Hourly Research Assistant

Georgia Department of Public Health•DeKalb County, GA

19h•Onsite

About The Position

The Hourly Research Assistant supports grant-specific activities for the Georgia Community-Engagement Research Alliance (GA CEAL) RESTORES project, funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The project focuses on diabetes prevention among Black and Hispanic/Latinx parents and children in urban and rural communities throughout Georgia. Under limited supervision, the assistant supports planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of research activities, including participant recruitment, qualitative and quantitative data collection, data analysis, community engagement, and dissemination of findings. The position works with Morehouse School of Medicine, community partners, community health workers, and department staff to support project objectives, deliverables, and timelines. The role also assists with research compliance and project coordination, scientific writing and dissemination, and program and administrative support. Work is performed in an office, research, and community-based setting and may involve meetings and activities at various locations, including outreach events, focus groups, and interviews. The position may involve collaboration with academic institutions, community partners, and public health personnel.

Requirements

Master's degree in a related field from an accredited college or university and two years of experience performing work related to the area of assignment; or bachelor's degree in a related field from an accredited college or university and five years of related experience; or one year of experience at the lower-level Healthcare Program Consultant 2 (HCP091) or an equivalent position.
Ability to assist with research design, data collection, analysis, interpretation, and evaluation.
Ability to maintain accurate records, follow research protocols, and prepare complete documentation.
Effective written and verbal communication with research teams, community partners, and participants.
Ability to organize and manage multiple research activities, deadlines, reports, and deliverables.
Ability to collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams and community partners.
Ability to support outreach and recruitment involving diverse populations and community stakeholders.
Ability to adapt to changing project priorities and research needs.
Ability to exercise discretion and follow research ethics, confidentiality, and compliance requirements.
Ability to perform essential duties, including computer-based research and documentation, communication with partners and participants, and participation in meetings and community-based activities, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in public health, health education, or a related field.
Experience in community engagement, community outreach, or community-based research.
Experience supporting qualitative and quantitative research, including interviews, focus groups, surveys, and data analysis.
Familiarity with research data collection or analysis software such as MAXQDA and Qualtrics.
Experience assisting with IRB submissions, research documentation, grant-funded projects, or research reporting.
Experience reviewing scientific literature and assisting with manuscripts, conference submissions, or research presentations.
Experience working with community health workers, community-based organizations, or academic research partners.
Experience engaging diverse populations, particularly Black and Hispanic/Latinx communities.
Knowledge of diabetes prevention, health equity, or community-based public health initiatives.

Responsibilities

Assist with planning, coordinating, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating research activities according to project objectives, approved protocols, and grant requirements.
Support diabetes prevention research involving Black and Hispanic/Latinx parents and children in urban and rural Georgia communities.
Conduct research activities and assist with collection, analysis, interpretation, and organization of qualitative and quantitative data.
Assist with identifying, implementing, and evaluating participant recruitment strategies.
Support preparation and use of research instruments, data collection materials, and related resources.
Assist with focus groups, key informant interviews, surveys, and other qualitative and quantitative data collection activities.
Use and support data collection and analysis tools and software, including MAXQDA and Qualtrics.
Prepare interview guides, focus group protocols, surveys, questionnaires, and other research materials.
Organize, maintain, and review research data and records for accuracy, completeness, and consistency.
Assist in analyzing and interpreting findings for project evaluation, reporting, and continuous improvement.
Support recruitment and community engagement with community health workers, Morehouse School of Medicine, community organizations, and department staff.
Coordinate community outreach activities, events, engagement opportunities, schedules, calendars, and related logistics.
Prepare outreach materials and support participant engagement and project participation.
Assist with preparing, organizing, and managing Institutional Review Board (IRB) submissions and related documentation.
Support compliance with approved research protocols and applicable requirements; maintain records of research activities, communications, and data collection.
Attend project meetings and contribute to discussions of progress, challenges, deliverables, and timelines.
Prepare biweekly project reports, track deliverables, and monitor progress against established timelines.
Communicate updates and coordinate activities with internal staff and external project partners.
Review scientific literature relevant to diabetes prevention, community engagement, health equity, and related topics.
Assist with summarizing findings and preparing materials for peer-reviewed manuscripts, conference abstracts, presentations, reports, and other communications.
Participate in relevant professional development opportunities.
Assist with proposals, grant-related materials, business development activities, and administrative and research support as needed.
Collaborate with project leadership, academic and community partners, community health workers, and department staff.
Communicate research updates, recruitment progress, data collection needs, and project concerns clearly and professionally.
Maintain effective working relationships across diverse backgrounds and communities, support respectful community-engaged research, and handle participant records responsibly and confidentially.
Perform other related duties as assigned to support project goals and departmental priorities.