Research Staff Assistant

Columbia University; Northern, New York (KY, NY); Hybrid; USD 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

Columbia University seeks a Research Staff Assistant to coordinate across social-relations research projects in collaboration with community, government, and academic partners. You will help recruit participants, manage data, and assist with protocols and publications within a team-focused lab environment.

The role emphasizes confidentiality, multi-tasking, and rigorous organization to support research and evaluation initiatives at the Social Relations Lab and Center for Justice.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in a scientific discipline is required.
• Minimum of 2 years of experience in a research environment.
• Strong communication, organizational, and analytical skills.

Responsibilities

• Supports participant recruitment, coordinating scheduling interviews and focus groups.
• Manages data storage and cleaning.
• Assists with the preparation of research protocols and data transcription.
• Supports the preparation of IRB protocols, publications, and grant material.
• Oversees lab communications and collaborates with other labs.
• Supports recruitment, training, scheduling, and supervision of research assistants.
• Coordinates lab meetings and activities.
• Schedules meetings, organizes symposia, and conferences.
• Purchases equipment and research supplies.
• Coordinates travel arrangements, reimbursements, and other financial tasks.
• Answers internal and external requests for partnerships and internship opportunities.
• Performs related duties and responsibilities as requested.

Skills

Written communication

Verbal communication

Interpersonal skills

Confidentiality

Multi-tasking

Organization

Attention to detail

Independent work

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in a scientific discipline

Job description

Position Summary

The Research Staff Assistant will coordinate across various research, monitoring, and evaluation projects at the Social Relations Lab and the Center for Justice.These projects are carried out in collaboration with community, government, and academic partners.

The Social Relations Lab, led by Geraldine Downey, studies several topics that allow us to discern the effects of situational factors on the individual, and the effects of individuals on their environment and their immediate situation.Much of the current work seeks to illuminate individual and structural pathways through which the stigma associated with carceral identity can adversely affect interpersonal functioning and well-being outcomes in high-stakes domains. One of the goals of this work is to inform the development of evidence-based interventions that can disrupt stigma in ways that enable flourishing during reentry.

The Center for Justice is committed to ending mass incarceration and criminalization and advancing alternative approaches to justice and safety through education, research, and policy change. Its mission is to help transform the approaches to justice from being driven by punishment and retribution to being centered on prevention and healing. The Center is interdisciplinary and works in partnership with schools, departments, centers, and institutes across Columbia, other universities, government agencies, community organizations, advocates, and those directly affected by the criminal justice system.

This role is subject to grant funding.

Responsibilities

• Supports participant recruitment, coordinating scheduling interviews and focus groups 15 %
• Manages data storage and cleaning 10 %
• Assists with the preparation of research protocols and data transcription 10 %
• Supports the preparation of IRB protocols, publications, and grant material 10 %
• Oversees lab communications (social media, newsletters, website) and collaborates with other labs 10 %
• Supports recruitment, training, scheduling, and supervision of research assistants 10 %
• Coordinates lab meetings and activities 10 %
• Schedules meetings, organizes symposia, and conferences 5 %
• Purchases equipment and research supplies 5%
• Coordinates travel arrangements, reimbursements, and other financial tasks 5%
• Answers internal and external requests for partnerships, programming, internship opportunities, etc. 5 %
• Performs related duties & responsibilities as requested5 %

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree required in a scientific discipline.
• 2 years of experience in a research environment.

Other Requirements

• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to maintain high confidentiality and professionalism with a client focus.
• Strong multi-tasking, prioritization, and organization skills.
• Attention to detail, research, critical thinking, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Self-starter, a fast learner who can work independently under limited supervision.
• Work well in an interactive team environment.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.