(Hybrid) Senior Research Specialist - WVU Cancer Institute/Cancer Prevention and Control

West Virginia University • West Virginia, WV

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

The WVU Cancer Institute (WVUCI) is seeking a detail-oriented Senior Research Specialist to support original research to advance the field of cancer prevention and control, with an emphasis on tobacco use prevention, cessation, and policy research. The position is within the WVU School of Medicine Department of Cancer Prevention and Control (CPC). The position requires experience with and expertise in research methods, study design, data management, and statistical analysis and interpretation. The Senior Research Specialist will play a key role in advancing research goals by assisting with scientific writing for grant proposals, protocols, and manuscripts. The role involves close collaboration with multidisciplinary research teams and external partners, including academic institutions, public health agencies, and clinical stakeholders. The position supports the dissemination of research findings to a variety of audiences through the preparation of scientific outputs such as peer-reviewed manuscripts, abstracts, and conference presentations.

Requirements

• Master’s degree (MPH, MS, MA) in a health-related field such as public health, biostatistics, epidemiology, behavioral science, community health education, social psychology, clinical psychology, implementation science, or another related field.
• A minimum of two (2) years of experience in the following: Health-related research management or health-related project management.
• Knowledge of tobacco control research topics and the tobacco policy landscape.
• Knowledge of study designs to propose and test behavioral interventions for cancer risk reduction.
• Ability to create and manage research datasets and conduct statistical analyses using biostatistical software such as SAS, SPSS, STATA or R.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Proficiency with database management software such as REDCap, Qualtrics.
• Skill in secondary data analysis of public health and/or clinical datasets.
• Ability to assist with quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods research to test hypotheses.
• Ability to prepare manuscripts and abstracts for peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations.
• Proficiency with citation management software such as EndNote.
• Ability to assist with strategic planning for research program development.
• Ability to participate fully in research and administrative meetings.
• Ability to respond to inquiries and requests in a timely manner.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with multi-disciplinary teams that include researchers, faculty members, and clinicians.
• Skill in writing and editing clearly, and in presenting and interpreting data for technical and non-technical audiences.
• Ability to work independently, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines.
• Knowledge of institutional, federal, and state statutes and regulations impacting cancer prevention and control.
• Ability to maintain proper attendance, punctuality, and reliability in team and independent work.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with departments, organizational units, related programs, and external agencies.

Responsibilities

• Supports original cancer prevention and control research using established scientific methods.
• Serves as a technical resource for data management and statistical analysis.
• Supports and facilitates the planning and execution of a variety of research project types, including descriptive studies, inferential statistics, randomized control trials, case-control studies, clinical quality improvement studies, and others.
• Collaborates with principal investigators and research teams to identify grant opportunities, write research grant applications, and contribute to progress reports and contract documentation and deliverables.
• Designs, implements, and maintains data collection tools for research studies, and documents data collection processes and procedures in written methodology reports.
• Assists with the development and implementation of a strategic plan for tobacco control research at the WVUCI.
• Conducts literature reviews to support research projects and publications and utilizes citation management software to organize references.
• Creates and maintains Institutional Review Board (IRB) protocols to ensure data protection and research activities follow best practices, are conducted ethically, and are compliant with all policies for the responsible conduct of research.
• Disseminates research findings nationally, regionally, and locally through published manuscripts, presentations, research briefs, and other reports.
• Develops and maintains strong collaborative relationships with state and local partners, including healthcare organizations, public health agencies, and community advisory boards.
• Functions as a team member of the Department of Cancer Prevention and Control.
• Conducts special projects as assigned by supervisor or Chair of Cancer Prevention and Control.

Benefits

• 37.5-hour work week
• 13 paid holidays (staff holiday calendar)
• 24 annual leave (vacation) days per year (employee leave)
• 18 sick days per year (for when you’re ill, for when you need time to care for sick family, for your own, or your family’s, regularly scheduled medical appointments. Who is family for the purpose of this leave? A lot of people in your life including immediate relatives and in-laws as well as others considered to be members of your household living under the same roof)
• WVU offers a range of health insurance and other benefits
• 401(a) retirement savings with 6%25 employee contribution match, eligibility to continue health insurance, and other retiree perks. Looking for more retirement benefits information? Check out retirement health insurance benefits, retirement income, and FAQ’s.
• Wellness programs

What This Job Offers

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