Research Assistant

Department

BSD MED - Center for Health and the Social Sciences

About The Department

The Section of Hospital Medicine prides itself on its strong and integrated programs in clinical care, research, and education. The strength of our clinical programs is essential not only to our ability to provide excellent patient care, but to our ability to perform research that advances the frontiers of clinical practice and to train future generations of physicians in hospital medicine. Our research programs allow us to advance the scientific basis and clinical practice of hospital medicine and to train hospital medicine researchers who can carry this scientific mission into the future, often finding inspiration in the desire to solve clinical dilemmas we encounter in our own practices. Likewise, our training programs allow us to bring talented young persons into the relatively new field of hospital medicine, preparing them for productive and sustainable careers as clinicians, researchers, and educators.

Job Summary

A Research Assistant would play a critical role in supporting a 1-year research project, entitled 'Quantitative Bias Analysis and Value of Information Analysis to Inform Priorities for American Heart Association (AHA) Food is Medicine Initiative,' under the guidance of a faculty mentor and principal investigator, Dr. David Kim (Department of Medicine and Public Health Sciences). The project will utilize two complementary analytic frameworks – quantitative bias analysis (QBA) and value of information (VOI) analysis – to quantify evidence uncertainty and potential consequences of a decision error. QBA aims to identify possible sources of bias (e.g., uncontrolled confounding, selection bias, measurement error, publication bias) and to quantify uncertainty about these biases. VOI analysis is a novel approach in decision science to quantify decision uncertainty based on the precision of the current evidence. The novel approach of combining QBA (quantifying potential sources of bias) and VOI (quantifying value of reducing uncertainty) provides quantified evidence for indicating the AHA Food Is Medicine areas and specific proposals that warrant the allocation of limited research resources. Such evidence can be helpful in guiding the Research Planning Group alongside other key factors, such as diverse study populations, high-risk individuals, geographic diversity, urban/rural settings, and various types of programs evaluated.

Responsibilities

• Conducting scholarly research, writing literature reviews, and presenting scholarly findings.
• Programming and data analysis.
• Drafting proposals and manuscripts.
• Prepares for or participate in quality assurance audits under supervision or following specific protocol procedures.
• Participates in study-related documentation, such as protocol worksheets, procedural manuals, adverse event reports, institutional review board documents, or progress reports.
• Performs other related work as needed.
  
  

Education:

Minimum Qualifications

Minimum requirements include vocational training, apprenticeships or the equivalent experience in related field (not typically required to have a four-year degree).

Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through < 2 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree.
  
  

Experience:

• Relevant research experience.
  
  

Preferred Competencies

• Strong organizational and communication skills, including verbal and written.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Strong data management skills and attention to detail.
• Handle competing demands with diplomacy and enthusiasm.
• Read and understand scientific literature.
  
  

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter (required)
  
  

When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family

Research

Role Impact

Individual Contributor

FLSA Status

Non-Exempt

Pay Frequency

Biweekly

Scheduled Weekly Hours

30

Benefits Eligible

Yes

Drug Test Required

No

Health Screen Required

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

Staff Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

We seek a diverse pool of applicants who wish to join an academic community that places the highest value on rigorous inquiry and encourages a diversity of perspectives, experiences, groups of individuals, and ideas to inform and stimulate intellectual challenge, engagement, and exchange.

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

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