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The Assistant Scientist will support research activities under the direction of the principal investigator (Audrey Harkness, PhD) or designee of the PI. Dr. Harkness’ research team is focused on addressing HIV and behavioral health (mental health/substance use) disparities affecting key populations affected by the HIV epidemic, with a focus on Latino men who have sex with men (MSM) and using implementation science to achieve HIV health equity. Postdoctoral researchers/fellows are encouraged to apply.

CORE JOB FUNCTIONS

• Creates and conducts research studies and analyzes results.

• Works with other researchers to carry out research studies and develop research products.

• Provides ready access to all study data for the research team.

• Uses the Internet, surveys, and other available sources to collect information to inform study design, data collection, results interpretation, etc.

• Requests or acquires equipment and supplies for research.

• Collaborates with PI, collaborators, and other staff to publish findings in refereed journals.

• Contributes to research activities and authors scientific publications.

• Writes sections of extramural research proposals.

• Applies for grants to continue research and prepares materials for submission to granting agencies and foundations.

• Adheres to University and unit-level policies and procedures and safeguards University assets.

T his list of duties and responsibilities is not intended to be all-inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties or responsibilities as necessary.

CORE QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

Ph.D., M.D. or other doctoral level degree in relevant field (e.g., public health, implementation science, health studies, psychology, prevention science, etc.)

Certification and Licensing:

Not Applicable

Experience:

• Experience running large NIH funded studies and/or running large, complex research projects involving multiple team members

• Experience with project management/coordination

• Experience with qualitative data collection/analysis

• Experience with implementation science research

• Experience supervising students/staff on research

Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes:

• Have received formal training in implementation science (e.g., graduate level courses, fellowships, etc.) or program evaluation

• Have experience conducting implementation research

• Bilingual (English/Spanish) – very strongly preferred due to some on site visits involving data collection in Spanish

• Skilled in collecting, organizing, and analyzing complex data (qualitative or quantitative).

• Proactive and solutions oriented

• Detail oriented and methodical

• Excellent time management and organizational skills

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills

• Ability to work in a collaborative environment

• Works efficiently, without sacrificing orientation to detail, in a fast-paced environment, must be highly flexible and adaptable

• Able to be self-directed in developing study materials, while also being open to feedback and modification

DEPARTMENT ADDENDUM

Department Specific Functions

The Assistant Scientist will support research activities under the direction of the principal investigator (Audrey Harkness, PhD) or designee of the PI. Dr. Harkness’ research team is focused on addressing HIV and behavioral health (mental health/substance use) disparities affecting key populations affected by the HIV epidemic, with a focus on Latino men who have sex with men (MSM) and using implementation science to achieve HIV health equity.

The position is full-time and in-person at the School of Nursing and Health Studies at the Coral Gables campus of University of Miami.

Ongoing projects in the lab which the Assistant Scientist could support are:

• SOMOS Alianza: This project is a strategic alliance of community-based implementers and researchers in Miami, Orlando, and San Juan. SOMOS Alianza was initially funded as a one-year grant and is being considered for funding as an R01 grant that would last for five years. Aim 1 of the R01 is to using rapid ethnographic methods and an innovative application of implementing mapping to identify strategies HIV organizations are using to engage Latino MSM in PrEP and mental health/substance use treatment. The Assistant Scientist would support development of data collection tools using established implementation science frameworks and methods, on-site (in Miami, Orlando, and San Juan) site visits to collect observational data on existing strategies the organizations are using, developing tools to evaluate the strategies, evaluate the strategies using those tools, and developing Implementation Research Logic models for strategies that meet certain criteria. Aim 2 of the R01 is to leverage user-centered design methods to develop a Dashboard of strategies for improving reach identified through Aim 1. The Assistant Scientist would work with the research associates and the technology team (at another university) to oversee development of the Implementation Strategy Dashboard, and then oversee all data collection and analyses for the aim. Data collection will include focus group discussions, alpha testing of the Dashboard, and beta-testing the Dashboard (surveys and interviews). The Assistant Scientist would also support qualitative data analysis for this aim. Aim 3 of the R01 is to give HIV organizations across the US access to the Implementation Strategy Dashboard and evaluate its usability and impact on the organizations. For this aim, the Assistant scientist would direct research associates with recruitment, support development of qualitative and quantitative data collection tools, and support data analysis. Other overall responsibilities for the Assistant Scientist on this project would be: (a) supervising/developing SOPs, (b) supervising research associates and coordinating with the lab manager, (c) coordinate meetings and communication among the research team and community partners, (d) provide overall scientific support to the project.

