Part-Time Research Study Assistant

This position sits within the Center for Community Health (CCH), a center within the Institute for Public Health and Medicine (IPHAM). This position is a part-time position (20 hours/week) for a Research Assistant with experience with literature reviews and an interest in training and using eye-tracking technology. A fully-remote position can be considered pending some transportation challenges, namely, for those that would need to commute long distances from rural areas. The position will require some travel to rural areas for in-home research visits.

The COMMUNICATE Study in the Center for Community Health (CCH) is assessing how rural older adults use patient portals and MyChart messages. The Research Assistant will follow a literature review protocol to assess common MyChart message themes of rural older adults. Essentially, a team of Research Assistants will sort through existing MyChart messages and assign potential categories of themes to identify common reasons that rural older adults use MyChart. Additionally, the Research Assistant will conduct in-person usability testing of patient portals with rural older adults using eye-tracking equipment and short interviews. In-person visits will require travel. Research Assistants will be trained to use the equipment and conduct interviews. Information from this activity will help us learn about how rural older adults use patient portals.

Please note: The position will require some travel to rural areas for in-home research visits.

Specific Responsibilities:

Technical

• Reviews & obtains informed consent.
• Recruits study participants.
• Reviews medical records.
• Facilitates communication with key personnel & participants to maintain project study flow.
• Scores test results.
• Conducts interviews.
• Collects survey data.
• Schedules study visits with participants.

Administration

• Performs scientific literature searches in support of research.
• Maintains detailed records of results which may include collecting, extracting & entering data; &/or preparing basic charts & graphs.

Miscellaneous

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree in a major such as social or health science or related; OR appropriate combination of education and experience.
• Must complete NU's IRB CITI training before interacting with any participants & must re-certify every 3 years.

Minimum Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities.)

• Strong interpersonal communication skills (oral and written)
• Able to coordinate research studies, executing day-to-day tasks and intermittent regulatory tasks (e.g., IRB approvals)
• Excellent organizational, analytical, technical, and problem-solving skills

Preferred Qualifications:

• Program coordination experience
• Strong community engaging or organizing skills
• Qualitative collection and analysis experience

Preferred Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities)

• Experience moderating focus groups and/or interviews
• Preferred experience in community-engaged research or community advocacy and health
• Interest in rural health
• Familiar with Nvivo or other types of qualitative analysis software

Benefits:
At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts and more! Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness:
Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life’s challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.
We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html to learn more.

Professional Growth & Development:
Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you’re interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more.

Northwestern strongly recommends COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters for people who can obtain them as a critical tool for minimizing severe illness. More information can be found on the COVID-19 and Campus Updates webpage.

The Northwestern campus sits on the traditional homelands of the people of the Council of Three Fires, the Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Odawa as well as the Menominee, Miami and Ho-Chunk nations. We acknowledge and honor the original people of the land upon which Northwestern University stands, and the Native people who remain on this land today.