Research Specialist

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How to Apply

A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position. A research-focused writing sample is also required.

Summary

The Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation (IHPI) is seeking a highly qualified Research Area Specialist Intermediate to provide research support for the Institute's signature initiatives, with a particular focus on the National Poll on Healthy Aging and the new Michigan Poll on Healthy Aging. These polls tap into the perspectives of adults ages 50 and older to inform the public, health care providers, policymakers, and advocates on issue related to health, health care, and health policy affecting older adults and their families. The Research Specialist will work in close partnership with faculty and staff from across the Institute and within the signature initiatives team and will be responsible for research activities that support the goals of these projects.

The ideal candidate will have excellent written and verbal communication skills, survey research experience, an understanding of data interpretation, and the ability to support multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining a high level of accuracy, efficiency, and collaboration. This position will report to the institute's Manager of Signature Initiatives and Partnerships with oversight from the project managers of the initiatives in which they are involved. Overall, the Research Specialist will be a key contributor to IHPI signature initiatives projects and will help to improve the efficiency and impact of IHPI's important poll-related work.

Organizational Summary

IHPI is one of the nation's largest university-based institutes of health services researchers and health policy experts. IHPI advances the work of its 700+ faculty members by creating a welcoming and supportive research community, including networking and engagement opportunities, education and professional development programs, access to data and analysis, grant development services, and robust communications and policy engagement support.

For more than a decade, IHPI has brought together hundreds of faculty from diverse fields of study across all three U-M campuses. The Institute's staff is also interdisciplinary and includes statisticians, data analysts, project managers, communicators, administrative specialists, and education professionals.

IHPI is firmly committed to advancing inclusion, diversity, equity, accessibility, and belonging, which are core to the culture and values of the University of Michigan and Michigan Medicine. We strive to create a work culture where each team member feels respected, valued, and safe, and support a culture of inclusion and equity throughout the organization.

Mission Statement

IHPI's mission is to foster innovative, interdisciplinary research to inform policies and practices that advance the equity, quality, safety, and affordability of healthcare, and improve health for individuals, families, and communities.

IHPI's vision is that the IHPI community strives to improve health and well-being throughout Michigan, our nation, and the world through collaborative research and learning, rigorous evidence, robust communication, and policy engagement.

Michigan Medicine improves the health of patients, populations and communities through excellence in education, patient care, community service, research and technology development, and through leadership activities in Michigan, nationally and internationally.  Our mission is guided by our Strategic Principles and has three critical components; patient care, education and research that together enhance our contribution to society.

Why Join Michigan Medicine?

Michigan Medicine is one of the largest health care complexes in the world and has been the site of many groundbreaking medical and technological advancements since the opening of the U-M Medical School in 1850. Michigan Medicine is comprised of over 30,000 employees and our vision is to attract, inspire, and develop outstanding people in medicine, sciences, and healthcare to become one of the world’s most distinguished academic health systems.  In some way, great or small, every person here helps to advance this world-class institution. Work at Michigan Medicine and become a victor for the greater good.

What Benefits can you Look Forward to?

• Excellent medical, dental and vision coverage effective on your very first day
• 2:1 Match on retirement savings

Responsibilities*

Research Specialist responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

• Draft and edit publications for the signature initiatives team, including reports based on National Poll on Health Aging data
• Contribute to peer reviewed publications and presentations
• Contribute to the development of poll questions
• Support tracking of metrics, including media coverage and academic citations of the poll, and other impacts
• Compile quarterly "research round-up" reports highlighting IHPI member research related to the Institute's Signature Initiatives, including on aging and other strategic topics
• Contribute to the development, dissemination, and promotion of the poll and other work related to IHPI Signature Initiatives to a variety of audiences
• Conduct literature reviews and other background research to support the poll and other signature initiatives
• Monitor the poll's email inbox and route messages to appropriate staff members
• Completion of other tasks as assigned

Required Qualifications*

• Master's degree in Health Science, Behavioral Science, Psychology, Public Health, Social Work, Data Science, or a related field
• 4-5 years of related experience
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Experience creating/writing/editing research materials in different formats (e.g., reports, peer-reviewed manuscripts, etc.) for a variety of audiences (scientific, lay, policy)
• Experience with survey research methods and interpreting quantitative data
• Experience conducting literature reviews and background research
• Exceptional attention to detail and organizational skills
• Ability to manage multiple projects and responsibilities simultaneously
• Outstanding problem-solving skills and resourcefulness
• Ability to work with diverse teams in a collaborative and effective manner

Desired Qualifications*

The most important qualities for this position include:

• A flexible, "can-do" attitude and willingness to work collaboratively.
• Strong writing and research skills and an understanding of survey and poll data, including the ability to read and interpret data tables.
• Excellent interpersonal/people skills with the ability to interact and communicate with a diversity of people both inside and outside the University, and at different levels of the institution.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, learn quickly, achieve high performance goals, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced, quickly changing environment.
• An interest in aging and health.

Work Locations

This position may be eligible for remote and/or flexible work opportunities at the discretion of the hiring department with the understanding that this position will typically need to be on site 1-2 days/week. The IHPI staff offices are located in the North Campus Research Complex (2800 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor). Flexible work agreements are reviewed annually and are subject to change dependent on the business needs of the hiring department, throughout the course of employment.

Background Screening

Michigan Medicine conducts background screening and pre-employment drug testing on job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent job offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background screenings.  Background screenings are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Report Act.

Application Deadline

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days.  This job may be removed from posting boards and filled anytime after the minimum posting period has ended.

U-M EEO/AA Statement

The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.