Professional Research Assistant Level 2

University of Colorado•Aurora, CO

7d•Remote

About The Position

The Center for Health, Work, and Environment (CHWE) is seeking a part-time (50%FTE) Professional Research Assistant (PRA) – Level 2 position. This position will serve as an essential liaison and trusted bridge between the Mountain West Hub research team and local residents in Alamosa, CO. As part of a landmark clean air and health resilience study, the PRA is responsible for conducting community-based recruitment, securing informed consent, conducting structured home visits, placing indoor air filtration units, and collecting longitudinal health and environmental metrics across participating households.

Requirements

Must have Bachelor’s degree and 1+ year experience, community health, research coordination, or public service outreach, preferably in rural health initiatives
Bilingual in English and Spanish
Basic computer and mobile technology literacy (e.g., using smartphones, tablets, Zoom, Google Sheets, and web-based survey software like REDCap).
Interpersonal and Communication Skills
Must be available to work year-round in Alamosa, CO, and have the ability to travel for local home visits across Alamosa County.
Flexible work schedule requiring some evening and weekend hours to accommodate participant home visit availability.

Nice To Haves

Prior experience working as a Community Health Worker (CHW), Promotora, patient navigator, research assistant, or community outreach worker in rural health or environmental health programs.
Established relationships with local community organizations, clinics, schools, agricultural groups, or public hubs in Alamosa and the San Luis Valley.
Prior experience conducting structured home visits, administering surveys, or collecting basic health measurements (e.g., resting blood pressure or peak flow lung function)
Deep familiarity with local geography, rural cultural norms, and community resources in Alamosa County and surrounding Valley communities.
Strong active listening and trust-building skills; ability to communicate warmly and respectfully with varied rural populations.
Practical aptitude to set up, demonstrate, and inspect household air cleaning hardware (DIY box-fan air cleaners / DIYacs) and air quality monitoring devices (UPAS units).
Proficiency in using smartphones, tablets, or computers for field data collection, including entering survey responses into REDCap, updating Google Sheets tracking logs, and participating in Zoom team check-ins.
Strong time management skills to schedule home visits, track up to 5 contact attempts per household, and maintain accurate activity logs.
Ability to translate study procedures, health results, and air quality concepts into clear, accessible, jargon-free language.
Ability to work independently during local home visits while maintaining consistent communication with the research leadership.
Ability to carry, transport, and assemble light study hardware (such as box fans, filters, and monitors) into participant homes.
Ability to respond supportively during acute poor air quality alerts and handle participant questions or hesitations with empathy and patience.

Responsibilities

Conduct direct outreach across Alamosa County to engage residents in the Clean Air Study.
Represent the study at community meetings, local events, and public hubs to build awareness and trust.
Reach out to households identified through randomized address sampling and community sign-up lists, maintaining respectful, multi-modal contact attempts (phone, in-person, email).
Maintain accurate, real-time records of all participant contact attempts, eligibility screenings, and recruitment dispositions using REDCap and shared tracking logs.
Clearly explain study objectives, household eligibility criteria (year-round SLV residence, no existing air cleaner, adult 18+ household consent), and participation benefits ($200 incentive + free air filter).
Guide participants through the informed consent process (via phone, Zoom link, or in person) and collect child assents during initial visits in accordance with IRB protocols.
Perform initial, quarterly/midpoint, and endpoint home visits to measure indoor air quality, record room dimensions, and set up DIY box-fan air cleaners (DIYacs) and UPAS air quality monitors.
Collect baseline and follow-up clinical and survey measures, including resting blood pressure, lung function testing (spirometry/PEF), survey responses, and urine sample coordination for designated sub-cohorts.
Inspect air filter units and sensors during routine visits, ensuring proper placement in participant bedrooms or primary living areas and supplying replacement filters as needed.
Assist participants during text-alerted poor air quality events (wildfire smoke or dust events) by supporting short 3-day daily surveys and lung function measurements.
Serve as the primary local point of contact for participating Alamosa households, delivering plain-language air quality/health results summaries and addressing participant questions.
Complete mandatory pre-study onboarding, including CITI Human Subjects Training, REDCap data collection training, recruitment protocol review, and the 8-hour Full Study Training.
Participate in bi-weekly (and subsequent monthly) study team check-ins, coordinate with local couriers for sample/hardware handoffs, and submit monthly invoices and mileage logs to the CN Manager.