Research Associate

Harvard Center for Population and Development Stud; Cambridge (MA); Hybrid; USD 80,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The Harvard Center for Population and Development Studies seeks a full-time Research Associate to support cognitive aging and dementia studies, located in Cambridge, MA. The role integrates national and international collaboration, data quality, and dissemination of findings through publications.

The position requires a PhD and post-doctoral experience, with duties spanning coordination of HAALSA cognitive assessments, training field staff, data QA, and analytic contributions.

Qualifications

• PhD or doctoral degree in Cognitive psychology, neuropsychology, public health or related field.
• Two+ years post-doctoral experience.
• Experience managing research projects and coordinating cognitive assessments.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate cognitive assessment activities for HAALSI studies and work with collaborators.
• Train and supervise fieldworkers on cognitive measures and study protocols.
• Translate and culturally adapt cognitive measures for South African languages.

Skills

Research project management

Cognitive assessments

Translation / cultural adaptation

STATA

Verbal and written communication

Team coordination

Education

PhD or doctoral degree in Cognitive Psychology, Neuropsychology, Public Health, or similar field

Tools

STATA

R

SAS

Job description

The Harvard Center for Population and Development Studies is seeking a full-time Research Associate to support ongoing studies of cognitive aging and dementia in South Africa. Our work aims to understand how cognitive function in older age is shaped by biological aging and lifespan social experience. We use a variety of methods to tackle issues related to reliable measurement of cognitive function across countries and cultures. The work is grounded in our ongoing NIH-funded flagship project, Health and Aging in Africa: Longitudinal Studies in South Africa (HAALSA). HAALSA began as a community-based longitudinal cohort study nested within the heath and socio-demographic surveillance system (HDSS) in Agincourt, South Africa. The goal of this research project is to explore aging in South Africa, with focal areas in cognitive health, cardiometabolic disease, HIV and HIV treatment, public policies, social determinants of health, and health inequalities. Research focuses on exploring the interrelationships between: Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementias; physical and cognitive functioning; lifestyle risk factors; household income & expenditure; depression and mental health; social networks and family composition; HIV infection; and cardiometabolic disease.

HAALSA includes the continuation of the Agincourt community cohort study as well as the launch of a nationally representative survey in South Africa. The community and national surveys each include a sub-study with in-depth focus on cognition and dementia. The studies are designed to be aligned with the international Health and Retirement (HRS) sister studies, and the HRS Harmonized Cognitive Assessment Protocol (HCAP), while also addressing research questions specific to aging in the South African context. HAALSA is led by Dr. Lisa Berkman at HCPDS and Dr. Thomas Gaziano at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, plus a team of collaborators at Columbia University, University of the Witwatersrand and the University of Cape Town in South Africa, as well as others.

This is a full-time, benefits-eligible term appointment starting January 2027 through December 31, 2027 with strong possibility of renewal. The salary range is between $80,000–$90,000 annually. The research associate must live locally and agree to work a hybrid schedule (two days/wk in person at the Cambridge office, and 3 days/wk remotely). The job will require travel to South Africa up to twice a year. Candidates are asked to visit the HCPDS websites for more information on our mission and work:
popcenter.harvard.edu andhttps://haalsi.org/

• Manage and coordinate the cognitive assessment activities for the main HAALSI study and HAALSI-HCAP, working closely with Dr. Berkman and collaborators at Columbia University.
• Coordinate training, certification, and provide ongoing guidance to fieldworkers on the administration of cognitive assessments, ensuring adherence to study protocols and consistency in data collection.
• Coordinate the translation, cultural adaptation, and refinement of cognitive measures into relevant South African languages, including organizing consultations with experts, reviewing pilot data, and recommending modifications for implementation in the main study.
• Oversee cognitive data quality assurance, including reviewing cognitive data, identifying and resolving data quality issues, and implementing procedures to ensure data completeness, consistency, and integrity.
• Act as a primary liaison with South African counterparts to plan and manage cognitive measures and cognition study activities. This includes monitoring progress, identifying implementation challenges, and facilitating communication across teams.
• Coordinate and contribute to the dementia consensus review process, working with senior investigators and other study team members to review relevant cognitive and clinical information and assign diagnostic categories.
• Contribute to the development, refinement, and evaluation of dementia diagnostic protocols and algorithms, including conducting analyses and reviewing their performance.
• Participate in the analysis of neuropsychological, biomarker and neuroimaging data and contribute to the production of analytic datasets.
• Write and co-author publications.
• Other duties as assigned

Required Qualifications:

• PhD or doctoral level degree in Cognitive Psychology, Neuropsychology, Public Health, or similar field required.
• Two or more years of post-doctoral experience.
• Demonstrated experience with research project management.
• Demonstrated experience administering, coordinating, or supervising cognitive assessments in research or clinical settings.
• Experience with translation or cultural adaptation of cognitive measures is highly desirable.
• Experience with STATA is strongly preferred – however R, SAS and/or other softwares will be considered as well
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Culturally sensitive with excellent interpersonal skills to facilitate team-based work and interaction with research participants.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, organizational, and time management skills
• Ability to work well independently, and cooperatively within a team while also being able to take initiative