Research Assistant

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, United States

Updated: 4 months ago
Location: Chapel Hill, NORTH CAROLINA
Job Type: PartTime
Deadline: 07 Jan 2024

Posting Information
Posting Information


Department Ctr Health Prom and Dis Prev - 633200
Career Area Research Professionals
Posting Open Date 01/04/2024
Application Deadline 01/07/2024
Position Type Temporary Staff (SHRA)
Position Title Research Assistant
Position Number 20045292
Vacancy ID S022498
Full-time/Part-time Part-Time Temporary
Hours per week 20
Work Schedule
Monday – Friday, 8:30am – 5:00pm; times may vary
Position Location North Carolina, US
Hiring Range $17.00 - $19.00/per hour
Proposed Start Date 01/15/2024
Estimated Duration of Appointment 6 months not to exceed 11 months

Position Information


Be a Tar Heel!
A global higher education leader in innovative teaching, research and public service, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill consistently ranks as one of the nation’s top public universities . Known for its beautiful campus, world-class medical care, commitment to the arts and top athletic programs, Carolina is an ideal place to teach, work and learn.
One of the best college towns and best places to live in the United States, Chapel Hill has diverse social, cultural, recreation and professional opportunities that span the campus and community.
University employees can choose from a wide range of professional training opportunities for career growth, skill development and lifelong learning and enjoy exclusive perks that include numerous retail and restaurant discounts, savings on local child care centers and special rates for performing arts events. 
Primary Purpose of Organizational Unit
The goal of the UNC Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention (HPDP) is to prevent chronic disease and reduce health disparities. Investigators and staff at HPDP work with communities to conduct research, provide training and translate research findings into policy and practice. Research areas include nutrition and physical activity, cardiovascular health, diabetes, obesity, healthy food access, cancer prevention and control, children’s health, rural health, and health equity. HPDP is part of a network of 26 CDC Prevention Research Centers across the United States.
The vision of the Children’s Healthy Weight Research Group (CHWRG) is to be leaders in child obesity prevention by creating evidence-based initiatives that improve the health and well-being of children, their families, and other caregivers through innovative research on obesity, nutrition, and physical activity. The group’s flagship program, Go NAPSACC (Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care), is an online change-agent platform for child care providers to improve the health of young children in their care through practices, policies, and environments that instill habits supporting lifelong health and well-being.
Position Summary
This position may be eligible for a hybrid work arrangement that may include a partially remote work location, consistent with System Office policy. UNC Chapel Hill employees are generally required to reside within a reasonable commuting distance of their assigned duty station.
The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) Access project aims to explore variations in CACFP participation by eligible ECE centers using existing state and national databases and conducting interviews with directors of center-based ECE across four states with low levels of CACFP participation by ECE. CACFP is a federally regulated food reimbursement program that provides significant nutritional benefits to children at risk for food insecurity, but presently, ECE participation in this voluntary program varies widely across states. To increase enrollment, we need to understand the disparities that exist in CACFP participation and inequities contributing to differences in access to and utilization of CACFP by eligible ECE.
The Research Assistant position will assist with the implementation of the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) Access project, led by Principal Investigator, Dr. Falon Smith. This position will focus on accessing, documenting, and organizing national and state-level CACFP policy documentation and state-level CACFP sponsor data. Additionally, the Research Assistant will be responsible for assisting in the development of a coding rubric to score state-level CACFP policies based on their stringency and potential to promote or hinder enrollment in the program.
Minimum Education and Experience Requirements

Bachelor’s degree; or equivalent combination of training and experience. All degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.
Required Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience
- Familiarity with using Microsoft Excel to record, organize, filter, and conduct basic summaries of research data.
- Familiarity with using publicly available databases to access policy-level data.
- Strong organizational and analytic skills.
- Ability to manage projects and juggle multiple priorities
- Ability to work independently within a team-based environment, meet deadlines.
- Detailed oriented
Preferred Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience
- Experience with research methodology, particularly those related to public health, health promotion and disease prevention are desired.
Special Physical/Mental Requirements
Campus Security Authority Responsibilities

Not Applicable.
Special Instructions
Quick Link https://unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/272212
Temporary Employment Policies
Temporary Employment Policies

Posting Contact Information


Office of Human Resources Contact Information
If you experience any problems accessing the system or have questions about the application process, please contact the Office of Human Resources at (919) 843-2300 or send an email to [email protected] 
 
Please note: The Office of Human Resources will not be able to provide specific updates regarding position or application status.
Equal Opportunity Employer Statement
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, race, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or status as a protected veteran.

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