The Texas A&M University System

Agency

Department

The Texas A&M AgriLife Center at Dallas seeks a Research Associate to work in close collaboration and coordination with the Healthy Living research team, whose work focuses on addressing health disparities and promoting health equity through community-engaged interventions and projects. The Research Associate will contribute to achieving the goals of Healthy Living research studies and projects that are focused on health equity and health disparities; food access, food systems, food insecurity, and dietary patterns and behaviors; physical activity behaviors and intervention development; policy system and environmental change; citizen science and community-engaged research; and mHealth technologies for monitoring, assessment, and intervention implementation. The Research Associate is responsible for helping and supporting coordination of research activities as part of the Healthy School Recognized Campus (HSRC) and Strong Teens for Healthy Schools (STHS) programs.

Texas A&M AgriLife is a diverse organization that supports healthy living for all Texans, through the research of targeted agricultural practices that yield nutritious food sources, outreach programs that train community members on growing their own food, and preservation of natural resources via eco-friendly means, all while following practices that lead to a stronger Texas economy. Overseen by the Office of the Vice-Chancellor and Dean for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Texas A&M AgriLife includes the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, the College of Agriculture & Life Sciences at Texas A&M University, Texas A&M Forest Service, and Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory.

The Texas A&M AgriLife Center at Dallas houses scientific research, public outreach, and education programs. The Center is a regional hub for all Texas A&M AgriLife activity. It is one of 13 AgriLife Centers across the state - each focusing on issues specific to their region. Initiatives at Dallas hinge on healthy living, urban agriculture and forestry, and water and land resource management. Healthy Living programs at the Center implement, evaluate, and disseminate scientific solutions, applicable to all Texans, for improved public health. We aim to understand the means of building communities around healthy living and about facilitating the delivery of current, accurate, evidence-based programs, guidelines, and information that supports healthier living for Texans.

Responsibilities

Supporting all facets of research projects including:

• IRB submissions and protocol development

• Participant recruitment and enrollment

• Data collection (training will be provided)

• Data synthesis

• Preparation of research reports and presentations

The successful candidate will have the relevant experience to support the development and implementation of local, state, and national health interventions and evaluation plans.

Additional responsibilities include:

• Work closely with Program Managers to coordinate and support efforts related to our portfolio of community-engaged research studies and projects.

• Develop online tools, including REDCap survey tools, to collect qualitative and quantitative data.

• Collaborate with community partners to ensure successful implementation of research projects.

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's Degree.

• Two years of related experience.

Preferred Education and Experience:

• Master's Degree in related field (e.g., public health, nutrition, clinical research, or other related field).

• Experience conducting human subjects research.

• Experience with community-engaged research and evaluation projects, specifically data collection and/or experience with behavioral implementation of intervention studies.

• Experience developing and utilizing online survey tools and software (Qualtrics, REDCap).

• Experience supporting and delivering interventions and related research studies in the following areas: underserved populations; urban health; food systems; community-based health behavior interventions; and/or the integration of technology into community outreach and research.

• Experience working with individuals and communities.

Required Knowledge, skills, and abilities

• Ability to multitask and work cooperatively with others.

• Ability to work independently and manage priorities and tasks as assigned.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills.

• Desire and ability to work collaboratively and help maintain a fun and supportive team environment that is focused on advancing our work to effectively address health disparities for underserved populations.

• Highly organized and detail-oriented.

• Professional demeanor.

• Comfortable working with youth.

Other Requirements:

• Work beyond normal business hours and/or work on weekends.

• This position requires travel within the community.

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Veterans/Disability Employer.