Priority application due date: January 15, 2025, for start date in early 2025

The Extension Rural Health Connection (ERHC) project at the University of Wisconsin—Madison is an interdisciplinary, applied research/outreach project of the UW-Madison Rural Partnerships Institute (RPI) funded by the USDA from 2023-2026 with multiple principal investigators (PIs). The primary goal of the project is to develop and assess the impact of a new community health worker (CHW) model focused on promoting whole family health and well-being and rural and Tribal health equity. The ERHC project is a collaboration of the Division of Extension Health and Well-Being Institute (HWBI) (PI: Amber Canto, HWBI Director and Assistant Dean) and the School of Human Ecology Departments of Human Development and Family Studies (PI: Professor Larissa Duncan) and Civil Society and Community Studies (PI: Professor Zoua Vang). The ERHC project has an outstanding opportunity for 1 to 2 independent, well-organized, and motivated individuals to join our team as Research Associates (Postdocs).

Position Duties

The Research Associate(s) will work closely with ERHC leadership and state- and county-based Extension staff on CHW model development including developing guidelines for and tracking of CHW service implementation through the Division of Extension, and mixed-methods research to inform development of and to examine the impacts of the ERHC CHW model. The Research Associate(s) will have the opportunity to become members of Prof. Vang’s MatCHES Lab (Maternal Child Health Equity & Safety Lab) and/or Prof. Duncan’s AWARE Lab (Awareness for Well-Being, Resilience, and Equity Lab) in the School of Human Ecology (SoHE). Research Associate responsibilities will include project management, conducting scientific literature reviews and data analyses, presenting research to academic, policy, and community audiences, and preparing manuscripts for publication. The Research Associate(s) will also be expected to independently lead new manuscript development and will have opportunities to contribute to focus group guide and survey/questionnaire development, and funding proposals.

Specific duties and responsibilities include the following (and do not exclude other duties as assigned):

• Oversee the implementation of research protocols; assist with the development of protocols and develop standard operating procedures;
• Maintain a detailed knowledge of all assigned protocols and reporting requirements; adhere to all protocol requirements to ensure validity and ethical standards of research methods and data;
• Participate in development, testing, and evaluation of manuals, questionnaires, and coding structures, for the efficient collection of data;
• Interact with community partners to serve eligible participants;
• Recruit research participants; verify participant eligibility for studies; consent and interview participants; and other participant data from a variety of sources;
• Actively retain participants; maintain contact with participants; schedule follow-up visits;
• Assist with database creation; enter data into the database(s); assist in implementing data validation and a data management plan; assist with analyzing study data and writing up results;
• Participate in the dissemination of study findings, including writing manuscripts, abstracts, and fact sheets;
• Conduct literature searches and synthesize the literature including identifying strengths and weaknesses, key take-home messages, and gaps in the literature;
• Maintain paper and electronic research files;
• Monitor and maintain supply of research supplies and order as needed;
• Evaluate and prepare Adverse Event reports and other regulatory documents;
• Prepare for and participate in audits of studies/monitoring visits;
• Track study progress and create reports noting progress;
• Review recruitment strategies and modify materials and plans as needed;
• Develop IRB protocols and study documents (including protocols and consent forms) and prepare IRB communications; monitor and comply with IRB reporting deadlines;
• Assist in the analysis of data, abstract, and manuscript preparation;
• Create figures and presentations, present at meetings;
• Participate in the preparation and tracking of financial documents, such as budgets, study invoices, and annual reports;
• Assist with recruiting, interviewing, training, monitoring, and supervising students; coordinate and participate in the interviewing and training of new research staff on study protocols, procedures, and reporting;
• Coordinate logistics for virtual and in person meetings, create agendas, collect RSVPs, take meeting minutes, order refreshments, support team members in seeking expense reimbursement;
• Other duties as assigned.

Additional desired Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Strong cultural safety skills;
• Proficiency in the use of computers, including software applications, databases, spreadsheets, and word processing;
• Excellent organizational and time management skills;
• Independent and self-motivated;
• Highly organized and detail oriented;
• Ability to manage multiple and competing priorities;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills;
• Demonstrated strong, positive interpersonal skills;
• Ability to communicate effectively across disciplines and within a variety of cultures.

The Research Associate(s) will join a world-class research and training environment with access to computing resources, administrative support, and content expertise in academic departments and research units at UW-Madison such as the Institute for Clinical and Translational Research, the Prevention Research Center, the Center for Demography and Ecology, the Institute for Research on Poverty, the Lifecourse Initiative for Healthy Families, the Center for Healthy Minds, and many Wisconsin-based community organizations aligned with our mission and vision.

Position Requirements

Candidate(s) must either have earned a doctorate or be in All But Dissertation (ABD) status (i.e., having completed all doctoral degree requirements other than defending the dissertation) with a dissertation defense date set for early 2025, in Public Health, Health Services Research, Human Development and Family Studies, Sociology, Psychology, Social Work, Demography or a related field before starting the position. Candidate(s) must also be proficient with project management and some combination of quantitative, qualitative, mixed-methods, and community-based participatory research. Candidate(s) should be committed to research transparency, disseminating and developing evidence-based practices, and treating others with respect and dignity to promote health equity and cultural safety. Doctoral level English language fluency (verbal and written) is required. Preferred (not required) qualifications include fluency in Spanish and/or Hmoob/Hmong dialects, and lived experience working with Latine, Hmoob/Hmong, and/or Tribal Nations/Indigenous communities. For candidates without an earned doctorate, confirmation from the dissertation advisor regarding ABD status and defense date will be required.

We prefer the candidate to be based in the Midwest with availability to attend in-person work activities on campus in Madison, WI and at Wisconsin project sites including Adams County, Wood County, and Menominee County/Nation. However, for the right candidate(s), we are open to hybrid (partial in-person and partial remote) arrangements. We require some travel (including overnight and evening/weekend travel) for research, outreach, professional development, and team-building activities.

Salary and Benefits; Appointment Term:

Salary will follow National Institutes of Health (NIH) Standard Postdoctoral Stipend schedule. Minimum salary for 100% FTE with zero years of post-Ph.D. experience is $61,008 (as of October 2024).

Position(s) will be filled at 80%-100% FTE and are benefit eligible, see: https://www.wisconsin.edu/ohrwd/benefits/download/grad.pdf

Initial appointments will be for 12 months with potential for renewal (pending funding availability and satisfactory performance) through the grant end date of 12/31/2026.

Application Instructions

We ask all candidates to submit application materials using this Google form. Emailed applications will not be accepted without prior approval. We will accept applications until the position is filled. Priority will be given to applications received prior to January 15, 2025. The start date is negotiable, with the earliest possible start date being January 27, 2025.

Applications must include: 1) a cover letter (no more than 3 single-spaced pages using 11 pt font at minimum) focused on your alignment with the position and future research and career plans; 2) curriculum vitae (CV); 3) writing sample demonstrating your contributions to research, and 4) the names/contact information for three (3) people who can serve as professional references. Note: References will not be contacted without a candidate’s permission, and we will not require letters of recommendation.

Diverse voices and experiences play a valuable role in the rigor, significance, innovation, and translational potential of our team’s scientific and outreach contributions. Because of this, we strongly encourage applications from individuals belonging to communities that have been historically excluded from research, including those related to socioeconomic status, race/ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, and disability.

For questions, please contact Professor Larissa Duncan via email (larissa.duncan@wisc.edu)