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.
Job Summary
The Overdose Prevention Engagement Network (OPEN) seeks a motivated and experienced Research Area Specialist to join our dynamic team and lead our qualitative research efforts. This full-time position will involve managing and analyzing qualitative datasets, conducting interviews and focus groups, and contributing to the development of research publications. The successful candidate will collaborate closely with faculty, project directors and managers, and multiple principal investigators to support ongoing and new qualitative research projects.
Key responsibilities include data management, conducting semi-structured qualitative interviews, utilizing qualitative analysis software, preparing reports, and contributing to research dissemination efforts.
Mission Statement
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.
Responsibilities*
Key Responsibilities:
- Collaborate with faculty and project managers to understand research designs and requirements.
- Actively engage in team discussions to improve data collection methods, quality of analysis, coding, and documentation.
- Create interview guides, codebooks, protocols, and other documentation required for conducting qualitative interviews in collaboration with PIs and study teams.
- Clean, manage, and analyze qualitative data using qualitative software (MaxQDA, NVivo, Dedoose, Qualtrics, etc.).
- Aggregate findings for presentation and discussion with the principal investigator.
- Prepare tables, graphs, charts, and other visual displays for study reports and manuscripts.
- Create and maintain study documentation, ensuring proper data organization and integrity.
- Contribute to developing methods for tracking progress in data collection for new projects.
- Conduct semi-structured qualitative interviews and focus groups with study participants.
Required Qualifications*
- Master's degree in a related field, with expertise in health services research or psychosocial research related to complex medical conditions
- 8-10 years of research experience in qualitative analysis, including extensive work on research design, data collection, and data analysis.
- Proven experience in leading interdisciplinary research teams and mentoring junior researchers or graduate students.
- Expertise in designing and implementing research tools, including survey instruments and interview protocols, particularly in qualitative health research.
- Proven experience in qualitative research techniques, including conducting semi-structured interviews and focus groups, as well as proficiency in qualitative analysis software such as NVivo, MaxQDA, and Dedoose.
- Strong data management and organizational skills gained from managing research projects and analyzing complex qualitative datasets, often related to health policy and health services research.
- Advanced writing skills, with a track record of preparing manuscripts, conference presentations, and research reports for both academic and professional audiences.
- Ability to work independently, with minimal oversight, while contributing to team discussions on research methods, data collection, and analysis improvements.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook), with extensive use of data visualization tools to present research findings in accessible formats
Modes of Work
Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.
Additional Information
1-yr term limit (with opportunity for extension)
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. Pre-employment drug testing applies to all selected candidates, including new or additional faculty and staff appointments, as well as transfers from other U-M campuses.
Application Deadline
Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled anytime after the minimum posting period has ended.
U-M EEO Statement
The University of Michigan is an equal employment opportunity employer.