Research Assistant, Center for Personal and Professional Development

JOB SUMMARY

The Center for Personal and Professional Development (CPPD) provides holistic, strengths-based support to all Wake Forest University School of Medicine (WFUSOM) students through coaching and programming. CPPD supports students in a team-based approach that is dedicated to explicitly developing the whole person.  Our longitudinal model emphasizes the value of personal and professional development, collaboration and social connection. Our focus is to provide support and resources related to well-being, professional identity formation, character, and leadership development for all students at Wake Forest University School of Medicine (WFUSOM). We are committed to providing exemplary service to all learners with identities from a variety of cultures, races and backgrounds and contributing to an inclusive and equitable learning environment. In addition to our individualized coaching services, we provide programming tied to our pillars (academic success, well-being, culture and community, career exploration) and dispositional learning outcomes, DLOs (intellectual humility, curiosity, respect for diversity, compassion, team work/collaboration. Our work is generously supported by a 2022-2025 grant from the Kern Family Foundation. This position is contingent upon extramural funding that may be extended beyond December 2025.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE

Master's degree or a comparable graduate degree with four+ years of relevant research experience. 

Preferred Education/Experience:

• PhD Or EdD in a social science discipline (including but not limited to psychology, education, human development, or sociology), and minimum of 3 years of experience with research, assessment, and/or program evaluation, or the equivalent level of education and experience.
• Expertise in empirical research and assessment, preferably related to character, character education, moral education, moral personality, or related topics.
• Strong and demonstrated quantitative and qualitative research skills and a track record of academic publication.
• Familiarity with institutional review board (IRB) policies and procedures.

Two professional letters of recommendation required.

SKILLS/QUALIFICATIONS

• Demonstrates knowledge of scientific and/or social science principles.
• Strong computer skills.
• Strong communication skills.
• Public speaking experience.
• Ability to assist in the preparation of prepare grant proposals with minimal supervision.
• Peer reviewed publications, plus oral or poster presentations at national meetings

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

1. Works with Director of CPPD to collect, analyze, and present data for publications or presentations. Provides recommendation to the Director on comprehensive research strategy related to CPPDs program evaluation and continuous quality improvement as well as assessing CPPDs impact from student interventions and programming.
2. Identifies key assessment and educational research outcomes, develops clear project management timeline of those outcomes, and implements systematic processes for collecting relevant data.
3. Collects, manages and analyzes participant data (surveys, research interviews, and focus groups).
4. Utilizes expertise in mixed-method research design for assessment planning, and data analysis. Uses qualitative analysis software and statistical software to analyze and report data.
5. Organizes and facilitates workshops on research and assessment strategies, scales, and practices to support cross-institutional research to assess the impact of character education within and across School of Medicine programs.
6. Provide individualized consultations and guidance to help School of Medicine programs develop their research and assessment plans.
7. With the Director, co-lead the dissemination of research findings in the form of journal articles, popular press publications, and seminar and conference presentations. Identify relevant sources to submit scholarly work.
8. Reviews literature and writes summary of findings related to leadership and character in medical education.
9. Works with the Director to plan and/or design study/project. Works with the Director to translate planning and design decisions into concrete activities and tasks to be undertaken for project implementation.
10. Prepares grants and other funding proposals with limited supervision. Collects, analyzes, and presents data readily for publications.
11. Compiles and writes scientific progress reports and evaluations. Assists in writing progress reports. 
12. Assumes major responsibility for the successful and timely completion of tasks for all phases of study/project process.
13. Ensures that all aspects of the