What are the responsibilities and job description for the Research Assistant - Dept. of Social and Behavioral Sciences position at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU)?
Virginia Commonwealth University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action university providing access to education and employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, political affiliation, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or disability.
Position Summary:
Dr. Dina García from the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences at the VCU School of Public Health is seeking applicants for part-time research assistants to support sponsored research projects. The research assistants will assist with tasks such as participant recruitment, data collection and management, data analysis, and dissemination of findings. They will also support the research group’s efforts to develop and foster research partnerships with community organizations.
Position Duties and Responsibilities:
- Recruit and screen research participants following study protocols
- Conduct data collection through surveys, interviews, focus groups, and other qualitative or quantitative methods
- Assist in data entry, cleaning, and management to ensure accuracy and integrity
- Support data analysis using appropriate software and methodologies
- Contribute to the preparation of research reports, presentations, and manuscripts for dissemination
- Coordinate and maintain communication with community organizations to support research partnerships
- Assist with administrative tasks, such as scheduling participant interviews and maintaining project documentation
- Adhere to ethical and regulatory guidelines for research
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree (or current enrollment in a relevant graduate program) in Public Health, Social Sciences, or a related field
- Experience or coursework in research methods, data collection, or data analysis
- Strong organizational skills with attention to detail
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a research setting
- Effective communication skills, both written and verbal
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- Must have a demonstrated commitment to fostering diversity and inclusion in past experiences or a commitment to do so as a hourly employee at VCU
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience conducting research in public health, social sciences, or a related field
- Familiarity with statistical software (e.g., SAS, Stata, R) or qualitative analysis tools (e.g., MAXQDA)
- Prior experience working with community-based organizations or underserved populations
- Bilingual (English/Spanish) proficiency is a plus
The School of Public Health continuously strives for our workplace and learning environment to reflect the demographic and social milieu of the communities we serve. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply.
This is a restricted position with no set end date and continued employment is dependent upon project need, availability of funding, and performance.
Salary Range: $20/hour
Position Details:
Department: Social and Behavioral Sciences
Employment Type: H1 - Hourly
Restricted Status: Yes
FTE: 0.50
Exemption Status: Non-Exempt
Contact Information:
Contact Name: SOM HR
Contact Email:
Contact Phone:
Salary : $20
