Research Associate I

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Located in the heart of Philadelphia, Drexel University is a world‐class, comprehensive, R1 research institution and a global leader in experiential education. For more than 100 years, our renowned Cooperative Education (co-op) program has enabled students to gain professional work experience before they graduate, setting them apart from their peers.

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Drexel offers its highly engaged faculty and professional staff a comprehensive and world‐class benefits package that includes generous vacation and paid time off as applicable (including civic engagement days), up to an 11% 403(b) Retirement Plan match with immediate vesting, and remote and flexible work options for many roles. Our exceptional medical plans include domestic partner and fertility assistance and our award‐winning A Healthier U wellness program. In addition, faculty and professional staff at Drexel enjoy free tuition for themselves and their dependents for Drexel degree programs, certification, and non‐certification programs. And as part of the tuition offering to employees, Drexel participates in a tuition exchange program for dependents with other higher education institutions. These are just a sample of our extensive benefit offerings. Please see this Benefits Brochure for more information.

Job Summary

Dr. McGhee Hassrick, from the Life Course Outcomes Program of the A.J. Drexel Autism Institute is recruiting for a research associate to conduct social network research with autistic people, their families and network supporters. Candidates will be working at the Drexel Autism Institute, which is a multidisciplinary institute emphasizing public health science approaches. Candidates will assist in designing, developing, conducting, and communicating research often with a wide range of collaborators. The Life Course Outcomes (LCO) Research Program, within the A.J. Drexel Autism Institute, is seeking a Research Associate I to lead the management of research studies designed to investigate the impact of social networks on outcomes from autistic people, their families and communities across different life stages. The role includes managing data collection, coordinating stakeholder engagement, and leading qualitative and quantitative research for basic science and interventions. This individual will also manage lab organization and administrative efforts, and research outputs (including research project design, manuscript writing, grant-writing, and community presentations).

Essential Functions

• Lead research project implementation by supervising and participating in Internal Review Board (IRB), recruitment, consent, enrollment and data collection for autistic children, youth, parents and/or community supporters.
• Lead community-based participatory research implementation in the lab.
• Co-create and implement social network interventions in research and community contexts.
• Manage and conduct data analysis for research projects.
• Assist and co-lead manuscript writing, table making etc. to support the dissemination of research findings.
• Using sharepoint, maintain meticulous and well-organized records (i.e. recording notes for all meetings in notebook, completing all tracking information for project implementation, engaging in timely internal and external communications, project management (creating detailed project SOPs), and all other aspects of the job.
• Consult with the lab director to continually refine procedures and policies for the planning and management of research projects.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of a Bachelor's Degree in Social sciences, education or public health fields. or the equivalent combination of education and work experience.
• Minimum of 0-2 years.
• Prior research experience and experience with qualitative and quantitative methods required. Experience collaborating successfully with a wide variety of stakeholders. Experience writing research reports for scientific and nonscientific audiences.
• Outstanding written and oral communication abilities. Strong organizational skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with network statistics and/or prior experience in the field of autism preferred.

Physical Demands

Typically sitting at a desk/table.

Location

University City - Philadelphia, PA.

Additional Information

This position is classified as Exempt, grade I. Compensation for this grade ranges from $41,120.00 to $61,680.00 per year. Please note that the offered rate for this position typically aligns with the minimum to midrange of this grade, but it can vary based on the successful candidate’s qualifications and experience, department budget, and an internal equity review. Applicants are encouraged to explore the Professional Staff salary structure and Compensation Guidelines & Policies for more details on Drexel’s compensation framework. For information about benefits, please review Drexel’s Benefits Brochure.

Special Instructions to the Applicant

Please make sure you upload your CV/resume and cover letter when submitting your application. A review of applicants will begin once a suitable candidate pool is identified. Advertised: Aug 22 2025 Eastern Daylight Time. Applications close: Sep 22 2025 Eastern Daylight Time.