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
Join an innovative research team focused on improving health outcomes for individuals with substance use and alcohol use disorders through health coaching and digital interventions. As a Research Therapist/Health Coach, you will support participants by conducting health coaching sessions, managing a mobile health intervention, and developing educational materials. In collaboration with clinical and research teams, you?ll help ensure adherence to study protocols, monitor participant progress, and assist with data collection and quality control. This position also offers opportunities for research dissemination through presentations and publications. The study focuses on reducing high-risk alcohol use, a common risk factor for surgical complications, and aims to identify effective intervention strategies to promote alcohol use reduction both before and after surgery.
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
Responsibilities*
Conduct Health Coaching therapy sessions: Conduct health coaching therapy sessions with participants. Follow therapy protocols and use motivational interviewing to help participants decrease alcohol use and improving other health behaviors. Provide guidance and support in line with therapy protocols. Establish strong rapport with participants to encourage adherence to the intervention and overall study activities.
Intervention Management & Materials Development: Oversee the implementation of an online phone application intervention, including troubleshooting participant issues and tracking engagement. Refine intervention materials (e.g., educational content, coaching guides, participant handouts) to ensure alignment with study goals and evidence-based practices.
Clinical Supervision & Team Collaboration: Participate in regular supervision sessions with a study-affiliated clinician to maintain fidelity to health coaching therapy protocols. Collaborate with the Principal Investigator (PI) and team members to monitor study progress, address challenges, and optimize intervention delivery.
Data Monitoring & Quality Control: Assist with data checking and monitoring activities to ensure the accuracy and consistency of study assessments. Document intervention adherence and participant engagement metrics to maintain high-quality data standards.
Survey Development & Administration: Support the creation and administration of study surveys using Qualtrics, ensuring data collection aligns with study aims. Assist with troubleshooting participant survey completion issues and ensure high-quality data capture.
Dissemination & Professional Development: Contribute to the preparation of study presentations, conference posters, and manuscript development to disseminate research findings. Actively engage in professional development opportunities to enhance expertise in behavioral health coaching, digital health interventions, and research methodology.
Required Qualifications*
- Bachelor's degree in psychology, social work, public health, counseling, or a related field.
- Experience or formal training in psychology, counseling, motivational interviewing, social work, health coaching, or related area.
- Strong ability to engage and build rapport with participants and work effectively in a multidisciplinary team.
- Ability to independently manage day-to-day project activities, including monitoring intervention fidelity, tracking participant progress, and troubleshooting study-related issues.
- 1-3 years of related experience required. A Master's degree in a relevant field may substitute for some experience.
Desired Qualifications*
- Master's degree.
- Understanding of human subjects research protections and confidentiality standards.
- Prior experience working with individuals with mental health problems, alcohol use disorder (AUD) and/or substance use disorder (SUD) in a clinical, research, or behavioral health setting preferred.
- Experience conducting interviews and participant engagement strategies in a research setting preferred.
- Experience collecting, screening, and analyzing research data, including proficiency with survey tools such as Qualtrics. Ability to contribute to literature reviews, research presentations, and manuscript preparation.
- Familiarity with digital health applications, intervention platforms, and data monitoring procedures.
Work Schedule
M-F 8 am to 5 pm. May require occasional evening hours if needed for participant sessions.
Work Locations
This is a hybrid position, with the possibility of fully remote work subject to the manager's discretion.
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.
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 anytime 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 employment opportunity employer.