"RRI Research Assistant - D94028"

Proposed Start Date08/16/2024RankL - Research AssistantWorking TitleRRI Research AssistantPosition NumberD94028RepresentationAU - AAUPFaculty TypeFixed Term Research/GrantFixed Term End Date:Position FTEvariable .50 - 1.0, initially .80Term of Service12 month

Position Summary

Brief Description of PSU/School/DeptThe Regional Research Institute for Human Services is part of PSU’s School of Social Work. RRI project teams conduct innovative research, training, and program evaluation to address critical community issues, with an emphasis on community-based participatory work.Position SummaryThis position will support RRI projects that are funded by a variety of external community partners, e.g. the City of Portland Budget Office, the Oregon Health Authority, and Portland Parks and Recreation. This project is within the Regional Research Institute for Human Services (RRI) in the School of Social Work, and will be supervised by RRI’s Director. The Research Assistant will work on various research and evaluation projects related to community members’ perceptions of living in Portland, service users’ feedback, and evaluation of participants who have received care and support from behavioral health partners and agencies. This is a grants-funded position and will include working both in a team of other researchers and independently. Specific duties include:

- Conduct literature searches to support project / grant work and deliverables.

- Assist with planning and organizing evaluation and research project efforts by participating in team meetings with other RRI researchers and external community partners. Discussions will include topics such as evaluation design (methods, instrument design, data collection protocols, and data analysis plans); implementation (progress, timelines and deadlines, barriers, and problem solving); and other research-related topics, with the goal of contributing to research and evaluation design.

- Assist with conducting qualitative interviews and focus groups.

- Conduct intercept surveys and support community partners with data collection outreach.

- Develop and maintain databases to support project work and adherence to timelines and deadlines.

- Assist with creating web-based online surveys with Qualtrics and downloading data for review and analysis.

- Assist with cleaning qualitative and quantitative data using a variety of formats, including SPSS, Atlas.ti, and Excel.

- Assist with coding, organizing, and interpreting both qualitative and quantitative data.

- Assist with compiling, analyzing, and writing up final results for research studies and program evaluation projects.

- Assist with coordination and organization of an Oregon-based community of practice for the purpose of building community disaster resilience and expanding material previously developed by the International Transformational Resilience Coalition (ITRC) to a region-specific application.

- Gather data and material for reports that will aid in the development and facilitation of ITRC’s commissioning program, which offers regionally-based communities throughout the United States an opportunity to become certified in the Community is Medicine model.

- Join other research team members in attendance at meetings with community partner agencies and funders, listening to and participating in conversations related to research and program evaluation efforts.

Primary ActivityR - ResearchMinimum Qualifications- Bachelor’s degree or two years of experience performing research or evaluation tasks (e.g. gathering data from various sources, conducting interviews, tabulating or classifying data for reporting; and using computers to retrieve, edit, or tabulate data).

- Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively on a team and with diverse, culturally specific community agencies and partners.

Preferred Qualifications- Bachelor’s degree.

- Work experience in a related field: e.g. behavioral health, health care, young person services, culturally specific and linguistically diverse trauma-informed programs.

- Experience with web-based literature review.

- Knowledge and experience with Excel or Google Sheets, Qualtrics, and SPSS.

Key Cultural Competencies• Creates an environment that acknowledges, encourages and celebrates differences.

• Functions and communicates effectively and respectfully within the context of varying beliefs, behaviors, orientations, identities and cultural backgrounds.

• Seeks opportunities to gain experience working and collaborating in diverse, multicultural, and inclusive settings with a willingness to change for continual improvement

• Adheres to all PSU’s policies including the policies on Prohibited Discrimination & Harassment and the Professional Standards of Conduct.Environmental StewardshipContributes to a culture of environmental stewardship, practices resource conservation, and actively works toward achieving long-term sustainability goals.Professional Standards of ConductAt Portland State University, all employees are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner which maintains a safe, respectful, and productive environment for faculty, students, administrators, and staff. It is the responsibility of every member of the Portland State University community to conduct themselves in accordance with our PSU Professional Standards of Conduct which are available at https://www.pdx.edu/human-resources/professional-standards-conduct-policy.Total Compensation Range & Benefits StatementThe starting annual salary rate for this position is $63,480. This is a benefited position represented by PSU-AAUP; benefits include 95% premium paid healthcare, retirement plan; and reduced tuition rates for employee, spouse or dependent at any of the Oregon University System schools.

Application Instructions

Additional InformationAdditional Application Instructions (deadlines, etc.)Does this position require the employee to drive a motor vehicle?NoBackground Check RequiredYesIf you have questionsPlease contact search chair Dr. Mary Oschwald, oschwald@pdx.edu , with any questions about this posting or position.

Search Details

Posting Close DateProjected Close Date for PostingOpen Until Finalists IdentifiedApplication screening beginsWill you consider an ABD applicant for this position?NoIf yes, when must the degree be earned?If necessary, would you be willing to sponsor the succcessful applicant for permanent US residence, now or in the future?No

Reference Requests

Reference Requests

Accept ReferencesNoMinimum Number of References0Maximum Number of ReferencesCutoff DateSpecial Instruction for Reference Provider