Research Associate - HEARD Program Coordinator, Innovations in Education Program

University of California System•San Francisco, CA

26d

About The Position

The Division of Geriatrics is seeking a full-time Spanish-speaking Research Associate/Project Coordinator to work with two to three Principal Investigators/Program Directors on research studies and educational initiatives aimed at improving care and policy for older adults. This position provides an opportunity to contribute to impactful projects that address critical needs within geriatric care and underserved populations while advancing innovations in geriatrics education. One of the key projects is the HEARD (Hospice & End-of-life Care for People Impacted by Alzheimer's and Related Dementias) Study, which is supported by an NIA R01 research grant. This study focuses on developing evidence-based policy and ethics recommendations to improve hospice care for older adults affected by Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD), particularly those from NIH-designated populations experiencing health disparities. Reporting to the Project Director, the Research Associate will engage in all stages of the research process, including refining recruitment and data collection materials, recruiting study participants, conducting interviews with bereaved caregivers and hospice staff, and performing site visits and observations at hospice organizations. The role also involves representing UCSF and the research team in community outreach and engagement efforts, supporting collaboration with the Community Advisory Board (CAB), tracking outreach and participant engagement, organizing and maintaining study data and resources, preparing interview data for analysis and conducting initial coding, and assisting with operational and administrative tasks to ensure the success of the project. The Research Associate/Project Coordinator will also support educational projects led by the Principal Investigator that focus on creating innovative geriatrics education materials. These projects aim to advance dementia screening, diagnosis, and care planning in underserved populations, as well as to investigate factors influencing the quality of dementia care. This work will include developing concepts and plans for video projects, coordinating video production activities such as scheduling and organizing video shoots, editing and finalizing video content to ensure accessibility, and engaging stakeholders through interviews and testimonials. The Program Coordinator will further support the strategic distribution of video content across various platforms, evaluate the effectiveness of the materials by monitoring engagement and gathering feedback, and collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to ensure diverse perspectives are represented. This role requires documenting and reporting outcomes and ensuring ethical and privacy compliance by adhering to HIPAA guidelines and privacy regulations. Additionally, the Research Associate/Project Coordinator will assist with projects related to maintaining data integrity by supporting quality checks to ensure accuracy and completeness in database entries. This includes identifying and correcting errors, fulfilling quality improvement tasks, and collaborating with other team members to enhance existing data protocols as needed. In addition to these projects, the Research Associate may provide support to investigators and initiatives affiliated with UCSF's Pepper Center Vulnerable Aging Research Core (VARC). This support may involve assisting with Pepper Scholar projects under the mentorship of the Principal Investigator, offering consultations and trainings to faculty, trainees, and staff, and sharing resources such as documentation of best practices and example materials with VARC and its associated scholars. The ideal candidate for this position will have prior experience in qualitative and mixed-methods research with older adults and clinicians, along with a background in geriatrics/gerontology, hospice, palliative care, serious illness, health policy, home health, and/or grief. A successful candidate will be highly collaborative, mission-driven, highly organized, and capable of managing multiple deadlines and competing tasks effectively. Because this position involves working with vulnerable participants and sensitive data, discretion and confidentiality are essential. Given that the HEARD Study will recruit individuals who identify with NIH-designated populations experiencing health disparities (NIH-designated populations), candidates who identify with one of these populations and are fluent in Spanish are required. Additionally, travel may be required for fieldwork related to the HEARD Study. Note: This is a limited position ending on August 31, 2026.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in related area and/or equivalent experience / training.
Minimum 1+ year of directly relevant experience.
Identifies with one of NIH's designated populations experiencing health disparities (https://www.nimhd.nih.gov/about/nih-designated-populations-health-disparities)and is fluent in Spanish.
Working knowledge of common organization- or research-specific and other computer application programs.
Proficient in communication and interpersonal skills to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
Proficient in ability to use discretion and maintain all confidentiality.
Demonstrates ability to use sound judgment in responding to issues and concerns.
Demonstrates ability to analyze, research, and synthesize large amounts of information with strong attention to detail.
Proficient in ability to multi-task with demanding timeframes.
Working knowledge of applicable policy analysis techniques.
Excellent word processing and spreadsheet skills
Experience and proficiency in policy research methods.
Working knowledge and experience with policy research activities, such as outreach, recruitment, interviews, observations, and examination and summary of qualitative or quantitative evidence relevant to policy projects.
Training or experience in social sciences field (e.g., public health, sociology, anthropology, health policy).
Ability to interface with and work well in a culturally sensitive manner with diverse communities in the context of community-based research.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in a health care or social scientific field (e.g., MPH, MS, MA)
Personal, academic, or professional experience with geriatrics/gerontology, hospice, palliative care, end-of-life care, or grief.
Experience working in or conducting research within a healthcare setting or experience and familiarity with healthcare or health policy.
Experience working in community-engaged research or at a community-based organization
Experience with policy research analysis methods and tools, including software programs.
Experience in academic writing, including experiencing in drafting and editing manuscripts, white papers, research reports and grant proposals.
Experience in program evaluation and improvement.

Responsibilities

Refining recruitment and data collection materials
Recruiting study participants
Conducting interviews with bereaved caregivers and hospice staff
Performing site visits and observations at hospice organizations
Representing UCSF and the research team in community outreach and engagement efforts
Supporting collaboration with the Community Advisory Board (CAB)
Tracking outreach and participant engagement
Organizing and maintaining study data and resources
Preparing interview data for analysis and conducting initial coding
Assisting with operational and administrative tasks to ensure the success of the project
Support educational projects led by the Principal Investigator that focus on creating innovative geriatrics education materials
Developing concepts and plans for video projects
Coordinating video production activities such as scheduling and organizing video shoots
Editing and finalizing video content to ensure accessibility
Engaging stakeholders through interviews and testimonials
Support the strategic distribution of video content across various platforms
Evaluate the effectiveness of the materials by monitoring engagement and gathering feedback
Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to ensure diverse perspectives are represented
Documenting and reporting outcomes
Ensuring ethical and privacy compliance by adhering to HIPAA guidelines and privacy regulations
Assist with projects related to maintaining data integrity by supporting quality checks to ensure accuracy and completeness in database entries
Identifying and correcting errors
Fulfilling quality improvement tasks
Collaborating with other team members to enhance existing data protocols as needed
Provide support to investigators and initiatives affiliated with UCSF's Pepper Center Vulnerable Aging Research Core (VARC)
Assisting with Pepper Scholar projects under the mentorship of the Principal Investigator
Offering consultations and trainings to faculty, trainees, and staff
Sharing resources such as documentation of best practices and example materials with VARC and its associated scholars