Position: Research Assistant for Justice-Involved Health
Center: Penn Center for Community Health Workers
Principal Investigators: Chethan Bachireddy, Shreya Kangovi
Research Protocol Title: Barriers to and facilitators of health for incarcerated individuals with cardiovascular disease risk factors transitioning to the community: A mixed methods study
Project Summary:
When incarcerated individuals are released to the community, they face substantial challenges related to securing housing, employment, social support, and health care. As a result, former inmates face a risk of death 3.5 times that of the general population, with the greatest risk (12.7 times that of the general population) occurring during the first two weeks after release. Understanding the experience of incarcerated individuals with cardiovascular risk factors as they transition to the community is essential to developing interventions to improve health outcomes among this population.
We have secured funding and IRB approval to perform a qualitative study of the barriers to and facilitators of health after individuals are released from jail. This study will provide a unique window into the lives of a vulnerable population during a key transition moment and help inform the adaptation and implementation of a Community Health Worker intervention. We are partnering with the Philadelphia Department of Public Health and the Department of Prisons.
When Needed:
Full-time (~40 hours / week) over 3 months sometime from March – July 2018.
Starting date is flexible.
Qualifications:
-High School degree and 3 – 5 years’ experience or equivalent, BA/BS preferred -Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills, Effective problems solving abilities, effective communication and writing skills, and detail oriented -Experience with qualitative research and survey administration: data collection, coding, and analysis -Familiarity with vulnerable populations and experience gained in a community based organization preferred -Working knowledge of REDCap and NVivo desirable but not required
Position Description:
We are looking for a meticulous, intellectually curious and driven individual to serve as a Research Assistant (RA). The Research Assistant will report to the Principal Investigator (PI) and spend significant time in the Philadelphia Jail and in North and West Philadelphia speaking to and learning from individuals released from jail.
The principal role of the RA will be to provide research and administrative support and day-to-day supervision for this study. This will include working closely with the PI and a community-based interviewer to recruit and enroll participants, conduct interviews, administer surveys, and collect data in the Philadelphia Jail and in North and West Philadelphia. Duties will include but are not limited to:
-Regular screening and enrollment of incarcerated individuals who meet eligibility for the study
-Showing vigilance in participant safety and privacy, protocol compliance, and data quality
-Identify routine potential problems and communicate with PI
-Maintaining telephone follow-up with study subjects as dictated by protocol in a timely manner, and reporting and maintain documentation of all follow-up calls
-Attend study related meetings
-Survey administration, data collection, and cleaning
-Assist with interview coding and data analysis
-Assist with preparation of scholarly manuscripts and presentations
-The RA will be expected to perform other duties as reasonably assigned.
Position Grade:
Grade 23 non-exempt position
Application Process:
Please send your cover letter and resume to the attention of Dr. Chethan Bachireddy via email (cbachi@pennmedicine.upenn.edu) with subject line “RA Application.”
Please do not send in paper applications.
If your application is selected, you will be contacted for an interview.
**If you are interested, please reach out to Chethan Bachireddy at cbachi@pennmedicine.upenn.edu with any questions or to send in a CV/resume.**