Professional Research Assistant

The University of Colorado Denver is the state's premier public urban research university and equity-serving institution. Globally connected and locally invested, CU Denver partners with future-focused learners and communities to design accessible, relevant, transformative educational experiences for every stage of life and career. Across seven schools and colleges in the heart of downtown Denver, our leading faculty inspires and works alongside students to solve complex challenges through break through innovations and impactful research, and creative work. As part of the state's largest university system, CU Denver is a major contributor to the Colorado economy, with 2,000 employees and an annual economic impact of $800 million. For more information, visit ucdenver.edu.

Job Description

* Applications are accepted electronically ONLY at www.cu.edu/cu-careers *

A professional research assistant (PRA) works in a collaborative role with the principal investigator and contributes substantially to the investigation and analysis of the project. This position is grant funded.

Our Funded Project: Building Local Continuums of Care to Support Youth Success: Denver Supportive Housing Models for Healthy Youth

The City and County of Denver and the School of Public Affairs at the University of Colorado Denver will implement the Denver Supportive Housing Models for Healthy Youth. (The grant defines 'youth' as synonymous with 'young adults' and generally includes people chronologically aged 11 - 25 years. This is a large age range and therefore multiple plans will be presented.)

The project will engage in planning process for building local continuums of care that seek to prevent crime, reduce recidivism, and improve youth health, educational, and occupational outcomes. Generally, project activities include conducting research, convening, planning and ultimately proposing several models of supportive, neighborhood-based youth and family housing. Expected outcomes include further development of a youth housing continuum of care model that serves children and young adults in their communities, provides culturally and trauma responsive care, and adheres to the willingness of youth to seek housing and care in ways they suggest will best serve their needs in hyperlocal environments.

The planning process and convenings will follow an iterative, trauma responsive, asset-based methodology in line with evidence-based practices supported in research and practice. The primary goal of the planning process is to identify housing for young adults and their families in neighborhood-based locations with resources and essential services. Housing, especially affordable, accessible, and in safe places, near to a youth's current location are simply not available currently or unknown to municipal and nonprofit agencies. More specifically, one key deliverable of this planning grant will be an interactive Youth Housing: Safety Perceptions and Resources' tool that will geolocate resources, services, and agencies within census tracks / neighborhoods to model actual distances youth would need to travel to safe and supportive housing. The aim of introducing this map is to develop sheltering capacity within neighborhoods and school catchments that allow youth to remain in environments where they have protective factors, caring adults, or other assets to increase their likelihood of success and reduce the likelihood that they will be arrested, abused, trafficked, or homeless. Secondary goals of this planning process include identifying models for effectively managing, maintaining, and creating appropriate oversight of various forms of micro-housing solutions; convening partners to build buy-in and momentum in addressing youth homelessness; and, engaging youth and families to inform all goals in this process.

Community-Engaged Research Specialist (Research Specialist)

What you will do:

This PRA position will lead and coordinate all research activities of the grant. Primary day-to-day functions of the role will include scheduling and attending team meetings, developing goals for all team members, providing supervision on grant activities, completing reporting requirements, ensuring all compliance with grant requirements is completed and documented, and monitors the budget to ensure spending meets planned activities.

You'll serve as the 'driver' for the following goals of the grant:

* Innovate and direct community-based participatory action research with a team of PhD students, fellow researchers, practitioners, community partners, and young adults

* Lead Research Activities including IRB, Research Design, Protocol Trainings with Youth, Families and Research Team, Data Collection, and Analysis

* Assess Policy, Cost, and Zoning Opportunities and Barriers related to affordable, accessible, and supportive housing for young adults

* Serve as project manager for all grant activities and teams

* Convene internal team members and lead regular project meetings

You are a great fit for this role if you might enjoy using your skills in your work:

Utilizing regression analysis: Build and test models with clear assumptions; Interpret at least various types of model; Employ ordinal data as DVs and IVs; OR can seek support to reach these objectives

Codebook Management: Familiarity with IRB requirements for housing and protected population data; ability to develop and monitor codebook merges across data sets and utilize tools for tracking edits

Transcription Coding: Develop and defend two different techniques for conducting coding on long-form interview and focus group transcripts

Systemic Reviews / Meta Analysis: Intermediate level familiarity with applying and conducting systemic- or meta-analysis

Data Visualization and Communicating Research Findings: Ability to express Likert scales visually for ease of public interpretation; able to communicate effectively using maps, interactive software platforms, and at public forums

Asset-based Planning: Articulate experience or familiarity with asset-based community projects

Policy and municipal planning exposure: Utilize zoning, codes, governance, and other content areas to inform how community partners can plan for increasing youth housing locations

Grant goals you will directly contribute to:

* Co-locate Housing with Essential Services

* Develop an implementable plan to increase housing options for youth

* Engage Youth and Families to Inform all Other Goals in the Proposal

* Convene Partners for equitable solutions that create buy-in, voice, and bias toward action

* Integrate Many Teams, Councils, and Providers

* Identify Models for Managing, Maintaining, and Oversight of Housing

* Engage Youth and Families to Inform all Other Goals in the Proposal

Qualifications you already possess (Minimum Qualifications)

* Master's degree in Public Administration, Public Policy, Criminal Justice, Nonprofit Studies, Urban Planning, Sociology, Social Work, or a related field.

Preferred Qualification to possess (Preferred Qualifications)

* Experience supervising students or research assistants, with a strong commitment to mentorship and professional development.

* PhD-level coursework.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

* Familiarity with asset-based community development, participatory action research designs, geospatial modeling, and studies involving youth participation.

* Supervision experience that includes leading hybrid teams.

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  Project management experience - can demonstrate experience leading or coordinating a project from inception through implementation with integrated evaluation.

  
  
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  Ability to work effectively in interdisciplinary teams and engage with stakeholders from diverse backgrounds.

  
  
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  Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate research findings to both academic and non-academic audiences.

  
  

* Track record of execution and change orientation: open-mindedness; focus on learning, assessment, constant improvement, and accountability; attention to detail.

* Excellent organizational skills.

* Strong skills in management, programmatic structure and process, documentation and assessment.

* Experience working collaboratively in a team environment and independently when needed.

* Experience submitting COMIRB applications.

Conditions of Employment

* Occasional work during the evening and/or weekends may be required.

* This position follows a hybrid work structure where employees can work remotely or from the office, as needed, based on demands of specific tasks or personal work preferences. Working from the office is encouraged when working on tasks that require a high degree of collaboration.

Employment Sponsorship

Please be advised that this position is not eligible now or in the future for visa sponsorship.

As of 7/1/2023, The University of Colorado recommends employees be fully vaccinated from the COVID-19, but is not required. COVID recommendations and information can be found at: https://www.ucdenver.edu/coronavirus