Research Associate

The mission of the School of Social Work is to advance equity, transform systems, improve lives. The School’s curriculum supports the mission and recognizes the uniqueness of the region served, including concerns for disadvantaged, vulnerable, and oppressed individuals, families and communities. Classes provide rigorous and evidence-based content, and give students the opportunity to explore theory, learn intervention skills and engage in challenging dialogue with colleagues.

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. If business needs change, an individual employee’s designation may be adjusted with a required minimum of ten (10) business days’ notice unless employee conduct or safety issues necessitate otherwise at the discretion of management.

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is seeking an individual to serve as a Research Associate at the School of Social Work’s Global Mental Health Initiative. The person will primarily focus on managing a longitudinal clinical research trial that is testing a new intervention called VITAA (Vijana Tambua Afya, ‘Youth Check Health’ in Swahili) for the NICHD R01-funded project Adolescent Wellness Visits to Reduce Health Risks in Tanzania. This position will be involved in all aspects of this HIV-related, implementation science project in close collaboration with Tanzania-based and US-based partner institutions. The successful applicant will work under the supervision of Dr. Joy Noel Baumgartner, Associate Professor and Principal Investigator of the study, to assist with all project activities, and will be based in the School of Social Work. The position could entail up to 10% annual international travel.

The Research Associate will use their strong global health leadership and research management and technical skills to work independently. This position will include working with a quantitative data entry platform (RedCap) and using software programs for data analyses (e.g. Dedoose and/or STATA/R). The Research Associate should be knowledgeable about domestic and international IRB policies and processes and able to maintain study documentation, protocol submissions, and standard operating procedures (SOPs), among other regulatory responsibilities. The Research Associate will have primary responsibility for the day-to-day project, research, and administrative needs of the project.

This position is contingent on funding with guaranteed funding through June 2025.

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.

• Familiarity with global and/or public health program design and evaluation is required
• Experience with managing research projects
• Experience creating surveys and/or managing quantitative data
• Experience using quantitative and/or qualitative data analysis software
• Experience with domestic and international IRB policies and processes
• Experience working with partners in LMICs, engaging and collaborating with local stakeholders
• Strong writing skills

• Prefer master’s degree in global health, public health, and/or social work required with coursework and/or advanced study in intervention research, evaluation, statistics, data analysis, or global health ethics
• Experience managing an NIH-funded clinical trial
• Record of peer-reviewed publications in global health
• Record of peer-reviewed publications in global health is preferred

The ability to travel internationally up to 10% annually.

Not Applicable.

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.