"Research Associate - HEARD Program Coordinator, Innovations in Education Program"

The Division of Geriatrics is seeking a full-time Spanish-speaking Research Associate/Project Coordinator to work with two to three Principal Investigators/Program Directors on research studies and educational initiatives aimed at improving care and policy for older adults. This position provides an opportunity to contribute to impactful projects that address critical needs within geriatric care and underserved populations while advancing innovations in geriatrics education.

One of the key projects is the HEARD (Hospice & End-of-life Care for People Impacted by Alzheimer's and Related Dementias) Study, which is supported by an NIA R01 research grant. This study focuses on developing evidence-based policy and ethics recommendations to improve hospice care for older adults affected by Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD), particularly those from NIH-designated populations experiencing health disparities. Reporting to the Project Director, the Research Associate will engage in all stages of the research process, including refining recruitment and data collection materials, recruiting study participants, conducting interviews with bereaved caregivers and hospice staff, and performing site visits and observations at hospice organizations. The role also involves representing UCSF and the research team in community outreach and engagement efforts, supporting collaboration with the Community Advisory Board (CAB), tracking outreach and participant engagement, organizing and maintaining study data and resources, preparing interview data for analysis and conducting initial coding, and assisting with operational and administrative tasks to ensure the success of the project.

The Research Associate/Project Coordinator will also support educational projects led by the Principal Investigator that focus on creating innovative geriatrics education materials. These projects aim to advance dementia screening, diagnosis, and care planning in underserved populations, as well as to investigate factors influencing the quality of dementia care. This work will include developing concepts and plans for video projects, coordinating video production activities such as scheduling and organizing video shoots, editing and finalizing video content to ensure accessibility, and engaging stakeholders through interviews and testimonials. The Program Coordinator will further support the strategic distribution of video content across various platforms, evaluate the effectiveness of the materials by monitoring engagement and gathering feedback, and collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to ensure diverse perspectives are represented. This role requires documenting and reporting outcomes and ensuring ethical and privacy compliance by adhering to HIPAA guidelines and privacy regulations. Additionally, the Research Associate/Project Coordinator will assist with projects related to maintaining data integrity by supporting quality checks to ensure accuracy and completeness in database entries. This includes identifying and correcting errors, fulfilling quality improvement tasks, and collaborating with other team members to enhance existing data protocols as needed.

In addition to these projects, the Research Associate may provide support to investigators and initiatives affiliated with UCSF's Pepper Center Vulnerable Aging Research Core (VARC). This support may involve assisting with Pepper Scholar projects under the mentorship of the Principal Investigator, offering consultations and trainings to faculty, trainees, and staff, and sharing resources such as documentation of best practices and example materials with VARC and its associated scholars.

The ideal candidate for this position will have prior experience in qualitative and mixed-methods research with older adults and clinicians, along with a background in geriatrics/gerontology, hospice, palliative care, serious illness, health policy, home health, and/or grief. A successful candidate will be highly collaborative, mission-driven, highly organized, and capable of managing multiple deadlines and competing tasks effectively. Because this position involves working with vulnerable participants and sensitive data, discretion and confidentiality are essential. Given that the HEARD Study will recruit individuals who identify with NIH-designated populations experiencing health disparities (NIH-designated populations), candidates who identify with one of these populations and are fluent in Spanish are required. Additionally, travel may be required for fieldwork related to the HEARD Study.

Note: This is a limited position ending on August 31, 2026.

The final salary and offer components are subject to additional approvals based on UC policy.

Certain terms and conditions of employment for this position, including the rate of pay, benefits, etc are currently subject to negotiation with the appropriate union.

Your placement within the salary range is dependent on a number of factors including your work experience and internal equity within this position classification at UCSF. For positions that are represented by a labor union, placement within the salary range will be guided by the rules in the collective bargaining agreement.

The salary range for this position is $62,500 - $93,800 (Annual Rate).

To learn more about the benefits of working at UCSF, including total compensation, please visit: https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/compensation-and-benefits/index.html

Posted: 26-Nov-25

Location: San Francisco, California

Type: Full-time

Categories: Staff/Administrative

Internal Number: 86959BR