Community Health Research Assistant

Department Overview:

The Department of Family Medicine and Community Health (DFMCH) at the University of Wisconsin is a leading clinical department within the School of Medicine and Public Health (SMPH). DFMCH is dedicated to advancing patient care, education, and research. Our 18 clinics provides primary care to over 175,000 patients yielding over 374,000 patient visits annually, and we train more than 150 residents and 300 medical students each year. Learn more: https://www.fammed.wisc.edu/.

Anticipated Start Date:

We anticipate starting the position in January 2026.

Anticipated End Date (If Applicable):

 

Remote Work Eligibility Detail:

Partially Remote

 

Anticipated Hours Per Week:

20

Schedule:

This is a 50% FTE (20 hours per week) graduate student Research Assistant position. The schedule will be determined upon hire based upon incumbent's availability and OCH team needs.
This is a partially remote position: 50% (10 hours per week) of work to be performed remotely, at an offsite, non-campus work location and 50% (10 hours per week) of work to be performed in- person, onsite, at the department’s location, 610 N Whitney Way, Madison, WI.

Salary/Wage Range/Lump Sum:

$35,636

Number of Positions:

1

Qualifications:

Required Qualifications:
1. Enrolled in a graduate program working towards a Master’s or Ph.D. degree at UW-Madison.
2. Training in statistical analysis and research methodology and experience applying statistical methods to analyze quantitative data (specify software if relevant: e.g., SPSS, R, Stata, SAS).
3. Strong academic writing skills evidenced by research papers, publications, thesis work, or professional reports.
4. Experience communicating research findings to diverse audiences through written summaries, presentations, or reports.
5. Interest in AI applications for healthcare, demonstrated through any combination of: relevant coursework, attendance at workshops/webinars, use of AI-assisted tools in academic or professional work, or self-directed exploration of AI topics.
6. Proven ability to work both collaboratively and independently, with examples of successful team-based projects and self-directed work.

Preferred Qualifications:
1. Experience in big data analytics or machine learning applied to health data sets, demonstrated through coursework or project experience (specify software if relevant: e.g., R, Python).
2. Experience collaborating on projects focused on health equity or social determinants of health.
3. Experience collaborating with community organizations or underserved populations in research, public health, or service settings.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

Candidates who demonstrate the following Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities will be given first consideration.

Knowledge:
- Research methodology and statistical analysis principles.
- Fundamentals of AI applications in healthcare.
- Understanding of health equity concepts and social determinants of health.

Skills:
- Academic and technical writing skills for research papers, reports, and publications.
- Communication skills to present and communicate research findings to stakeholders from varied backgrounds.
- Collaboration skills to perform team-based work and build partnerships with community organizations and underserved populations.

Abilities:
- Interpret and synthesize complex data into actionable insights.
- Work effectively in team settings and independently with minimal supervision.

Position Summary/Job Duties:

Research Assistant Job Duties include:
1. Conduct systematic reviews on the role of AI in facilitating primary care delivery and health-related decision making at the patient level.
2. Assist with developing multilevel (e.g., patient, provider, community) community health surveys, including an assessment of the capacity of community health workers to partner with primary care teams in delivering community-based care.
3. Conduct quantitative or qualitative data analysis using diverse data sources, including electronic health records (EHR), to support research projects and inform OCH and DFMCH community health program planning.
4. Assist with the development and drafting of manuscripts, reports, presentations, and grant applications led by the OCH team.
5. Provide statistical and analytical support to OCH staff and community partners.

Applicants should submit: 1) a cover letter of interest highlighting their qualifications and how working as a Research Assistant at the OCH aligns with their degree or career development plan, and 2) an updated resume or CV. Please contact Dr. Dejun Su at dejun.su@fammed.wisc.edu with any questions about this position.