, protocols, and training guides.

• May assist with presentation of weekly updates on participant recruitment, retention, engagement, and randomization/enrollment.

• Support IRB submissions and maintenance of UIC IRB approvals.

• Assist in training new staff in recruiting, tracking, and assessing participants for enrollment and follow-up; making contact with legal guardians (for youth); maintaining communication with participants across various media (telephone, email, texts), including intervention engagement; and implementing clinical incident procedures and submitting reports as necessary.

• Perform other related duties and participate in special projects as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in psychology, public health, social sciences or related field required.

• A minimum of one year related research experience.

• Knowledge of research concepts, practices and procedures.

• Ability to manage multiple tasks. Strong interpersonal and customer service skills. Requires excellent communication, organization, and presentation skills.

• Strong computer skills are required. Proficiency in Microsoft Office and other related software.

• Knowledge of aspects of clinical trials such as screening, interviewing; knowledge of experimental design, statistics, computer applications and data management; oral and written communication skills; knowledge of a science such as psychology or public health; ability to identify, produce, organize, evaluate and interpret data; knowledge of ethics and regulatory procedures (i.e. informed consent, IRB applications, data safety and monitoring plans) involved with clinical trials and other research; ability to work as a member of a project team; knowledge of tasks required for research.

Preferred Qualifications

• Fluency in Spanish is highly preferred.

• Experience in REDCap, MAXQDA, and/or SPSS preferred.

The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify.

The university provides accommodations to applicants and employees. Request an Accommodation

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person.

To apply, submit application and resume to https://uic.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/1/home/requisition/18964?c=uic