• JUNTOS Referral Network: JUNTOS is a website/app that is a centralized database of South Florida HIV prevention and treatment services, tailored to the needs of Latino MSM. We have a new grant (R34) to pilot test JUNTOS as an implementation strategy to improve the reach of HIV prevention and treatment services to Latino MSM. For the pilot, we are recruiting HIV test counselors and will randomly assign them to either get the JUNTOS tool (experimental condition) or a referral list (control condition). We will assess whether there is a difference in PrEP, PEP, and HIV treatment referral rates for Latino MSM clients of HIV test counselors in the two conditions. The Assistant Scientist would provide overall scientific support/coordination for this project, as needed/assigned.

• Dime Más: This project is a pilot clinical trial (funded by a K23). We are comparing three conditions to determine which strategy is most promising for improving the reach of PrEP, HIV testing, and behavioral health treatment to Latino MSM. The first condition is “Dime Más” (experimental condition). Participants who are randomized to Dime Más receive intensive outreach from our community partner. Our research team provides biweekly supervision to our community partner who delivers Dime Más to participants. The second condition is “Oye Miami” (another experimental condition). Oye Miami is a website that shows real stories of local Latino MSM talking about their experiences with PrEP, HIV testing, or behavioral health services. The goal of the website is to normalize using these services. The third condition is a referral sheet (control condition). The Assistant Scientist would provide overall scientific support/coordination for this project, as needed/assigned.

• Equitable Implementation Science Core of the Center for HIV and Research in Mental Health. Dr. Harkness is the Director of the Equitable Implementation Science Core. The core provides consultations and support to HIV/mental health investigators within UM and across South Florida. The core also provides training and educational activities, including multi-day seminars in equitable implementation science for researchers and community partners. The Assistant Scientist may be asked to support/coordinate scientific aspects of the core.

• LGBTQ-Affirmative CBT Implementation Trial. Dr. Harkness is a member of the training team of an LGBTQ-affirmative CBT implementation trial (PI: Pachankis, Yale University). This involves training individuals in LGBTQ-affirmative CBT to evaluate the best strategies for implementing this evidence-based intervention. There may be opportunities to scientifically support this project.

• Overall REACH Equity team: Our team is very active and includes students and staff. We have ongoing grant submissions, are submitting manuscripts based on ongoing and prior projects, and have an active Community Advisory Board with whom we meet once a month. Dr. Harkness is also involved as a Co-Investigator or collaborator on additional projects, including the SGM SOL study (examining cardiovascular disparities among Latino SGM communities), a study examining HIV testing implementation in emergency departments, and others. Opportunities to support these other projects in addition to the projects listed above are possible.

Primary duties and responsibilities:

• Overall scientific support and coordination across the lab (e.g., helping with measures selection, developing qualitative data collection instruments, ensuring scientifically appropriate data collection approaches, directing or conducting data cleaning, supporting data analysis and interpretation, supporting manuscript and grant development).

• Attending weekly lab meetings and project-specific meetings and supervising staff on assigned projects. The Assistant Scientist may also assist with running meetings and reviewing/preparing agendas, particularly science focused meetings.

• Attending/leading meetings with community partners for ongoing projects or building new relationships with new community partners.

• Completing weekly individual meetings with PI, as needed

• Providing staff supervision (e.g., staff reviews, supervision, approval of time off), as needed on specific projects.

• Ensuring team members’ compliance with IRB approved protocols and working with PI to report non-compliance and address through corrective action plans.

• Leading “root cause analysis” discussions with team members if non-compliance occurs and developing corrective action plans as needed.

• Ensuring team members’ compliance with SOPs and supervising updates to SOPs based on emerging issues.

• Training team members.

• Assisting with setting up consultant and vendor agreements for the lab (e.g., preparing paperwork, coordinating with finance and PI to ensure payments are sent as planned by the lab)

• Supporting manuscript development and submission processes.

• Supporting grant development and submissions (e.g., preparing sections of grants, coordinating investigators on a grant submission, etc.)

• Supporting collaborations with other research teams, schools, universities, partners, or investigators.

• Note that this position does require some travel within Miami, to Orlando area (e.g., train, car) and to the San Juan/Puerto Rico area (flying), particularly in the early part of the position.

  The University of Miami is an Equal Opportunity Employer - Females/Minorities/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities are encouraged to apply. Applicants and employees are protected from discrimination based on certain categories protected by Federal law. Click here (https://www.hr.miami.edu/careers/eo-ada/index.html) for additional information.

Job Status:

Full time

Employee Type:

Staff

Pay Grade:

A10