Research Professional

University of Chicago•Chicago, IL

6d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice is seeking a Research Professional to support a three-year, grant-funded project focused on building integrated service models for adolescents with significant mental health needs in China. This position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to an international, interdisciplinary initiative that bridges research, practice, and policy across the United States and China. The project brings together university researchers and social work agencies in China to co-create integrated interventions that connect schools, families, hospitals, and communities. Through direct services, school-based training, participatory action research, capacity building for service providers nationwide, and policy advocacy, the project aims to help adolescents recover, reintegrate into school, and thrive in their communities. The Research Professional will work closely with the Principal Investigator, Dr. Zhiying Ma, and the project team to design and conduct mixed-methods research, coordinate with partner institutions in China, and support the overall management and implementation of the project. This role requires frequent travel to China.

Requirements

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.
Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through < 2 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Nice To Haves

Master’s or doctoral degree in social work, psychology, or a related discipline.
At least two years of relevant experience: for candidates with a master’s degree, two or more years of direct service experience with adolescents and youth addressing mental health needs; for candidates with a doctoral degree, two or more years of research experience focused on adolescent or youth mental health.
Candidates with a master’s degree and significant practice experience, but limited research and publication experience, are encouraged to apply.
Experience working with school-based mental health programs or psychiatric rehabilitation services.
Experience managing multi-site or cross-national research projects.
Familiarity with mental health service systems, policies, and practices in both mainland China and the United States (or another context).
Fluency in speaking, reading, and writing Mandarin Chinese.
Demonstrated experience with qualitative or mixed-methods research and the ability to conduct systematic literature reviews.
Strong academic writing skills in English, with the ability to produce publications, reports, and grant proposals.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively across cultures, institutions, and disciplines.
Knowledge of social work practice frameworks, including strengths-based, recovery-oriented, and ecological perspectives.
Strong work ethics and commitment to the highest standards of research ethics, including experience with or knowledge of IRB processes and human subjects protections.

Responsibilities

Help design, manage, and conduct mixed-methods research, including qualitative interviews, surveys, field observation, and participatory action research with adolescents, families, and service providers.
Conduct literature reviews on adolescent mental health, school reintegration, psychiatric rehabilitation, and related topics in both English and Chinese.
Prepare and submit IRB applications and ensure ongoing compliance with research ethics standards at all project sites.
Assist in the development and refinement of research instruments, including interview protocols, survey questionnaires, and fidelity assessment tools.
Contribute to data collection, management, and analysis using both quantitative and qualitative methods.
Lead or contribute to academic publications, policy reports, and presentations for scholarly and practitioner audiences.
Coordinate with partner institutions, including university collaborators and social work agencies in China, to facilitate and track project activities across multiple sites.
Help organize and manage internship placements for Crown social work students at partner agencies.
Assist in coordinating quarterly U.S.–China online workshops and other knowledge-exchange activities.
Travel frequently to China to oversee research activities, provide on-site coordination, and maintain strong working relationships with project partners.
Prepare quarterly progress reports to the funding agency, documenting project milestones, deliverables, and outcomes.
Assist the Principal Investigator in identifying and actively developing new funding opportunities to sustain and expand the project’s work.
Contribute to grant writing and proposal development for related research initiatives.
Maintains technical and administrative support for a research project.
Maintains recruiting and scheduling research subjects; assisting with developing or amending study protocols; assisting with developing data collection tools; assisting with building databases; and providing general administrative support.
Has general awareness in research techniques or methods, regulatory policies and procedures, and relevant scientific field.
Performs other related work as needed.