Staff Research Associate

Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA; Torrance (CA); On-site; USD 33,000 - 47,000; Part time

Job summary

The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center (TLI) is seeking a part-time Staff Research Associate to support a grant-funded CBPR study examining frontline workers’ experiences, professional development pathways, and institutional interactions involved in community violence intervention.

The role emphasizes qualitative data management, grounded theory analysis, and dissemination of findings.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in public health, sociology, psychology, social work, anthropology, criminology, or related field.
• Demonstrated interest in CBPR, health equity, and community violence intervention.
• Strong written and verbal communication, organizational skills, and collaboration ability.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and comply with human subjects requirements.

Responsibilities

• Conduct literature reviews related to CBPR and frontline work.
• Assist with preparation of qualitative materials and IRB documentation.
• Conduct interviews with project investigators and partners.
• Review, organize, and manage interview transcripts and field notes.
• Support qualitative data analysis using grounded theory methods and memo writing.
• Utilize qualitative data analysis software to code transcripts and organize data.
• Participate in analytic discussions to identify themes and saturation.
• Prepare summaries and materials for dissemination to hospital HVIP staff and partners.
• Assist with documentation of strengths and opportunities in HVIP operations.
• Contribute to reports, presentations, and manuscripts for academic and community audiences.

Skills

Strong written and verbal comms

Organizational skills

Team collaboration

Confidentiality & ethics

Interest in CBPR

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

Job Details

Job Location: Torrance Campus - Torrance, CA 90502, Position Type: Part Time, Salary Range: $28.80 - $28.80 Hourly, Staff Research Associate (Part-Time)

About Us

The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center (TLI) is Los Angeles County's preeminent independent, not-for-profit biomedical research hub, excelling in transforming scientific breakthroughs into practical therapies. With a $90 million annual budget, TLI is home to over 150 investigators and 500 staff, advancing 600 projects in areas such as Infection and Immunity, Cancer, and Women's Health. Founded in 1952, the Institute continues to train physician-scientists and manage healthcare programs for 60,000 underserved families throughout South Los Angeles.

Position Summary

The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation is seeking a part-time Staff Research Associate to support an exploratory, grant-funded research project using community-based participatory research (CBPR) methods to examine the experiences, professional development pathways, and institutional interactions of frontline workers engaged in community violence intervention and life change mentorship.

This project aims to strengthen authentic community–institution partnerships and enhance the capacity of health systems to engage in community-driven research and service delivery. Primary data collection activities, including interviews and fieldwork, will be conducted by the project Co-Principal Investigators and Staff Research Associate in collaboration with a Community Engagement Specialist and trusted community partners. The Staff Research Associate will support qualitative data management, grounded theory analysis, documentation, and dissemination of findings.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Conduct literature reviews related to community violence intervention, frontline work, mentoring, and community-engaged research
• Assist with preparation and organization of qualitative research materials, including application to the Institutional Review Board, interview guides, and analytic documentation
• Conduct interviews with project Co-Principal Investigators in collaboration with a Community Engagement Specialist and trusted community partners
• Review, organize, and manage interview transcripts and descriptive field notes generated by the research team
• Support qualitative data analysis using grounded theory methods, including iterative coding, memo writing, and theme development
• Utilize qualitative data analysis software (e.g., NVivo, Atlas.ti, Dedoose, or similar) to support transcript coding and data organization
• Participate in team-based analytic discussions to identify emerging topics of inquiry and assess thematic saturation
• Assist in preparing summaries and materials for iterative presentation of findings to hospital-based violence intervention program (HVIP) staff and community partners
• Support documentation of strengths, challenges, and opportunities in HVIP operations and community–institution partnerships
• Assist with IRB-related documentation, data security procedures, and adherence to ethical research standards
• Contribute to dissemination activities, including reports, presentations, and manuscripts for academic and community audiences
• Attend project meetings and perform related research and administrative tasks as assigned

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree (required) in public health, sociology, psychology, social work, anthropology, criminology, or a related field
• Demonstrated interest in community-based participatory research, health equity, and community violence intervention
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
• Ability to work collaboratively within multidisciplinary academic–community research teams
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and comply with ethical research and human subjects requirements

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with qualitative research methods, including grounded theory or other inductive analytic approaches
• Familiarity with CBPR or other community-engaged research frameworks
• Experience working with community-based organizations or community-serving programs
• Experience using qualitative data analysis software
• Lived experience or professional experience related to frontline work, violence prevention, community health, or community advocacy

Appointment Information

• Part-time position, approximately 20 hours per week
• Limited appointment for the duration of the grant period (anticipated 24 months), with potential for extension based on funding and performance
• Occasional evening hours may be required for meetings with community or institutional partners

Additional Information

Position requires a background check and health clearance

Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action/Drug-Free Workplace

Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action/Drug-Free Workplace