Research Support Specialist I

Cornell University • Ithaca, NY

10d • $65,447 - $75,632 • Onsite

About The Position

Cornell Human Ecology (CHE) Cornell Human Ecology explores the complexity of human life. We bring together a wide range of perspectives to understand the full context of the human experience and improve lives at every scale, from cells to society. Our research and academic programs focus on the interaction of humans with their biological, economic, social and physical environments. Using Cornell’s far-reaching extension network and the college’s translational research methods, we deliver our findings directly to communities and families, ensuring that our work reaches those who need it most. We prioritize innovative collaboration and are fueled by a powerful, interdisciplinary, and applied approach to improving lives. The overarching goal for the Program for Research on Youth Development and Engagement (PRYDE) at Cornell University is to make the New York State 4-H Youth Development Program (NYS 4-H) a “living laboratory” for research and evaluation, using science to determine the best ways of promoting optimal youth development. Acting as an institute, PRYDE engages faculty throughout Cornell to develop research that fosters youth development and promote innovative intervention studies that solve problems affecting youth.

We are seeking a Research Assistant to join the team for the Program for Research on Youth Development and Engagement (PRYDE) who will work under the direction of Dr. Kristen Elmore. The main responsibilities of this role involve a combination of research, teaching support, outreach and administrative leadership. The position requires designing and managing research protocols, conducting interviews and focus groups, analyzing data, and synthesizing findings for reports and publications. The role also involves supervising undergraduate research assistants, ensuring compliance with human subjects’ research requirements, and supporting co-Directors with the PRYDE program’s priorities. In addition, the position provides course support, mentoring students, and helping with admissions to the PRYDE Scholars program. Outreach responsibilities include creating presentations for youth practitioners, representing the program to community organizations, and delivering educational programming on human development. The role also includes organizing events, managing social media content, and overseeing the administration of PRYDE activities.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, with 2 to 4 years of relevant experience (e.g., public health, public policy, social science, social work, etc.) or equivalent combination.
• Experience in and/or demonstrated commitment to supporting diversity, equity, access, inclusion, and wellbeing.
• Experience working directly with people from diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Experience incorporating the perspectives of multiple communities, including communities of color.
• Passionate about working in an organization that values and promotes diversity, equity, inclusion, anti-racism, and wellbeing.
• Ability to cultivate and develop inclusive and equitable working relationships with students, faculty, staff, and community members.
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to monitor details; Ability to handle the demands of deadlines and balancing of multiple tasks.
• Ability to initiate own work schedule and solve problems; must be self-directed and willing to reach out for help when necessary.
• Must have strong written and oral communication skills and the ability to interact effectively with a wide variety of people; reliability; attention to detail; and the ability to work as part of a team.
• Position includes occasional evening work and occasional travel.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working with quantitative and qualitative data including data collection, coding, management, and analysis.
• Experience with academic writing and publication for both academic and practitioner audiences.
• Experience with translational research on youth development.
• Knowledge of Cornell University and CCE NYS 4-H Youth Development.
• Master’s Degree.

Responsibilities

• Youth Development Research (40%): Develop and design study protocols including interview and focus group procedures. Conduct interviews and/or focus groups. Coordinate data analysis with qualitative coding teams and assist co-Directors in quantitative analysis. Synthesize and interpret results for reports, papers and articles. Supervise and manage a team of 3-5 undergraduate research assistants working on PRYDE-related research projects. Write research papers and reports for publication. Lead preparation and submission of IRB applications. Maintain compliance with human subjects’ research requirements. May travel occasionally to collect data (qualitative or survey-based). Support PRYDE co-Directors in determining priority areas and activities.
• Teaching & Student Support Activities (20%): Provides course support to the co-Directors including, but not limited to, initiating and maintaining online course information/updates in Canvas (course management system); coordinating community engagement opportunities and course logistics; and offering classroom support (e.g., facilitating discussions) for topics related to their content knowledge area. Makes recommendations for student admissions to PRYDE Scholars program. Provides mentoring of PRYDE students through one-on-one meetings and designing professional development workshops.
• Extension Activities (25%): Develop and implement outreach presentations for youth practitioners to support positive youth development practices. Liaison who represents the program to community organizations and makes public presentations. Create professional development content and identify speakers for practitioner conferences offered by PRYDE. Develop and deliver educational outreach programming for youth to teach about human development and social science research practices. Manage implementation of PRYDE educational programs by providing training and technical assistance to practitioners or student facilitators.
• Administrative Program Leadership (10%): Design PRYDE events (e.g., invited talks, conferences), including coordination of speakers, vendors, and venues. Lead, coordinate, and track PRYDE progress. Plan, write, and post content to PRYDE’s social media and website.
• Other position-related responsibilities (5%): Participate in projects or other duties as assigned with occasional work responsibility falling above or below current classification. Completion of any university required compliance trainings.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level