Professional Research Assistant Level 2

University of Colorado System; Aurora (CO); Remote; USD 26,000 - 35,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Retirement plan

Paid time off

Holiday leave

Tuition benefit

Job summary

University of Colorado Anschutz seeks a part-time (50% FTE) Professional Research Assistant – Level 2 to bridge the Mountain West Hub with Alamosa residents. Responsibilities include recruitment, informed consent, home visits, and data collection using REDCap and sensors.

The role requires strong communication and bilingual skills in a rural setting. Responsibilities emphasize community engagement, IRB-aligned consent processes, and regular team coordination.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required with 1+ year in rural health, outreach, or research coordination.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish preferred for community engagement.
• Strong interpersonal and communication abilities are essential.
• Experience with field data collection and survey administration is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead local outreach and engagement in Alamosa County for the Clean Air Study.
• Explain study objectives, screen eligibility, and obtain informed consent.
• Perform in-home visits, health measurements, and device setup for data collection.
• Support ongoing participant contact and follow-up during adverse air events.

Skills

Bilingual English Spanish

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Community outreach

Field data collection

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

REDCap

Google Sheets

Zoom

Job description

University of Colorado Anschutz

Department: Environmental and Occupational Health

Job Title: Professional Research Assistant Level 2

Position #:00853624 – Requisition #: 41280

Job Summary

The Center for Health, Work, and Environment (CHWE) is seeking apart-time (50%FTE) Professional Research Assistant (PRA) – Level 2position. This position will serve as an essential liaison andtrusted bridge between the Mountain West Hub research team andlocal residents in Alamosa, CO. As part of a landmark clean air andhealth resilience study, the PRA is responsible for conductingcommunity-based recruitment, securing informed consent, conductingstructured home visits, placing indoor air filtration units, andcollecting longitudinal health and environmental metrics acrossparticipating households.

Community Outreach & Recruitment

• Local Outreach & Engagement: Conduct direct outreachacross Alamosa County to engage residents in the Clean Air Study.Represent the study at community meetings, local events, and publichubs to build awareness and trust.
• Participant Recruitment Waves: Reach out to householdsidentified through randomized address sampling and communitysign-up lists, maintaining respectful, multi-modal contact attempts(phone, in-person, email).
• Recruitment Tracking: Maintain accurate, real-time recordsof all participant contact attempts, eligibility screenings, andrecruitment dispositions using REDCap and shared trackinglogs.

Informed Consent & Participant Onboarding

• Study Explanation & Screening: Clearly explain studyobjectives, household eligibility criteria (year-round SLVresidence, no existing air cleaner, adult 18+ household consent),and participation benefits ( $200 incentive + free airfilter).
• Consent Administration: Guide participants through theinformed consent process (via phone, Zoom link, or in person) andcollect child assents during initial visits in accordance with IRBprotocols.

Home Visits & Environmental / Health DataCollection

• In-Home Monitoring & Equipment Setup: Perform initial,quarterly/midpoint, and endpoint home visits to measure indoor airquality, record room dimensions, and set up DIY box-fan aircleaners (DIYacs) and UPAS air quality monitors.
• Health Measurement Collection: Collect baseline andfollow-up clinical and survey measures, including resting bloodpressure, lung function testing (spirometry/PEF), survey responses,and urine sample coordination for designated sub-cohorts.
• Equipment Maintenance & Inspection: Inspect air filterunits and sensors during routine visits, ensuring proper placementin participant bedrooms or primary living areas and supplyingreplacement filters as needed.

Acute Air Quality Event & Longitudinal Support

• Poor Air Quality Event Follow-Up: Assist participantsduring text-alerted poor air quality events (wildfire smoke or dustevents) by supporting short 3-day daily surveys and lung functionmeasurements.
• Ongoing Participant Support: Serve as the primary localpoint of contact for participating Alamosa households, deliveringplain-language air quality/health results summaries and addressingparticipant questions.

Training, Logistics & Compliance

• Required Study Trainings: Complete mandatory pre-studyonboarding, including CITI Human Subjects Training, REDCap datacollection training, recruitment protocol review, and the 8-hourFull Study Training.
• Team Meetings & Administrative Reporting: Participatein bi-weekly (and subsequent monthly) study team check-ins,coordinate with local couriers for sample/hardware handoffs, andsubmit monthly invoices and mileage logs to the CN Manager.

Work Location

Remote – this role is eligible to work remotely, but the employeemust be in the United States.

Why Join Us

The Colorado School of Public Health is a collaborative endeavorinvolving the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus (CUAnschutz), Colorado State University (CSU), and the University ofNorthern Colorado (UNC). The Colorado School of Public Health isthe first and only accredited school of public health in the RockyMountain Region, attracting top-tier faculty and students fromacross the country and providing vital contributions towardsensuring our region's health and well-being. Collaboratively formedin 2008 by CU Anschutz, CSU, and UNC, the Colorado School of PublicHealth provides education programs, including a Master'sconcentration in global health, innovative research that places theSchool in the top 20 in NIH funding among Schools of Public Health,and community service that addresses public health issues includingchronic disease, healthcare access, climate, and environmentalthreats, emerging infectious diseases, population mental health,ONE HEALTH and injuries for the Rocky Mountain region, nationallyand globally.

