BFT - Research Assistant

Mass General Brigham•Somerville, MA

25d•$18 - $22•Remote

About The Position

The Research Assistant will support a study examining perceptions of respectful maternity care in a cohort of health care providers in Odesa, Ukraine. Services include interviewing study subjects, transcribing and translating interviews, data coding and analysis, and consulting on cultural considerations. This project is temporary, with an estimated duration of 4-6 months. Exact end date is flexible and will be determined based on project needs.

Requirements

Must be fluent in Ukrainian, Russian, and English.
Must always maintain confidentiality; ability to manage sensitive, confidential, and complex information with discretion
Computer literacy, including proficiency in Word, Excel, and Outlook required
Certification in protection of human subjects (can be obtained after hire)
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; experience conducting interviews desirable
Confidence and comfort working independently
Demonstrates excellent communication and professionalism, ensuring prompt and thorough responses to inquiries and other forms of communication
Must have access to a private setting (such as home office) to conduct phone and video interviews

Nice To Haves

An interest in policies and practices relating to gender-based violence
experience with clinical research
a deep understanding of Ukrainian culture are desirable.
Undergraduate degree and/or experience in research preferred
References from previous employers available upon request

Responsibilities

Assist with recruitment of study participants. This may include interacting with participants via email, phone or in person; verifying subject inclusion/exclusion criteria; and tracking consent status.
Schedule and perform video or phone interviews with subjects in Ukraine. On occasion, this may require finding time outside of regular work hours due to time zone considerations.
Transcribe and de-identify interviews
Translate interviews from Ukrainian or Russian to English
Conduct inductive qualitative coding and analysis of interview data, identifying emergent themes and patterns without relying on a predetermined coding framework
Contribute to the preparation of manuscripts, reports, and other publications, including drafting sections, synthesizing findings, and incorporating feedback through revision cycles
Monitor and respond to incoming messages promptly (within a defined window, e.g., same day) to avoid delays in virtual fieldwork or data collection
Escalate urgent issues (e.g., participant safety, security incidents, logistical disruptions) immediately via direct phone/text contact
Mandatory attendance at regular team check-in meetings
Serve as key liaison between Ukrainian participants and MGH research team. Document and summarize communications with the Ukraine team to keep the broader research team informed of research progress and emerging issues.
Consult on cultural considerations as requested