Research Associate

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, United States

Updated: 3 months ago
Location: Chapel Hill, NORTH CAROLINA
Job Type: FullTime
Deadline: 23 Feb 2024

Posting Information
Posting Information


Department Carolina Population Center-631100
Career Area Research Professionals
Posting Open Date 01/26/2024
Application Deadline 02/23/2024
Open Until Filled No
Position Type Permanent Staff (EHRA NF)
Working Title Research Associate
Appointment Type EHRA Non-Faculty Research
Position Number 20061920
Vacancy ID NF0007753
Full Time/Part Time Full-Time Permanent
FTE 1
Hours per week 40
Position Location North Carolina, US
Hiring Range Dependent upon Qualifications
Proposed Start Date 06/03/2024

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 for numerous retail, restaurant and performing arts discounts, savings on local child care centers and special rates on select campus events. UNC-Chapel Hill offers full-time employees a comprehensive benefits package , paid leave, and a variety of health, life and retirement plans and additional programs that support a healthy work/life balance.
Primary Purpose of Organizational Unit
Since 1966, researchers at the Carolina Population Center have pioneered data collection and research techniques that move population science forward by emphasizing life course approaches, longitudinal surveys, the integration of biological measurement into social surveys, and attention to context and environment. We are also at the forefront of creating interdisciplinary training programs that integrate approaches from the social and biological sciences, building research capacity and training the next generation of scholars. Our faculty fellows address pressing research questions about population dynamics, fertility, health, mortality, migration, and the environment. Faculty come from multiple disciplines, benefitting from the cross-pollination of ideas. Our dedicated research and programming staff support fellows at every stage of project development, from conception through data collection or acquisition, analysis and dissemination, and project administration. https://www.cpc.unc.edu/about/
Position Summary
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Carolina Population Center seeks a full-time Research Associate to contribute to a large team evaluating several obesity prevention policies and programs in several countries. These studies will examine the impact of policies including nutrient warning labels, taxes, and marketing restrictions for sugar sweetened beverages and ultra-processed foods. The research projects will include a combination of studies evaluating the effect of policies using large-scale population-level datasets on food purchases, prices, dietary intake, and health, as well as randomized controlled experimental studies testing the impact of policies on consumer behavior. The Research Associate will work closely with our interdisciplinary Global Food Research Program (https://www.globalfoodresearchprogram.org/). Our research team also includes masters and doctoral students in public health, policy and mass communications, research assistants, programmers, project managers and many colleagues at UNC and across the globe.
The Research Associate will support a mixture of research based in the U.S. and globally. This position directly provides research, analytical and technical writing support on research protocols, papers, manuscripts and deliverables led by Drs. Shu Wen Ng, Lindsey Smith Taillie, and to a much lesser extent Dr. Barry Popkin, in collaboration with researchers from other institutions.
The Research Associate’s work will focus on working on data analysis around empirical evaluations of major food and nutrition programs or policies, model simulations around future policies, and experimental studies focused on elucidating mechanisms around consumer behavior change. Panels of household food purchase data, retail food sales, nutritional data and dietary surveys will be used, so experience with large and complex datasets is required. This Research Associate will need to have expertise in longitudinal and other advanced statistical methods, ability to develop and adapt statistical models, conduct diagnostics and management and manipulation of these data. Prior experience in contributing to peer-reviewed publications is necessary. The Research Associate will also need to be able to independently conduct analyses with input from the research team. In addition, the role will involve working and coordinating closely with our team of MPH/MS registered dietitians and programmers to understand data organization and if time allows, provide statistical consultation support to graduate students. The ability and willingness to work with a larger mix of people and work styles is critical.
The work will have the potential for translational and policy impact within the U.S. and globally. This work will lead to a series of published papers in top health, nutrition, economics, social science, and policy journals, in addition to briefs and internal documentation on some key outcomes.
Minimum Education and Experience Requirements
Relevant post-Baccalaureate degree required (or foreign degree equivalent); for candidates demonstrating comparable independent research productivity, will accept a relevant Bachelor’s degree (or foreign degree equivalent) and 3 or more years of relevant experience in substitution. May require terminal degree and licensure.
Required Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience
The required qualifications, competencies, and experience for this position are:
* A master’s degree in public health, economics, statistics or a related field with a strong emphasis on data and statistical analysis skills.
* In addition to the above, at least two years of experience independently analyzing experimental and non-experimental data, including cross-sectional and longitudinal data from large and complex datasets, such as large-scale datasets of household grocery purchases and experience with data management and analysis in Stata.
* Contributions to peer-reviewed publications, including contributing to original drafts and navigating submission and revisions processes.
* Strong interpersonal, and written and verbal communication to communicate effectively with technical and administrative staff.
* Knowledge of and proficiency with Microsoft Office and Teams
Preferred Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience
Preferred qualifications, competencies, and experience include:
* Experience working on multiple projects at a time with possibly competing deadlines.
* Experience working with a diverse set of collaborators across different countries, cultures and time zones.
* Experience in nutrition and obesity prevention research preferred.
* Experience with data management and analysis in SAS
Special Physical/Mental Requirements
Campus Security Authority Responsibilities

Not Applicable.
Special Instructions
Quick Link https://unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/273550

Posting Contact Information


Department Contact Name and Title Annette Brothers, Manager, HR & Administration
Department Contact Telephone or Email [email protected]
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, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or status as a protected veteran.

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