Research Associate (Part-Time) - Community Engagement: South Asian Community

University of North Texas System•Fort Worth, TX

20h•Onsite

About The Position

The Department of Public Health in the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine at UNT Health is seeking a part-time Research Associate. We are seeking a motivated, organized, and community-centered Part-Time Research Associate to support a public health research project focused on engagement with the South Asian community across the DFW metroplex. This role is ideal for someone who is a self-starter, communicates effectively with community partners, and can help plan, lead, and support culturally responsive engagement activities. The Research Associate will also support the PI and research team with data collection tasks and basic research operations. This position requires flexibility to attend and support community activities that may occur in the evenings and/or on weekends.

Requirements

Bachelor's Degree
Ability to speak at least one South Asian language (e.g., Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Telugu, or other South Asian language).
Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including comfort interacting with community partners and diverse community members.
Ability to work independently as a self-starter while also collaborating effectively with a research team.
Ability to attend events and activities scheduled during evenings and/or weekends.
Ability to travel locally within the DFW metroplex.
Cultural humility and ability to engage respectfully across all South Asian communities.
Professionalism and reliability, especially when representing the project in community settings.
Clear written and verbal communication.
Strong time management and follow-through.
Comfort handling sensitive information with discretion.

Nice To Haves

Master of Public Health (MPH) degree (completed or in progress) or a closely related field.
Experience with community-based participatory research (CBPR), qualitative interviewing, survey administration, or public health fieldwork.
Familiarity with human subjects research practices (e.g., confidentiality, informed consent).
Demonstrated experience or strong interest in community engagement, outreach, or community-based work—preferably with the South Asian community.

Responsibilities

Build and maintain positive working relationships with South Asian community partners, stakeholders, and participants.
Support the planning, coordination, and implementation of community engagement activities across the DFW metroplex.
Lead community engagement activities, including facilitating small group discussions, outreach sessions, informational events, and/or community meetings.
Coordinate event logistics (e.g., scheduling, confirming locations, preparing materials, tracking attendance, follow-up communication).
Communicate professionally and consistently with community partners to ensure activities are well-coordinated and aligned with project goals.
Support the PI and research team in data collection activities, which may include participant recruitment, consenting, surveys, interviews, focus groups, and/or observational data collection (as applicable to the project).
Assist with documentation and organization of research materials (e.g., outreach logs, field notes, contact lists, meeting notes).
Support accurate data entry and maintenance of project records using spreadsheets or research databases (as needed).
Adhere to ethical research practices and confidentiality requirements, especially when working with community members.
Track and report engagement activities, deliverables, and timelines to the PI.
Assist with meeting coordination, preparation of agendas/materials, and note-taking.
Contribute ideas to strengthen outreach, engagement strategies, and culturally appropriate communication materials.
Perform other responsibilities aligned with the role and assigned by the PI to support project milestones.