Graduate Research Assistant (0000GA11)-up to 2 positions

University of Hawaii • Honolulu, HI

17d

About The Position

The Graduate Research Assistant will assist the principal investigators and research team in coordinating and implementing an NIH-funded epidemiological study examining prenatal exposure to PFAS and microplastics and early childhood neurodevelopment. The position is based at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa and is expected to begin in January 2027 or as soon as possible thereafter. Continuation depends on satisfactory performance, funding availability, and project needs. The appointment is listed as 11-month, 0.50 FTE, and non-tenure/part-time/temporary.

Requirements

• Be a classified graduate student at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa, in good academic standing with a GPA of 3.0 or above.
• Maintain at least 6 credits per semester, except for students who have reached 800 (dissertation) or 700F (thesis).
• Work respectfully and effectively with diverse populations, including pregnant women, infants, and families from different cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Work independently and collaboratively under the direction of the principal investigators and research team, with strong time-management and problem-solving skills.
• Have prior experience conducting scientific literature searches using academic databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, or Google Scholar.
• Have basic knowledge of epidemiological research methods, study design, and quantitative data analysis.
• Have working knowledge of computers and common software applications, including Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) and virtual communication platforms such as Zoom and Teams.
• Have strong written and oral communication, organizational, and attention-to-detail skills.
• Be able to handle sensitive participant information and maintain confidentiality in accordance with research ethics and institutional requirements.
• Be willing to complete required human subjects research, data security, and study-specific training.
• Have access to reliable transportation for study-related visits and meetings at clinical and community partner sites on Oahu, as needed.

Nice To Haves

• Be a University of Hawai'i graduate student pursuing a degree in epidemiology, public health, biostatistics, environmental health, or a related field.
• Knowledge or research experience in environmental epidemiology, maternal and child health, neurodevelopment, or environmental exposures such as PFAS and microplastics.
• Prior experience conducting epidemiological research, including study design, data collection, data management, and statistical analysis.
• Experience using statistical software such as R, SAS, or Stata for data management and analysis.
• Experience using research data collection and management platforms such as REDCap.
• Prior experience preparing IRB protocols or applications, research reports, conference abstracts, or peer-reviewed manuscripts.
• Prior experience with participant recruitment, informed consent, and data collection in human subjects research.
• Experience working with diverse populations, clinical research teams, healthcare providers, and community partners.
• Familiarity with biological sample collection, processing, or laboratory procedures related to environmental exposure assessment.

Responsibilities

• Assist principal investigators and the research team with coordination and implementation of the epidemiological study.
• Assist with participant recruitment, screening, enrollment, and follow-up according to approved research protocols.
• Coordinate with clinical and community partners to facilitate participant recruitment, biospecimen collection, and neurodevelopmental assessments.
• Assist with data collection, entry, management, cleaning, and quality control.
• Support epidemiological data analysis, including descriptive statistics and exposure assessment, and help interpret research findings under the research team's supervision.
• Conduct literature reviews and assist with scientific manuscripts, abstracts, presentations, and research reports related to environmental exposures and maternal and child health.
• Assist with study materials, research protocols, Institutional Review Board submissions, and other regulatory documentation.
• Participate in project meetings, research trainings, and collaborative activities with investigators and research partners.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed