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. Adm