Research Coordinator (RP2)

Position Overview
The Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement (CAREI) has a position open for a temporary, part-time (0.5 FTE) Project Coordinator to support research projects that focus on the wellbeing of children and families. There may be options for additional hours and the appointment may continue beyond one year, pending additional funding. This position is part of CAREI's research support team and actively supports and advances the University's commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

The individual in this position will assist in coordinating daily activities of assigned research projects. The Project Coordinator will be responsible for overseeing study documentation, monitoring regulatory compliance, contacting families (initial, follow-up and reminders), providing descriptions of studies, recruiting research participants via informed consent procedures, coordinating protocol implementation and the administration of research assessments such as computer-based tasks, questionnaires, and behavioral tasks.

The ideal candidate will have prior educational, behavioral or clinical research experience, as well as experience working with children, teens and/or families. To accommodate the needs of study participants, some work may occur in the evenings and/or weekends. Participant enrollment and data collection activities may take place at community sites (e.g. schools and other community sites) and/or participants' homes; in these cases, travel is required.

The University of Minnesota encourages a healthy work life balance for employees. CEHD is committed to an excellent employee experience, offering a flexible work environment that meets the needs of students, staff, faculty, and the communities we serve. Flexible work arrangements may include flexibility in schedule and/or work location. Please note that 100% remote work requires approval prior to offer. All UMN employees are expected to follow applicable public health and safety procedures.

Job Responsibilities

Research Protocol Coordination (40%)

• Work closely with Principal Investigators to create and maintain project protocols and assist with sponsor reporting requirements.
• Establish project timelines and track project milestones.
• Provide logistical coordination and oversight of protocol implementation and assessment processes including (but not limited to) scheduling and confirming participant appointments, data collection coaching and quality assurance.
• Troubleshoot problems in the development and execution of protocol procedures, including identifying and reporting protocol deviations.
• Develop and maintain tools and databases to track participant retention and completion of protocol activities (e.g. participant contacts, intervention exposure, data collection, etc.).
• Oversee participant compensation.
• Assist with research compliance tasks including training and regulatory procedures for human subject research, as well as initiating protocol application and ongoing reporting for the Institutional Review Board (IRB).
  

Data Collection and Management (35%)

• Develop and manage electronic surveys via tools such as Qualtrics or REDCap.
• Maintain data collection flow and timeline, making adaptations as necessary.
• Call families to schedule data collection appointments across multiple studies; when applicable, coordinate assessment schedules by matching and assigning team members to scheduled appointments based on availability.
• Develop rapport with study participants to ensure a positive research experience.
• Conduct participant assessments and other data collection activities such as fidelity observations and coding.
• Organize, complete, and maintain all records associated with recruitment and retention efforts.
• Assist with data entry and cleaning tasks.
• Ensure data quality control.
• Follow protocol for appropriate storage and transfer, safeguarding of all study-related materials.

Participant Recruitment and Retention (15%)

• Attend recruitment and outreach events.
• Manage recruitment and retention plan for participants across assigned studies.
• Serve as point of contact for study participants and partners; establish and maintain communication and answer questions about study intervention(s) and/or protocols.
• Contact families who have expressed interest in participating in research; screen confidential information to assess for study eligibility (i.e. inclusion/exclusion criteria).
• Schedule and manage recruitment appointments across assigned research studies.
• Conduct participant recruitment by obtaining informed consent and assent from adolescent participants, parents, educators and/or providers.
• Evaluate and implement participant retention strategies.

Other Administrative Duties (10%)

• Store and maintain adequate supply of all study-related materials (questionnaires, assessment supplies, equipment, etc.).
• Assist with training research assistants and data collection staff.
• Attend all assigned research project meetings.
• Participate in CAREI's research support team meetings.
• Support process improvement initiatives.
• Other special projects or duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• BA/BS in social sciences or related field (psychology, education, family social science, public health, or other related field) with at least 2 years of experience, or a combination of related education and work experience to equal 6 years.
• Proficiency with standard computer resources and software including email, Microsoft Office, database systems, PDF files, and other web-based platforms such as search engines, google docs/sheets, etc.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate effectively with people from a variety of communities, backgrounds, and identities
• Prior experience with survey and data collection systems such as Qualtrics, REDCap, or similar
• Availability to work evenings and weekends

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in social sciences or related field
• Previous experience working at CAREI and/or knowledge of CEHD research portfolio.
• Experience working with research participants including children/youths, parents, educators and/or providers
• Knowledge of IRB regulations and processes
• Experience with IRB submissions and reporting requirements
• Experience with both quantitative and qualitative data collection
• Excellent organization skills and proven ability to complete detailed work accurately while managing multiple projects
• Effective oral and written communication skills
• Ability to analyze and solve complex problems

Department Overview

CAREI is a well-established college-wide center that serves as the link between research and practice in Minnesota schools PreK-16 and other agencies interested in applied educational and social science research. CAREI's mission is to maximize wellbeing in schools, families, and communities. Our vision is to become the premier hub for making research accessible and actionable to ensure equitable outcomes. CAREI strives to accomplish this via the center's commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion, which states, "We are committed to tackling injustices and embracing diversity by continuously engaging with principles of equity, antiracism, cultural responsiveness, and intersectionality. We seek to learn about, live out, and promote these principles in our work with educational programs and systems as applied researchers, evaluators, trainers, and coaches."

College Overview

The College of Education and Human Development (CEHD), the University's third largest college, contributes to a just and sustainable future through engagement with the local and global communities to enhance human learning and development at all stages of life. We know diversity is necessary to do our best work and foster our humanity. That's why the CEHD community is collectively dedicated to cultivating an inclusive and equitable environment, embracing and celebrating all identities of our students, staff, and faculty. These values are also a moral imperative requiring continuous proactive measures and a firm stance against prejudice, discrimination, and systemic injustice.

Pay Range: The budgeted salary range for this position is $25.00/hr - 26.45/hr. Final salary offers are dependent on the individual candidate's experience, skills, and internal equity within the department.

Time Appointment: 50%

Position Type: Civil Service

Retirement plan options are available for Civil Service, Faculty, Labor-Represented, Professional & Administrative, and Temp Casual classifications. Learn more about retirement plans.

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will be given the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume.

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8647.

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by the Star Tribune as a Top Workplace for 2021, as well as by Forbes as Best Employers for Women and one of America's Best Employers (2015, 2018, 2019, 2023), Best Employer for Diversity (2019, 2020), Best Employer for New Grads (2018, 2019), and Best Employer by State (2019, 2022).