Research Assistant

Brown University • East Brooklyn, CT

20d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Hassenfeld Child Health Innovation Institute at Brown University’s School of Public Health seeks a full-time, grant-funded Research Assistant to support multiple projects focused on depression prevention in youth and families. The position supports outreach in diverse local communities, including Spanish-speaking populations, and works with Project Managers, Clinicians, other staff, and Principal Investigators.

The Research Assistant will contribute to a large-scale, school-based screening and intervention initiative addressing youth depression and suicidal behavior, as well as research studies evaluating the long-term effects of prevention interventions on adolescent depression. The role includes participant recruitment and enrollment, motivational interviewing, participant tracking and follow-up, study coordination and information distribution, and administrative support for research activities. This is a hybrid-eligible, fixed-term position with a current end date of October 31, 2027; the appointment may be extended depending on available funding. The position is full time at 37.5 scheduled hours per week and may require a varying schedule, including evenings, and local travel.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree and 1 to 2 years of experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience working with vulnerable populations.
• Experience using SPSS or other statistical packages.
• Experience and familiarity with clinical diagnoses.
• Research experience, particularly in mental health research.
• Proficiency with software including Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint), RedCap, and Qualtrics.
• Comfort using technology for virtual interactions, such as Zoom, Webex, Google Meet, and Teams.
• Ability to interact well with adolescents, parents, and school personnel.
• Ability to discuss mental health concerns, including depression, with families.
• Ability to explain study goals and tasks to interested parents and teens.
• Ability to compile and enter data accurately and maintain confidentiality.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and strong interpersonal skills.
• Strong attention to detail, professionalism, and organization.
• Efficient time-management skills.
• Ability to handle multiple tasks and work independently with little structure.
• Ability to travel locally to conduct study activities.
• Flexibility to support a varying work schedule, including evenings.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree in psychology, social work, or a related field.
• Experience with survey and database software such as Qualtrics or RedCap.
• Experience working in human subjects research.
• Bilingual fluency in Spanish and English, written and verbal, to facilitate communication with Spanish-speaking participants and families.

Responsibilities

• Conduct outreach to parents to recruit participants.
• Obtain consent to enroll teens in the school-based study.
• Conduct motivational interviews.
• Monitor participant tracking and follow-up.
• Assist with coordinating study meetings and distributing study information.
• Provide administrative support for research activities, including preliminary literature searches, bibliography formatting, and proofreading manuscripts or reports.
• Compile and enter data accurately while maintaining confidentiality.
• Travel locally to conduct study activities.
• Support a varying work schedule, including evenings.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level