Research Associate

Job Description

The California Psychiatric Advanced Directives (PADs) Research Associate, a member of the Burton Blatt Institute (BBI) is integral to the implementation the Evaluation of the Psychiatric Advanced Directives (PADs) Innovation project. The PADs project is currently being implemented in seven California counties with other counties to join the project in 2024/2025. Under the supervision of the Project Director, the Research Associate will be directly involved in conducting semi-structured interviews, surveys, participant observation, and/or focus groups and is expected to travel to counties where the project is being implemented. The Research Associate may also provide direct or indirect supervision of student research assistants ensuring that these staff complete their assigned responsibilities with high quality and within given timelines. The Research Associate will also assist in data and coding, maintaining and updating forms and protocols used in the evaluation and report writing as assigned. The Research Associate will be a project liaison with project stakeholders in assigned CA counties to ensure that the evaluation is implemented according to the CA PADs workplan.

Qualifications

Residence within the state of CA is required.

• Master’s degree in human/social sciences or related field required.
• One (1) plus years of designing and implementing research and evaluation studies that include conducting semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and/or observational data collection that are focused upon persons with disabilities; preferably with people with mental health challenges required.
• Bachelor’s degree may be substituted for the Master’s degree with documentation of two (2) plus years of experience designing and implementing research and evaluation studies that include conducting semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and/or observational data collection that are focused upon persons with disabilities; preferably with people with mental health challenges.
  
  

Job Specific Qualifications

• Expertise in design and implementation of qualitative and quantitative research and evaluation, including experience in obtaining data through interviews, focus groups, and/or observations.
• Knowledge and experience working with mental health and homelessness systems and services, particularly in the State of CA.
• Experience in assisting and/or working independently to implement complex mixed methods research projects and producing high quality qualitative and quantitative research reports, ensuring that protection of human subjects involved in the research are maintained per established protocols.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including experience in designing interview protocols, conducting semi-structured interviews, participant observation and/or focus groups and the ability to code and analyze research findings for multiple audiences and for use in project reports and presentations.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and under general supervision to complete assigned tasks.
• Knowledge of Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Zoom, NVivo, OTTER, and Microsoft Teams.
  
  

Responsibilities

• Work independently or as a member of the project team in gathering evaluation data by scheduling, and conducting interviews, surveys, and focus groups, ensuring Protection of Human Subjects per approved Institutional Review Board requirements.
• Conduct virtual and on-site meeting observations in each participating county as assigned.
• Organize and integrate data into established data collection protocols.
• Substantially contribute to the evaluation by taking the initiative for developing and maintaining collegial, working relationships with project partners, including other sub-contractors involved in the project, County agency managers and staff, and staff and managers of each assigned county’s community stakeholders (law enforcement, hospitals, mental health providers, other first responders, etc.).
• Review and contribute to established protocols used in the evaluation project, including those used for data collection, reporting, and data coding and analysis and independently or under general supervision conduct data analysis and data coding according to established methods.
• Develop, assist and/or solely conduct formal presentations on the PADs evaluation to project partners, key constituencies, and/or for BBI staff.
  
  

Physical Requirements

Not Applicable

Tools/Equipment

Not Applicable

Application Instructions

In addition to completing an online application, please attach a resume and cover letter.

About Syracuse University

Syracuse University is a private, international research university with distinctive academics, diversely unique offerings, and an undeniable spirit. Located in the geographic heart of New York State, with a global footprint, and over 150 years of history, Syracuse University offers a quintessential college experience.

The scope of Syracuse University is a testament to its strengths: a pioneering history dating back to 1870; a choice of more than 200 majors, 100 minors, and 200 advanced degree programs offered across the University’s 13 schools and colleges; over 15,000 undergraduates and over 6,000 graduate students; more than a quarter of a million alumni in 160 countries; and a student population from all 50 U.S. states and 123 countries. For more information, please visit http://www.syracuse.edu.

About The Syracuse Area

Syracuse is a medium-sized city situated in the geographic center of New York State approximately 250 miles northwest of New York City. The metro-area population totals approximately 500,000. The area offers a low cost of living and provides many social, cultural, and recreational options, including parks, museums, festivals, professional regional theater, and premier shopping venues. Syracuse and Central New York present a wide range of seasonal recreation and attractions ranging from water skiing and snow skiing, hiking in the Adirondacks, touring the historic sites, visiting wineries along the Finger Lakes, and biking on trails along the Erie Canal.

EEO Statement

Syracuse University is an equal-opportunity, affirmative-action institution. The University prohibits discrimination and harassment based on race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender, national origin, citizenship, ethnicity, marital status, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law to the extent prohibited by law. This nondiscrimination policy covers admissions, employment, and access to and treatment in University programs, services, and activities.

Commitment to Supporting and Hiring Veterans

Syracuse University has a long history of engaging veterans and the military-connected community through its educational programs, community outreach, and employment programs. After World War II, Syracuse University welcomed more than 10,000 returning veterans to our campus, and those veterans literally transformed Syracuse University into the national research institution it is today. The University’s contemporary commitment to veterans builds on this historical legacy, and extends to both class-leading initiatives focused on making an SU degree accessible and affordable to the post-9/11 generation of veterans, and also programs designed to position Syracuse University as the employer of choice for military veterans, members of the Guard and Reserve, and military family members.

Commitment to a Diverse and Inclusive Campus Community

Syracuse University maintains an inclusive learning environment in which students, faculty, administrators, staff, curriculum, social activities, governance, and all other aspects of campus life reflect a diverse, multi-cultural, and international worldview. The University community recognizes and values the many similarities and differences among individuals and groups. At Syracuse, we are committed to preparing students to understand, live among, appreciate, and work in an inherently diverse country and world made up of people with different ethnic and racial backgrounds, military backgrounds, religious beliefs, socio-economic status, cultural traditions, abilities, sexual orientations and gender identities. To do so, we commit ourselves to promoting a community that celebrates and models the principles of diversity and inclusivity.