Graduate Research Assistant for Program Coordination and Program Evaluation

Mercer University•Atlanta, GA

About The Position

The Graduate Research Assistant (GRA) will support the operational coordination and program evaluation of a multidisciplinary health intervention study targeting adults with type 2 diabetes or prediabetes. This role focuses on ensuring the smooth implementation of the intervention during its initial rollout, including oversight of weekly program activities, communication among project stakeholders, and the early identification of facilitators and barriers to successful program delivery. This position is ideally suited for a motivated graduate student in physical therapy or a related health discipline with interests in team-based care and applied research.

Requirements

Currently enrolled in a graduate program in Physical Therapy, Psychology, Public Health, or a related healthcare field.
Strong organizational and communication skills.
Ability to work independently, manage time efficiently, and interact professionally with diverse stakeholders.
Interest in program evaluation, health promotion, or clinical research.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with Brief Action Planning or behavior change interventions.
Experience coordinating multidisciplinary health programs or working with community populations.
Experience using communication tools such as email platforms, Zoom/Teams, and shared documents.
Work-study eligible.

Responsibilities

Program Monitoring & Coordination Ensure weekly tasks and deliverables are completed by student implementers (baseline, 12-week, and 24-week assessments, and brief action planning interventions).
Track implementation progress and report on adherence to protocols.
Serve as the point of contact to collect, organize, and summarize weekly implementation data from student teams.
Evaluation Support Document facilitators, barriers, technical issues, and program successes encountered by student implementers and participants.
Assist in identifying patterns that require troubleshooting and escalating to faculty as needed.
Contribute to documentation of changes or adaptations made during implementation.
Communication & Stakeholder Support Maintain regular, proactive communication with student implementers to support clarity of weekly tasks.
Send reminders to students and participants regarding weekly responsibilities (e.g., assessments, meditation practice, exercise routines, BAP sessions).
Serve as a resource to answer student questions about program components (especially the exercise intervention) or direct questions to faculty when appropriate.
Scheduling & Reporting Coordinate schedules for student-participant interactions as needed.
Submit brief weekly implementation logs to faculty leads summarizing issues and recommendations.