Title: Research Fellow/Research Manager

Executive Area: Academic Affairs

College/School/MBU: Public Health/ Health Sciences

Department: Health Promotion & Policy

Work Location: Amherst

Schedule: Full Time

Work Arrangement: Hybrid

Job Summary

Under the supervision of the Principal Investigator (PI), the Research Fellow/Research Manager will contribute to the design, implementation, analysis, and dissemination of multiple federally funded research projects focused on improving health outcomes among justice-involved populations. These include: (1) a study examining continuity of care, Medicaid reentry policies, and an intervention to improve engagement in medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) following release from incarceration; and (2) a study evaluating implementation of a multi-pronged intervention to improve HIV testing, prevention (PrEP), and linkage to care for individuals with opioid use disorder in jail and post-release settings.

Research populations will include individuals with opioid and other substance use disorders, criminal justice involved and incarcerated populations, individuals with mental health conditions, and state- and county-level administrators in the fields of public health, medicine and health care delivery, criminal justice, and public policy.

The Research Manager will engage in substantive research activities across the project lifecycle, including research design, participant recruitment and retention, qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis, interpretation of findings, stakeholder engagement, and dissemination of research findings.

Essential Functions

Collaborate with study investigators, research staff, students, consultants, and government and community partners to support the design, implementation, and evaluation of research activities.

Contribute to research planning and implementation, including coordination of research team members and research activities.

Perform participant recruitment and retention, qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis, stakeholder engagement, regulatory compliance, meeting facilitation, interpretation of research findings, and dissemination efforts, while supporting regulatory compliance, meeting facilitation, and sponsor reporting requirements.

Apply strong organizational skills, attention to detail, professionalism, and competency to work with justice-involved populations, correctional staff, community treatment providers, and interdisciplinary research teams.

Independently manage multiple research activities, priorities, timelines, and competing demands while ensuring high-quality research implementation.

Identify, troubleshoot, and resolve challenges affecting research activities while maintaining compliance with institutional policies, regulatory requirements, and sponsor-specific requirements.

Contribute to the development of research reports, presentations, abstracts, manuscripts, and other scholarly products.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in a relevant field and at least 5 years of experience managing or coordinating complex research projects with strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities, maintain project documentation, and consistently meet deadlines.

Experience implementing quantitative and qualitative research methods and protocols, including coordinating data collection, managing and analyzing datasets, and ensuring adherence to study procedures.

Ability to collect information on sensitive topics, including substance use, criminal justice involvement, and other behavioral health-related issues, while maintaining professionalism and confidentiality of participants and study data.

Knowledge of human subjects research requirements and applicable research compliance regulations.

Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook) and research-related software applications, including electronic data capture systems in research settings (e.g. REDCap).

Working knowledge of qualitative and quantitative data analysis software, including Dedoose, Atlas.ti, STATA, and SAS.

Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to interact effectively with individuals from diverse social, cultural, educational, and professional backgrounds and establish and maintain collaborative working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

Demonstrated attention to detail and ability to assess data and study documentation for completeness, accuracy, and consistency.

Strong analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.

Valid driver's license and ability to travel throughout Massachusetts, including to correctional facilities and community-based settings, with occasional overnight travel as required.

Preferred Qualifications

Master’s degree in a relevant field (e.g. public health, social sciences, psychology, criminal justice, health services research, or public policy).

Experience working with justice-involved populations or within correctional, behavioral health, substance use treatment, or public health settings.

Knowledge of opioid use disorder, MOUD, behavioral health interventions, implementation science, health services research or health policy.

CITI Human Subjects Research (HSR) certification, particularly for prisoner populations, and experience preparing and managing IRB submissions and maintaining regulatory compliance for human subjects research.

Experience working with administrative or linked datasets, including familiarity with the Massachusetts Public Health Data Warehouse.

Experience coordinating and assisting with data collection via focus groups and 1:1 interviews.

Familiarity with research-related software applications, including REDCap, SAS, FileMaker Pro, and LexisNexis.

Experience supporting federally funded research projects, including NIH-funded studies.

Bilingual Spanish skills are a plus.

Additional Details

This position is subject to final budgetary and administrative approval.

Working Conditions

Work is performed in a standard office or indoor university environment and involves minimal physical exertion.

Work Schedule and Work Arrangement

The typical schedule is Monday–Friday, with occasional evening and weekend work required to support project activities.

Salary Information

UMass Amherst expects to pay within an approximate range of $83,000 and $86,000 for this position.

Special Instructions for Applicants

Please include a copy of your cover letter and CV, along with three (3) professional references.

This position will remain open for the time period required by any applicable collective bargaining agreement and will continue until a suitable candidate pool is identified. Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to apply early.