Sr. Research Assistant

We are seeking a Sr. Research Assistant who will be research management support for a new NIH-funded research study at the Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing (JHU). The study focuses on prevention of and response to gender-based violence and economic health disparities in sexual and reproductive health, such as HIV infection. The study is important because adolescents and young adults, particularly women, sexual minorities, and racial/ethnic minorities, are disproportionately impacted by economic hardship and its association with intimate partner violence and other adverse sexual health outcomes.

The Sr. Research Assistant will coordinate the successful implementation of EMERGE, led by Dr. Larissa Jennings Mayo-Wilson (PI), which aims to (1) implement a community-based economics and health behavioral intervention to reduce economic hardship and sexual risk behaviors in Black young adults in Baltimore, Maryland and (2) to quantitatively and qualitatively evaluate the efficacy of the EMERGE intervention using surveys, interviews, and focus groups.

The position includes research support activities (40%) and program implementation responsibilities (60%).

This position is funded by a limited-time grant and is expected to end on or about April 30, 2027 (~2 year duration), depending on the candidate's start date. A continuing position may be possible pending available funding.

Specific Duties & Responsibilities

• The primary duty of the Sr. Research Assistant is to work closely with the study team (as described above) to coordinate, implement, and evaluate the EMERGE Program.

Research Support (40%)

• Enroll in and complete all required on-the-job trainings for conduct of human subjects research as required by NIH and UNC-JHU university partners, including ethics training, good clinical practice training, oral rapid testing state certification, and conflict of interest trainings.
• Assist in study preparation activities such as editing and finalizing enrollment forms, questionnaires, operating procedures, curriculum materials, and communication flyers.
• Participate in monthly co-investigator meetings as well as twice weekly project coordination meetings with PI, PD, and other EMERGE team members and community partners.
• Carry-out study recruitment and enrollment activities relating to disseminating marketing flyers to potential participants, organizing study information and sign-up sessions, conducting screening and informed consent processes, registering phones to text alerts, and conducting enrollment interviews with incoming EMERGE participants.
• Following completion of enrollment interviews, issue payments to EMERGE participants for attendance. Also assist in screening and enrolling eligible participant referrals. Tasks will additionally include scheduling interviews (including setting up meeting spaces) and sending reminders to participants about interviews.
• Assist in confidential data entry for baseline enrollment interviews. Assist in review of participant database for quality control and reporting of basic outcome measures.
• Assist in qualitative data transcription.
• Coordinate follow-up survey interviews and qualitative focus group discussions with participants every six months, including scheduling, sending reminders, meeting set-up, screening (data collection), and issuing payments to participants. Assist in tracking participants who are lost-to-follow-up or who have missing assessment information.
• Provide regular updates to ED, PI, and PD.

Program Implementation (60%)

• Arrange weekly group educational sessions with participants in collaboration with guest speakers, mentors, and the PD and/or PI. Set-up session meeting spaces, such as arranging tables/chairs, setting up Zoom (if needed), and arranging session snacks and supplies. Send reminders to participants regarding upcoming sessions.
• Serve as lead facilitator in weekly group education sessions with participants using the EMERGE facilitators manual and in collaboration with guest speakers, mentors, and the PD and/or PI. Track and document progression of group educational sessions. Encourage constructive discussion and participation. Provide positive encouragement and feedback to participants.
• Help participants connect with their EMERGE mentors during educational sessions or outside of educational sessions via introductions and check-ins.
• Help participants navigate employment and income generation options (including use of EMERGE micro-grants / financial assistance) during educational sessions or during individual meetings, using the EMERGE facilitators' manual.
• Help participants connect with local sexual and reproductive health clinics during educational sessions, such as providing contact information, address/telephone, discussing steps to schedule an appointment, reviewing require documents for health clinics, etc. (i.e., ID, health insurance), and/or navigating transportation. Help participants identify safer sexual practices to reduce unintended sexually transmitted infections or unplanned pregnancy.
• Track participant engagement in EMERGE program, such as attendance, accomplishments, collaboration, receipt of payments, receipt of mentoring, receipt of text messages, and other program outputs. Assist in one-on-one support to participants as needed for troubleshooting and follow-up.
• Coordinate and facilitate quarterly individual booster sessions with participants (in-person, phone, or videoconferencing). Booster sessions are intended to support program retention. Each booster session will focus on developing personalized strategies, troubleshooting barriers, and providing information, resources, and advice to participants.
• Communicate and liaise with guest speakers and mentors who will participate in educational sessions for EMERGE participants.
• Review inventory of study supplies and update PD/PI for fulfilling orders.
• Support program communication tasks, such as printing and posting flyers, sending event reminders, escorting and introducing guest speakers, checking in on participant mentors, and being a friendly, visible, and engaging EMERGE program representative to young adult participants, university partners, and the greater Baltimore community.
• Support program documentation goals, such as taking pictures of key events, testing recording devices, and taking meeting notes. Also provide technical input regarding program for preparation of EMERGE reports, abstracts, publications, presentation slides, and manuscripts.
• Support program administration responsibilities, such as obtaining required participant counts, signatures, forms, invoices, or other needs to fulfill grant requirements with NIH, UNC, and JHU. Route items accordingly. Assist as needed to help EMERGE program follow planned implementation timeline.
• Provide regular updates to ED, PI, and PD.

Additional Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Advanced computer skills to include MS Office applications, as well as experience with software such as Adobe Acrobat and EndNote (or other reference manager).
• Ability to work via phone, virtual, and/or video-conferencing platforms (Zoom, Microsoft Teams).
• Able to work autonomously and meet required deadlines, including having independent decision-making and trouble-shooting abilities.
• Strong communication and organization skills with attention to detail and accuracy.
• Highly motivated individual with ability to work on multiple and competing priorities.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to quickly build relationships with diverse team members and community partners.
• Able to travel, as needed, to one or more youth centers in Baltimore, MD. Travel costs will be reimbursed. Travel effort is expected to be 15%.

• Bachelor's Degree in related discipline. MPH or MS in relevant field preferred.
• Two years of related experience.
• Additional graduate level education may substitute for required experience, to the extent permitted by the JHU equivalency formula.

• MPH or other Master's Degree is required in Public Health, Economics, Communications, Sociology, or related field.
• Experience working in an academic research setting.
• Experience working in a setting handling sensitive topics with confidentiality concerns such as gender-based violence or HIV infection.
• Experience working with underserved young adults.
• Experience or training in quantitative and/or qualitative research methods.
• Proficient in meeting and event coordination, reviewing budgets, creating flyers, ordering supplies, and/or other related administrative tasks.

Classified Title: Sr. Research Assistant
Role/Level/Range: ACRP/03/MB
Starting Salary Range: $41,300 - $72,300 Annually ($55,000 targeted; Commensurate w/exp.)
Employee group: Full Time
Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:30 - 5:00
FLSA Status:Exempt
Location:School of Nursing
Department name: Research Administration
Personnel area: School of Nursing