Research Assistant

University of Central Florida • Orlando, FL

10d • Onsite

About The Position

The Sexual Health Equity and Empowerment Research (SHEER) Lab, directed by Dr. Makella S. Coudray in the Department of Population Health Sciences at the University of Central Florida College of Medicine, conducts interdisciplinary, community-engaged research focused on advancing sexual and reproductive health. The lab's work centers on understanding and addressing factors that influence HIV prevention, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), reproductive health, and access to sexual health services. Through rigorous epidemiologic, behavioral, and implementation research, the SHEER Lab develops and evaluates evidence-informed strategies to improve sexual health outcomes and strengthen prevention efforts among populations that have historically experienced barriers to care. The lab collaborates closely with community partners to ensure research is responsive to community priorities and supports lasting improvements in sexual and reproductive health.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree and 0+ years of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience pursuant to Fla. Stat. 112.219(6).
• All applicants must be authorized to work for any U.S. employer.
• Visa sponsorship is not available for this position, and the university cannot accommodate H‑1B transfers or employment-based visa processing for individuals currently sponsored by another employer.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor's degree in Public Health, Health Sciences, Psychology, Sociology, Biology, Nursing, Social Work, or a related field.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.
• Prior experience working on sexual health, reproductive health, HIV/STI prevention, community-based, clinical, or public health research projects.
• Experience recruiting and interacting with research participants.
• Familiarity with REDCap and electronic research data management systems.
• Experience conducting surveys, interviews, or participant-centered data collection activities.
• Experience supporting IRB submissions, regulatory documentation, or human subjects research.
• Experience conducting literature reviews and synthesizing scientific evidence.
• Coursework or training in epidemiology, biostatistics, public health, psychology, sociology, or research methods.
• Experience with data management and quantitative analysis.
• Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills with attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team-oriented environment.
• Interest in graduate training, public health research, medicine, or a research-focused career.
• Interest in contributing to peer-reviewed publications and strengthening a scholarly portfolio through research dissemination.
• Knowledge of HIV prevention, STI epidemiology, sexual and reproductive health, implementation science, or related public health topics.

Responsibilities

• Conduct participant screening and eligibility assessments.
• Recruit and engage study participants through approved research protocols.
• Administer quantitative surveys and structured research interviews.
• Schedule participant visits and maintain communication throughout study activities.
• Prepare, package, and mail study materials and biological sampling kits.
• Track kit distribution, returns, and participant follow-up activities.
• Manage study data in REDCap, including data entry, quality assurance, database maintenance, and reporting.
• Assist with Institutional Review Board (IRB) activities for research studies, including preparing submissions, amendments, continuing reviews, study documentation, and maintaining regulatory records.
• Maintain accurate study files and ensure compliance with research and regulatory requirements.
• Conduct literature reviews and assist with evidence synthesis related to sexual and reproductive health research.
• Assist with data cleaning and preliminary quantitative analyses.
• Attend research team meetings and contribute to study planning and implementation.
• Support dissemination activities, including manuscript preparation, conference presentations, and research reports.
• Perform other research-related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• State Benefits eligibility for OPS employees are subject to criteria established by the State of Florida.
• The state’s benefits administrator, People First, determines eligibility and coordinates enrollment.
• If this position becomes eligible for state benefits the employee will be notified directly by People First.
• OPS positions are not entitled to paid time off.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree