Research Fellow - Health Promotion & Policy

About UMass Amherst

UMass Amherst, the Commonwealth's flagship campus, is a nationally ranked public research university offering a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University sits on nearly 1,450-acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts and offers a rich cultural environment in a bucolic setting close to major urban centers. In addition, the University is part of the Five Colleges (including Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, and Smith College), which adds to the intellectual energy of the region.

Job Description

Under the supervision of two Principal Investigators and Professors in the Department of Health Promotion and Policy, the candidate will perform activities on multiple research projects. The candidate will be expected to work with a high level of independence, prioritize all aspects of research activities with minimal supervision, and self-initiate suggestions and approaches to research efforts. Research populations may include people with opioid and other substance use disorders, criminal justice involved individuals (including incarcerated), individuals with mental health conditions, and people with HIV and food insecurity. The candidate will conduct interviews with research participants, facilitate focus groups for research purposes, oversee collection of qualitative data and intervention process evaluation data by collaborators, analyze qualitative and quantitative data, coordinate training events, ensure that research projects meet regulatory requirements, coordinate the work of students and staff, oversee COVID-19 mitigation efforts as needed, prepare budget reports, assist with project management, co-author reports and papers for dissemination, and perform other research-related tasks.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree
• Experience with teaching or training, preferably in contexts that serve vulnerable and marginalized populations (people with opioid use disorder, people involved with the criminal justice system, people with HIV and food insecurity)
• Experience with training and coordinating the efforts of research staff
• At least 1-year of experience with data collection
• Experience coordinating and assisting with data collection via focus groups and 1:1 interviews
• Organizational skills to maintain records, plan and schedule meetings and presentations, and coordinate other tasks as required
• Skill in speaking and writing to persons of various social, cultural, economic, and educational backgrounds
• Ability to review, recall, and assess interview forms for completeness, accuracy, and internal consistency
• Demonstrated knowledge of personal computers and relevant software programs (e.g., data entry, word processing, spreadsheets, qualitative data analysis software) such as Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and Outlook
• Ability to work some evenings and weekends
• Driver's license and car for field interviews
• Can pass criminal history background check to enter jails and prisons
• Ability to travel including flying, renting and driving a car, and staying overnight

Preferred Qualifications

• Masters degree in public health or social science field
• Bilingual (English-Spanish) strongly preferred
• Expertise in re-contact methods and interviewing
• Experience with co-authoring reports and papers for scientific audiences
• Competency with Atlas.ti, NVivo and/or STATA
• Ability to travel to the Dominican Republic for site visits and collaboration with local partners

Application Instructions:

In your application, please include your resume, cover letter and the contact information for three (3) professional references.

UMass Amherst is committed to a policy of equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, caste, creed, sex, age, marital status, national origin, disability, political belief or affiliation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related condition(s), veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, natural and protective hairstyle and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination in employment, admission to and participation in academic programs, activities, and services, and the selection of vendors who provide services or products to the University. To fulfill that policy, UMass Amherst is further committed to a program of affirmative action to eliminate or mitigate artificial barriers and to increase opportunities for the recruitment and advancement of qualified minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and covered veterans. It is the policy of UMass Amherst to comply with the applicable federal and state statutes, rules, and regulations concerning equal opportunity and affirmative action.