Research Data Tech, Senior

Duke University:

Duke University was created in 1924 through an indenture of trust by James Buchanan Duke. Today, Duke is regarded as one of America’s leading research universities. Located in Durham, North Carolina, Duke is positioned in the heart of the Research Triangle, which is ranked annually as one of the best places in the country to work and live. Duke has more than 15,000 students who study and conduct research in its 10 undergraduate, graduate and professional schools. With about 40,000 employees, Duke is the third largest private employer in North Carolina, and it now has international programs in more than 150 countries.

Occupational Summary

Center for Child and Family Policy Mission

The Center for Child and Family Policy is dedicated to improving the well-being of children and families through research, education, and engagement. We study factors that influence child outcomes, develop and test promising interventions, and advance evidence-based practices and policies that can inform change and unlock opportunities for all children and their families.

Position Description

The position involves coordinating field operations for the research study Midlife Health Inequities in the Rural South: Risk and Resilience. The work involves engaging with community organizations to foster participation, recruiting participants via phone and in-person visits, and screening them for eligibility. Responsibilities include obtaining informed consent, scheduling and conducting assessments involving biological specimen collection, and ensuring the safe transmission of specimens to Duke. The role also involves verifying data accuracy, introducing participants to the study’s longitudinal assessment component, and maintaining compliance through various communication methods.

This is a full-time position. Work for this position must be based in the North Carolina Black Belt area with travel to meet with study participants, research colleagues, as well as transfer of biological specimens to Duke University.  Contact with project manager and project leader will be primarily via Zoom. The specialist will be supervised by the project’s manager and will hold weekly virtual meetings throughout the field operations, with more frequent meetings at the start of the field operations.

Work Performed

A detailed description of functional areas and tasks follows:

• Community Engagement:  Make contact with community organizations in the region.
  • Initiate and maintain communication with local community groups to discuss the study's goals and seek their support in encouraging participation. This involves scheduling meetings, preparing presentations, and addressing any concerns or questions from the organizations to foster a collaborative relationship.

• Participant Recruitment: Conduct recruitment of participants in the two Black Belt samples.
  • Utilize contact lists provided by sampling statisticians and Institute for Social Research (ISR) staff to reach out to potential study participants via telephone and in-person visits. This includes crafting and delivering compelling recruitment messages to encourage participation and ensuring a diverse and representative sample.

• Eligibility Screening: Screen potential participants to determine age eligibility.
  • Conduct initial screenings through phone calls or face-to-face interactions to verify that participants meet the study's age criteria (35-50 years). This involves asking standardized questions, recording responses accurately, and maintaining confidentiality.

• Consent Acquisition: Obtain signed informed consents from eligible participants.
  • Explain the study's purpose, procedures, risks, and benefits to eligible participants. Ensure they understand their rights and obtain their signed consent during in-person visits, complying with ethical standards and institutional guidelines.

• Scheduling and Assessments: Schedule and conduct 90-minute assessments.
  • Arrange appointments for in-person assessments, coordinating times and locations convenient for participants. Administer assessments that include collecting biological specimens (bloodspots) and other biometric measurements, ensuring a standardized approach and accurate data collection.

• Specimen Transmission: Transmit biological specimens for storage.
  • Safely package and transport collected biological specimens to Duke's Center for Child and Family Policy (CCFP). Follow protocols for specimen handling, labeling, and documentation to ensure their integrity during transit and subsequent storage.

• Data Verification: Verify accuracy of study database information.
  • Review and cross-check collected data against database entries to ensure accuracy and completeness. Resolve discrepancies promptly and update records as necessary, maintaining a high standard of data quality.

• Participant Monitoring: Introduce and monitor Intensive Longitudinal Assessment component.
  • Educate participants on the longitudinal assessment process, including expectations and timelines. Maintain regular communication through text messaging, emails, and phone calls to monitor compliance and address any issues, providing support to ensure ongoing participation.

Perform other related duties incidental to the work described herein.

In addition, the successful candidate will possess the following qualities/attributes:

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Demonstrated commitment to racial equity
• High attention to detail and dependability
• An orientation to collaboration and teamwork

The above statements describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this classification. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties required of personnel so classified.

Duke University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual’s age, color, disability, genetic information, gender, gender identity, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

Anticipated Pay Range:

Duke University provides an annual base salary range for this position as USD $20.35/hr to USD $30.82/hr.  Duke University considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position; candidate's work experience, education/training, and key skills; internal peer equity; as well as market and organizational considerations when extending an offer.

Your total compensation goes beyond the dollars on your pay check.  Duke provides comprehensive and competitive medical and dental care programs, generous retirement benefits, and a wide array of family-friendly and cultural programs to eligible team members. Learn more at: https://hr.duke.edu/benefits/

Essential Physical Job Functions: Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essential job functions that require specific physical and/ or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.

Minimum Qualifiations

EDUCATION/TRAINING

Work requires a Bachelor's degree with significant coursework or training in social sciences and research methods.

EXPERIENCE

Work requires one year of experience in a related position. OR AN EQUIVALENT COMBINATION OF RELEVANT EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE

Duke is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy related conditions), sexual orientation or military status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends onthe robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

Essential Physical Job Functions: Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essential job functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.