Research Fellow

Apply now Job no:521259
Work type:Senior/Research Fellow (Amherst Only)
Location:UMass Amherst
Department: Health Promotion & Policy
Union: Non-Unit Exempt
Categories:Research

About UMass Amherst

UMass Amherst, the Commonwealth's flagship campus, is a nationally ranked public research university offering a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University sits on nearly 1,450-acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts and offers a rich cultural environment in a bucolic setting close to major urban centers. In addition, the University is part of the Five Colleges (including Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, and Smith College), which adds to the intellectual energy of the region.

Job Description

Under the supervision of the Principal Investigator (PI), the candidate will perform activities on multiple research projects. The candidate will be expected to work with a high level of independence, prioritize all aspects of research activities with minimal supervision, and self-initiate suggestions and approaches to research efforts. Research populations will include: people with opioid and other substance use disorders, criminal justice involved individuals, incarcerated individuals, individuals with mental health conditions, individuals who have recently given birth, and state- and county-level administrators in the fields of public health, medicine and health care delivery, criminal justice, and public policy. The candidate will conduct interviews with research participants, facilitate focus groups for research purposes, analyze qualitative and quantitative data, coordinate training events, ensure that research projects meet regulatory requirements, coordinate the work of students and staff, oversee COVID-19 mitigation efforts as needed, prepare budget reports, assist with project management, co-author reports and papers for dissemination, and perform other research-related tasks.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

• Willingness and ability to maintain confidentiality of participants interviewed.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly and effectively, verbally, and in writing, with participants, staff, and supervisors.
• Experience with teaching or training, preferably in contexts that serve vulnerable and marginalized populations (people with opioid use disorder, people involved with the criminal justice system).
• Experience with training and coordinating the efforts of research staff.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with staff who are internal and external to the university.
• Organizational skills to maintain records and coordinate other tasks.
• Ability to question participants about sensitive behavioral issues, including drug use and criminal behavior, and frequency of high-risk sex behaviors.
• Skill in speaking and writing to persons of various social, cultural, economic, and educational backgrounds.
• Ability to review, recall, and assess interview forms for completeness, accuracy, and internal consistency.
• Ability to think logically.
• Skill in simple mathematics.
• At least 1-year of experience in data collection.
• Experience with coordinating and assisting with data collection via focus groups and 1:1 interviews.
• Experience with authoring reports and papers for scientific audiences.
• Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Sciences degree.
• Ability to travel (able to fly, rent and drive a car, stay overnight when needed).
• Organizational skills to plan and schedule meetings and presentations.
• Willingness to work evenings and weekends.
• Driver’s license and car for field interviews.
• Can pass criminal history background check to enter jails and prisons.
• Possesses CITI certification for the conduct of research with Human Subjects, particularly prisoner populations.

Preferred Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

• Expertise in re-contact methods and interviewing.
• Demonstrated knowledge of personal computers and relevant software programs (e.g., data entry, word processing, spreadsheets, qualitative data analysis software) such as Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and Outlook. Competency with Atlas.ti and STATA.
• Masters degree.
• Spanish speaker.

Application Instructions

Along with the application, please submit a resume and contact information for three (3) professional references. The search will remain open until the position is filled. 

UMass Amherst is committed to a policy of equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, caste, creed, sex, age, marital status, national origin, disability, political belief or affiliation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related condition(s), veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, natural and protective hairstyle and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination in employment, admission to and participation in academic programs, activities, and services, and the selection of vendors who provide services or products to the University.  To fulfill that policy, UMass Amherst is further committed to a program of affirmative action to eliminate or mitigate artificial barriers and to increase opportunities for the recruitment and advancement of qualified minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and covered veterans.  It is the policy of UMass Amherst to comply with the applicable federal and state statutes, rules, and regulations concerning equal opportunity and affirmative action.