The starting salary range is $21.47 - $41.53 per hour, This position is budgeted at $25.00/ph. and is non-negotiable.

Under the supervision of the PIs and working in close cooperation with other study investigators and community partners, the Research Coordinator will be responsible for coordinating community-engaged research addressing inequities in mental health, sexual/reproductive health, HIV, and related health disparities among asylum-seeking women at the Mexico-U.S. border. Specifically, this position will support two Tijuana-based studies being conducted in collaboration with El Colegio de la Frontera Norte, Al Otro Lado, and the Mexico-U.S. Border Health Commission: 1) an NIMH-funded study to adapt and pilot-test a novel mental health prevention intervention for migrant mothers with young children, and 2) a Center for AIDS Research (CFAR)-funded study evaluating the social-structural ‘risk environment’ for syndemic sexual health and HIV, STI and TB inequities among asylum-seeking women in Tijuana.

Study coordination responsibilities will include assisting with the development and management of data collection systems and study protocols, overseeing recruitment, enrollment, and retention of study participants, conducting and overseeing study visits, training and supervising research staff (interviewers/outreach workers, nurse/phlebotomist), delivering intervention and control protocols to study participants, ensuring protocol compliance, assisting with human subjects submissions, organizing and attending team meetings, liaising with community partners, coordinating community engagement activities, and managing and prioritizing tasks to meet multiple daily deadlines. Overall, we are seeking a bilingual, flexible, detail-oriented, and well-organized candidate who has worked with migrant women or asylum-seekers, understands sexual health, HIV, and mental health research, and feels comfortable working directly with local community-based organizations, stakeholders, and research participants in a binational context.

Key Responsibilities:  90% 

The Research Coordinator is responsible for but not limited to:

Study Coordination

• Participate in the development and implementation of recruitment and retention protocols to ensure adequate flow of participants through the study.
• Identify potential study participants and oversee and conduct eligibility screening.

• Oversee recruitment, enrollment, and retention of study participants per protocol.
• Train and supervise frontline research staff (interviewers/outreach workers, nurse/phlebotomist).

• Obtain informed consent and conduct participant study visits (questionnaires, interviews, focus groups).
• Order study materials/supplies/equipment and track shipping to the study site.
• Maintain inventory logs for study materials/supplies/equipment and ensure equipment is in working order.
• Distribute compensation to study participants with appropriate accounting and reconciliation.
• Coordinate and attend regular study meetings with investigators, staff, and students.
• Coordinate community engagement activities with community partners, stakeholders and participants.
• Coordinate and attend regular community advisory board meetings.
• Identify problems in execution of study protocols and assist in identifying and implementing solutions.
• Participate in the development, writing, and maintenance of study protocols and SOPs.
• Complete trainings and contribute to progress reports required by study funders (e.g., NIH).
• Occasionally assist with overseeing the work of trainees throughout the study period.
• Communicate effectively and tactfully with study team members, other university employees, community partners, members of the media, and other community organizations.
• Adhere to standards of research ethics, data management and safety protocols.
• Contribute to developing, editing, and submitting human subject applications, informed consent forms, protocols, recruitment materials, questionnaires, interview guides, and other IRB forms as needed.
• Assist with preparing scientific abstracts, manuscripts, posters, presentations, and proposals, including using reference management software (e.g., EndNote) and adhering to author instructions and submitting publications to academic journals.
• Assist in writing and preparation of research grants and progress reports as necessary.

Intervention and Control Delivery

• Deliver intervention and control protocols to study participants.
• Facilitate active referrals to sexual health, HIV, mental health, and related service providers.
• Document all intervention and control interactions with study participants in a database, including detailed notes.
• Provide support and feedback to research staff on data collection activities.
• Provide ongoing feedback to the investigators regarding intervention and control protocol implementation.
• Monitor all intervention and control sessions to ensure adherence to protocols and promptly report deviations to PIs per protocol.
• Demonstrate a strong ability to listen, evaluate challenges, and support study participants and staff.

Data Collection and Management

• Participate in the development, implementation, and improvement of assessment instruments, including editing and translation study materials as necessary.
• Oversee data collection and management for both qualitative and quantitative data (e.g., electronic survey data collection, qualitative data).
• Monitor the completion and completeness of study surveys.
• Conduct and oversee interviewer-administered surveys, qualitative interviews, and intervention delivery.
• Maintain accurate and complete study files.
• Ensure all data are entered promptly and accurately in study databases.
• Maintain confidentiality of all research data.

General Administrative Tasks

• Assist with organizational and administrative tasks, including translation (English-Spanish), scheduling meetings and maintaining meeting agendas and minutes, interview transcription, purchasing and tracking study supplies, overseeing data collection budgets, and managing travel reimbursements for study staff and investigators.

Other duites as assigned 5%

Minimum Education

• Equivalent to graduation from a four year university

Minimum Experience

• Two years of experience in technical research or statistical work experience

Desired Qualifications

• Strong cross-cultural skills
  
• Master’s degree in public health (MPH) or related field
  
• Experience in research or service provision with migrants, asylum-seekers, or other marginalized communities
  Strong time management, critical thinking, and organizational skills

ADDITIONAL APPLICANT INFORMATION:

• Candidate must reside in California or live in a commutable distance from SDSU at time of hire.
• Job offer is contingent upon satisfactory clearance based on Background Check results (including a criminal record check).
• San Diego State University Research Foundation is an EEO/AA/Disability/Vets Employer.