Research Area Specialist Associate

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 and the responsibilities outlined below. 

Job Summary

The Department of Psychiatry is seeking an organized, motivated, and collaborative Research Area Specialist Associate to join our team. In this role, you will support projects focused on substance use prevention among young adults, digital health interventions, and related behavioral health research.

On a day-to-day basis, you will help push the boundaries of knowledge forward and change lives by connecting people with our research studies, guiding participants through our studies, supporting intervention development, assist with data collection, and sharing the knowledge we gain with others.

This is a great opportunity for candidates with prior human subjects or clinical research experience who are interested in further developing their skills in substance use and behavioral health intervention research.

Responsibilities*

In this role, you will be a key part of our study team. Specific responsibilities will include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Support participant recruitment, screening, enrollment, communications, follow-up, and distribution of participation incentives across one or more research projects
• Collect, enter, review, and assist with cleaning and basic analysis of research data from study assessments (e.g., online surveys, digital health data, qualitative interviews)
• Assist with preparation and maintenance of regulatory and study materials, including IRB applications, amendments, renewals, standard operating procedures, study protocols, participant-facing materials, and tracking systems
• Assist with creating, organizing and refining intervention materials for study use, including reviewing content for clarity, accuracy, and relevance to the study population
• Support digital health study/intervention activities, including monitoring or moderating peer messaging components 
• Contribute to clinical trial planning, start-up, and coordination as projects progress

• Assist with literature reviews and preparation of project reports, manuscripts, presentations, and other study-related materials

Required Qualifications*

• Bachelor's degree in psychology, public health, social work, health sciences, or a related field
• 1 or more years of experience working directly with study participants in human subjects research, behavioral health research, or clinical research settings. 

• Previous familiarity with research oversight activities (e.g., working with an Institutional Review Board, IRB). 

Desired Qualifications*

• Master's degree in psychology, public health, social work, health sciences, or a related field
• Prior work on clinical trials or substance use/behavioral intervention studies
• Hands-on experience with participant recruitment, enrollment, and retention in research studies
• Previous familiarity with survey platforms (e.g., Qualtrics) or data management systems
• Proficiency in R for data cleaning, analysis, and visualization
• Training, coursework, or applied experience in clinical, health, or behavioral sciences relevant to substance use and behavioral health intervention content development
• Experience training or mentoring research staff or students

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

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.

Work Schedule

This is a full-time position. With regular hours typically taking place Monday-Friday during standard business hours. 

Your specific schedule will be set in discussion with the supervisor. Active recruitment, intervention, and follow-up periods require flexibility to accommodate participant needs. To meet those needs, you may be required to flex your schedule to accommodate work on occasional evenings and/or weekends.

Work Locations

This will be a hybrid position. On-site responsibilities will take place in our offices located in Ann Arbor, MI. Some responsibilities may require local travel in and around Ann Arbor (e.g., collecting/distributing incentives, obtaining equipment for work duties, participant recruitment).

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.

In addition to the screenings indicated above under Michigan law, a criminal history check including fingerprinting is required as a condition of transfer or employment for this position.

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 any time after the minimum posting period has ended.

E-Verify

The University of Michigan participates with the federal EVerify system. Individuals hired into positions that are funded by a federal contract with the FAR EVerify clause must have their identity and work eligibility confirmed by the EVerify system.  This position is identified as a position that may include the EVerify requirement.

U-M EEO Statement

The University of Michigan is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.