Research Associate III: Whole Communities Whole Health

Job Posting Title:

Research Associate III: Whole Communities Whole Health

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Hiring Department:

Department of Psychology

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Position Open To:

All Applicants

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Weekly Scheduled Hours:

40

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FLSA Status:

Exempt

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Earliest Start Date:

Immediately

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Position Duration:

Expected to Continue Until Aug 21, 2026

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Location:

UT MAIN CAMPUS

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Job Details:

General Notes

Applications are invited for a research associate position under the direction of Benjamin Baird, Ph.D. in the Department of Psychology as part of Whole Communities – Whole Health [WCWH], a Bridging Barriers Research Grand Challenges Initiative at UT Austin.

WCWH is an interdisciplinary research study which aims to better understand how numerous different factors impact child and family health over time in East Austin. Through collaboration with families in East Austin and over 23 departments at UT, a comprehensive cohort study was created to generate knowledge and technology to highlight community strengths and garner investment for issues families care about.

Responsibilities include supervising research assistants, maintaining participant engagement, overseeing data collection (including biological and environmental samples), and ensuring research protocols and data quality standards are met.  Duties also include assisting with data collection and data analysis as part of a large-scale, ongoing cohort study. The project will involve working with an interdisciplinary team of faculty, postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, and undergraduate volunteers.

This is a one-year position with the chance to renew on an annual basis. Renewal is contingent on performance and/or continuation of grant funding. The position is full-time and includes some evening and weekend work.

Purpose

Responsible for coordinating the day-to-day activities of research assistants and participants within the prospective, longitudinal community cohort study that is a part of the 10-year University of Texas Grand Challenges project – Whole Communities, Whole Health - https://bridgingbarriers.utexas.edu/wholecommunities- whole-health/

Responsibilities

• As participants are enrolled, the coordinator will be required to maintain strong supportive connections with enrolled families and their children for follow-up, data collection, and device functioning.
• Maintain study related SOPs and keep detailed records monitoring the scheduling and performance of research assistants. Supervisory duties may include up to 10 or more research assistants.
• Complete and monitor data collection and entry, including collecting biological samples (e.g., saliva, hair), dust and water samples, research device setup and instruction (e.g., activity trackers/home sensors), and entering data into REDcap software.
• Maintain community cohort study documentation and regulatory requirements, monitor and manage participant recruitment and retention, and screen and monitor data integrity.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Biomedical Sciences, Sociology, Public Health, Nursing, Psychology, a closely related field, or its foreign equivalent.

• At least four years of related experience with a bachelor’s degree; or at least two years of related experience with a master’s degree.

• Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Preferred Qualifications

• Some previous work coordinating a research study in a community setting is desirable.
• Experience with data collection in a in East Austin communities is desirable.
• Experience with research related regulatory documents/requirements, sensors/wearable devices, and recruiting participants for biological and environmental sampling also desirable.
• Fluency in Spanish

Salary Range

$55,000

Working Conditions

• May work in all weather conditions

• May work around standard office conditions

• Repetitive use of a keyboard at a workstation

Required Materials

• Resume/CV

• 3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor
• Letter of interest

Important for applicants who are NOT current university employees or contingent workers: You will be prompted to submit your resume the first time you apply, then you will be provided an option to upload a new Resume for subsequent applications. Any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) will be uploaded in the Application Questions section; you will be able to multi-select additional files. Before submitting your online job application, ensure that ALL Required Materials have been uploaded.  Once your job application has been submitted, you cannot make changes.

Important for Current university employees and contingent workers: As a current university employee or contingent worker, you MUST apply within Workday by searching for Find UT Jobs. If you are a current University employee, log-in to Workday, navigate to your Worker Profile, click the Career link in the left hand navigation menu and then update the sections in your Professional Profile before you apply. This information will be pulled in to your application. The application is one page and you will be prompted to upload your resume. In addition, you must respond to the application questions presented to upload any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) that were noted above.

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Employment Eligibility:

Regular staff who have been employed in their current position for the last six continuous months are eligible for openings being recruited for through University-Wide or Open Recruiting, to include both promotional opportunities and lateral transfers. Staff who are promotion/transfer eligible may apply for positions without supervisor approval.

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Retirement Plan Eligibility:

The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.

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Background Checks:

A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.

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Equal Opportunity Employer:

The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

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Pay Transparency:

The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.

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Employment Eligibility Verification:

If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form.  You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States.  Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment.  Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university.

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E-Verify:

The University of Texas at Austin use E-Verify to check the work authorization of all new hires effective May 2015. The university’s company ID number for purposes of E-Verify is 854197. For more information about E-Verify, please see the following:

• E-Verify Poster (English and Spanish) [PDF]
• Right to Work Poster (English) [PDF]
• Right to Work Poster (Spanish) [PDF]

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Compliance:

Employees may be required to report violations of law under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act). If this position is identified a Campus Security Authority (Clery Act), you will be notified and provided resources for reporting. Responsible employees under Title IX are defined and outlined in HOP-3031.

The Clery Act requires all prospective employees be notified of the availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety report. You may access the most recent report here or obtain a copy at University Compliance Services, 1616 Guadalupe Street, UTA 2.206, Austin, Texas 78701.