Research Assistant

Job Summary

One Research Assistant are sought to support a research study of the impact of recreational marijuana legalization as experienced by young adults in New Jersey

Essential Functions

Assistance with data collection start-up tasks:

• Participating in the process of pre-testing, revising, and finalizing data collection instruments.
• Creating infrastructure for storing and organizing collected data and associated documentation.
• Engaging with community partners and stakeholders - (Essential)

Recruiting study participants through a multi-faceted outreach and communication strategy:

• Conducting communication, outreach, and follow-up correspondence to distribute study information through community partners, social media messaging, and in-person engagement

Participating in data collection activities:

• Distributing study information flyers to eligible potential participants.
• Engaging with community organizations for recruitment.
• Attending open events to solicit study participation.
• Assisting with or leading semi-structured interviews.

Various fieldwork support tasks:

• Distributing participant incentives and associated record-keeping.
• Data entry, as needed - Tracking progress towards recruitment targets.
• Maintaining communication with community partners and stakeholders - Overseeing data organization and interview transcription.

Qualitative data analysis:

• Using NVivo software - Cleaning, coding, and re-coding transcripts to identify emergent themes central to study research questions.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Criminology/Criminal Justice or a related discipline or the equivalent combination of education and work experience.
• Minimum of a 1 year of experience.
• Training or direct experience with qualitative and/or quantitative data collection.
• Comfort with conducting engaged research with young adults, members of vulnerable populations, and in conjunction with community-based organizations.
• Highly organized and attentive to detail.
• Effective communicator.

Preferred Qualifications

• MA/MS in Criminology/Criminal Justice or graduate-level training, particularly in research methods is preferred.
• Experience with primary data collection, particularly with young adult populations and with conducting confidential semi-structured interviews, is beneficial.

Physical Demands

• Typically sitting at a desk/table
• Typically standing, walking
• Typically bending, crouching, stooping
• Typically running, climbing
• Lifting demands 50lbs

Location

• University City - Philadelphia, PA

Additional Information

This is a Part-time temporary position classified as non-exempt. The pay offered is based on the successful candidate's qualifications and experience, department budget, and an internal equity review.

For information about benefits, please review Drexel's Per Diem/Casual/Temporary Benefit Fact Sheet.

Special Instructions to the Applicant

Candidates should include: 1) a cover letter describing research interests and experience and addressing fit with the project description above; 2) curriculum vitae.

Regional travel is required, with incurred travel expenses reimbursed. The successful candidate will need to complete trainings for Human Subjects Research in the social sciences required by Drexel University (if not already obtained).

A review of applicants will begin once a suitable candidate pool is identified.