Senior Research Associate (Research Technician III, Range 1) - Office of Research and Sponsored Programs/Public Health

Senior Research Associate

San Francisco State University is seeking a Senior Research Associate to join the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs/Public Health.

Position Summary

The Research Technician III (Senior Research Associate) will compile and interpret statistical data for public health investigations. Responsibilities include developing study plans, preparing detailed reports, and assisting the Principal Investigator (PI) with day-to-day study activities. This includes supervising recruitment, data collection, and data management, and coordinating activities across studies to ensure smooth and timely implementation. The role involves recommending and applying study procedures, developing and processing data, analyzing quantitative and qualitative data, preparing reports and graphic presentations, and supervising other technical research staff. The incumbent may initiate or recommend new studies, represent the research staff at meetings, and ensure study protocols and materials meet high scientific standards. Key roles include building and maintaining systems, conducting literature reviews, managing data collection, and disseminating study findings through abstracts, presentations, and reports for diverse audiences. Supervisory responsibilities extend to directing small research staff and students.

Position Information

The research technician will work independently and with the PI on data compilation, preparation, and analysis using rigorous statistical and epidemiologic methods. Key areas include:

• Compile, manage, merge, and clean multiple data sources.
• Prepare, maintain, and update codebooks for all data sources.
• Implement statistical analyses, including coding for descriptive and inferential statistics, summarizing data, and preparing tables and graphs.
• Maintain accurate, confidential records of recruitment and participant interactions.
• Ensure compliance with IRB protocols and culturally appropriate informed consent processes.
• Track participant enrollment/analysis targets and identify strategies to meet them, providing regular updates to the study team.

Project Coordination and Management

• Assist the PI with project coordination and management, including agenda setting for research meetings and ensuring team research tasks align with timelines.
• Coordinate data collection, management, and analyses with the research team, collaborators, and co-investigators.
• Develop weekly/monthly plans for research activities and supervise related tasks.

Reporting/Presentation/Implementation

• Collaborate with the PI and co-investigators across institutions on prevention science projects, covering design, implementation, data collection, management, analysis, and product development.
• Supervise research staff (including students and interns) to advance research phases and ensure milestones are met.
• Review literature related to child health, disparities, obesity, and the influence of schools and policies on nutrition, physical activity, and food environments.
• Devise, implement, and maintain an electronic-based bibliographic system using EndNote and Excel.
• Generate reference libraries, organize files, and create summary tables of evidence for analysis.
• Assist in preparing research findings for manuscript development and dissemination, including abstracts, posters, research briefs, and presentations.
• Deliver professional presentations at annual research conferences.
• Conduct periodic policy analyses directly related to the research.

Minimum Qualifications

• Other duties as assigned.

Knowledges and Abilities

• Thorough knowledge of research techniques, study planning, variable determination, and reference material development.
• Thorough knowledge of research reporting techniques.
• General knowledge of machine tabulation techniques and data programming.
• Thorough knowledge of data analysis techniques (e.g., correlation, trend analysis, frequency distribution, sampling, hypothesis testing, interval estimation).
• Familiarity with principles of personnel management and effective supervision; ability to direct the work of others.
• Ability to reason logically and think independently and creatively on research problems.
• Ability to develop techniques for handling large volumes of detailed data and analyze it.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships.
• Strong ability to speak and write effectively.
• Ability to analyze situations accurately and adopt effective courses of action.
• Excellent organizational abilities.
• Ability to embrace ambiguity, flexibility, and handle complexity.
• Ability to work independently in fast-paced environments.
• Interpersonal ambassadorship skills and effective collaboration across settings and organizations.
• Knowledge of research ethics and protection of human subjects.
• Openness to innovation and challenge.
• Ability to juggle competing priorities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bias toward collaboration and teamwork.
• Effective oral, written, and nonverbal communication skills.
• Proficiency in digital tools for outreach and data tracking.
• Masters-level training in quantitative sciences (public health, social epidemiology, economics, biostatistics, or related field).
• Effective problem-solving and resolution skills.
• Fluency in Spanish and English (spoken and written).
• Personal effectiveness and credibility.
• Comfortable working with diverse backgrounds and across multiple institutions.
• Desire for engaging in scientific writing and reporting.
• Masters Degree in Social Sciences, Public Health, or related field including economics.
• Three years of research experience.

Key skills/competency

• Research Associate
• Public Health Research
• Statistical Data Analysis
• Project Coordination
• Data Management
• Research Reporting
• Literature Review
• Supervision
• Epidemiologic Methods
• Scientific Writing