Why work for the University?

We have AMAZING benefits and offer exceptional amounts of holiday,vacation and sick leave! The University of Colorado offers anexcellent benefits package including:

• Medical: Multiple plan options
• Dental: Multiple plan options
• Additional Insurance: Disability, Life, Vision
• Retirement 401(a) Plan: Employer contributes 10% of your grosspay
• Paid Time Off: Accruals over the year (based on percentage oftime)
• Vacation Days: 22/year (maximum accrual 352 hours)
• Sick Days: 15/year (unlimited maximum accrual)
• Holiday Days: 11/year
• Tuition Benefit: Employees have access to this benefit on all CUcampuses
• ECO Pass: Reduced rate RTD Bus and light rail service

There are many additional perks & programs with the CU Advantage .

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

Applicants must meet minimum qualifications at the time ofhire.

• Must have Bachelor's degree and 1+ year experience, communityhealth, research coordination, or public service outreach,preferably in rural health initiatives
• Bilingual in English and Spanish
• Basic computer and mobile technology literacy (e.g., usingsmartphones, tablets, Zoom, Google Sheets, and web-based surveysoftware like REDCap).
• Interpersonal and Communication Skills

Conditions of Employment

Must be available to work year-round in Alamosa, CO, and have theability to travel for local home visits across Alamosa County.Flexible work schedule requiring some evening and weekend hours toaccommodate participant home visit availability.

Preferred Qualifications

• Community Health / Outreach Experience: Prior experience workingas a Community Health Worker (CHW), Promotora, patient navigator,research assistant, or community outreach worker in rural health orenvironmental health programs.
• Established Local Networks: Established relationships with localcommunity organizations, clinics, schools, agricultural groups, orpublic hubs in Alamosa and the San Luis Valley.
• Field Data Collection Experience: Prior experience conductingstructured home visits, administering surveys, or collecting basichealth measurements (e.g., resting blood pressure or peak flow lungfunction)

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Community Dynamics: Deep familiarity with local geography, ruralcultural norms, and community resources in Alamosa County andsurrounding Valley communities.
• Interpersonal & Cultural Responsiveness: Strong activelistening and trust-building skills; ability to communicate warmlyand respectfully with varied rural populations.
• Technical & Equipment Handling: Practical aptitude to set up,demonstrate, and inspect household air cleaning hardware (DIYbox-fan air cleaners / DIYacs) and air quality monitoring devices(UPAS units).
• Digital & Survey Literacy: Proficiency in using smartphones,tablets, or computers for field data collection, including enteringsurvey responses into REDCap, updating Google Sheets tracking logs,and participating in Zoom team check-ins.
• Organizational & Outreach Management: Strong time managementskills to schedule home visits, track up to 5 contact attempts perhousehold, and maintain accurate activity logs.
• Plain Language Communication: Ability to translate studyprocedures, health results, and air quality concepts into clear,accessible, jargon-free language.
• Field Autonomy & Collaboration: Ability to work independentlyduring local home visits while maintaining consistent communicationwith the research leadership.
• Physical & Equipment Capability: Ability to carry, transport,and assemble light study hardware (such as box fans, filters, andmonitors) into participant homes.
• Adaptability & De-escalation: Ability to respond supportivelyduring acute poor air quality alerts and handle participantquestions or hesitations with empathy and patience.

Anticipated Pay Range

The starting salary range (or hiring range) for thisposition has been established as HIRING RANGE: $26,266 – $34,516 for 0.50 FTE

The above salary range (or hiring range) represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range ofpossible compensation at the time of posting. This position is noteligible for overtime compensation unless it is non-exempt.

Your total compensation goes beyond the number on your paycheck.The University of Colorado provides generous leave, health plansand retirement contributions that add to your bottom line.

Total Compensation Calculator: http://www.cu.edu/node/153125

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The University of Colorado (CU) is an Equal Opportunity Employerand complies with all applicable federal, state, and local lawsgoverning nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed tocreating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respectand dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds toapply, including protected veterans and individuals withdisabilities.

ADA Statement

The University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicantswith disabilities throughout the employment application process. Torequest an accommodation pursuant to the Americans withDisabilities Act, please contact the Human Resources ADACoordinator at [e-mail].

Background Check Statement

The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus is dedicated toensuring a safe and secure environment for our faculty, staff,students and visitors. To assist in achieving that goal, we conductbackground investigations for all prospective employees.

Vaccination Statement

CU Anschutz strongly encourages vaccination against the COVID-19virus and other vaccine preventable diseases . If you work, visit, or volunteerin healthcare facilities or clinics operated by our affiliatedhospital or clinical partners or by CU Anschutz, you will berequired to comply with the vaccination and medical surveillancepolicies of the facilities or clinics where you work, visit, orvolunteer, respectively. In addition, if you work in certainresearch areas or perform certain safety sensitive job duties, youmust enroll in the occupational health medical surveillance program .