Student Research Assistant

Description

The CONNECT-Pantries Project conducted at the Prevention Research Center for Healthy Neighborhoods (PRCHN) at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) School of Medicine is seeking student research assistants to begin in Spring 2026. Ideally, we are seeking students who are interested and available to commit beyond Spring 2026 into additional semesters. This project is led by Drs. Jin Kim-Mozeleski, Sarah Koopman Gonzalez, and Erika Trapl. Information about the project can be found on our project page on our website.

Primary Responsibilities

·       Assist the project manager in day-to-day project administration, including but not limited to developing and updating study materials such as handouts, maintaining relevant documentation, taking meeting notes, making phone calls to study participants, preparing project supplies

·       Assist the project team in data collection and data analysis-related activities for both quantitative and qualitative data, including but not limited to survey and questionnaire development, tracking survey responses, data entry, data cleaning, data coding, and analysis, and conducting site visits to various food pantries in Greater Cleveland

·       Conduct literature reviews and assist the investigators in preparing manuscripts, grants, scientific presentations, and data briefs 

·       Attend regularly scheduled meetings with the project manager and investigators, to provide any relevant updates and stay informed about project progress and needs

·       Assist in duties related to maintaining regulatory compliance, such as IRB modifications and preparation of materials for IRB applications

Hours and Pay

The graduate research assistant will work at least 12 hours a week, primarily between 8AM and 6PM Monday-Friday. There may be occasional evenings and weekends based on data collection schedules and project needs. Hourly wages are $18-22 depending on experience.

Other Information to Note

This position is an in-person position at the MidTown Collaboration Center (MCC), located at 1974 E. 66th St. MCC is on the RTA Healthline and offers free parking. Although having a personal vehicle may be helpful at certain times (such as off-site data collection and site visits), it is not necessarily a requirement. We are ideally seeking students who are interested in a longer term commitment, beyond Spring 2026.

Qualifications

·       CWRU graduate student (masters or doctoral level) pursuing a degree in public health, nutrition, medicine, psychology, anthropology, sociology, or related disciplines

·       Demonstrated experience with research using quantitative and/or qualitative methods, including through coursework

·       Demonstrated experience with analysis software, such as Nvivo, SPSS, R, or similar programs.

·       Strong oral and written communication skills, including strong scientific writing skills or the ability to quickly learn scientific writing skills

·       Highly organized, detail oriented, and demonstrates accountability and initiative when working on tasks both collaboratively and independently

Application Instructions

Applicants should submit:

·       CV/resume

·       Brief cover letter explaining interest in the position and relevant research experience, which can include but is not limited to: course work, employment, internships, and fieldwork.

·       Contact information for two professional references

·       A recent writing sample (this is optional, but highly recommended)

All application materials should be submitted to the project manager, Madeline Castele at mcc92@case.edu.

International students at CWRU eligible to work in the U.S. can apply. More information can be found here: https://case.edu/visa/international-students/international-student-employment

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Case Western Reserve University is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants are protected under federal and state laws and university policy from discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national or ethnic origin, protected veteran status, disability, age and genetic information.

Reasonable Accommodation Statement:
Case Western Reserve University complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act regarding reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities. Applicants