Research Assistant Professor
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Job Info

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Department:

SW-Research Projects - 382000

Posting Open Date:

10/17/2024

Application Deadline:

11/18/2024

Open Until Filled:

No

Position Type:

Permanent Faculty

Working Title:

Research Assistant Professor

Appointment Type:

Fixed Term Faculty

Vacancy ID:

FAC0005325

Full-time/Part-time:

Full-Time Permanent

Hours per week:

40

FTE:

1

Position Location:

North Carolina, US

Hiring Range:

Dependent upon qualifications and experience

Proposed Start Date:

12/01/2024

Be a Tar Heel!:

A global higher education leader in innovative teaching, research and public service, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill consistently ranks as one of the nation's top public universities. Known for its beautiful campus, world-class medical care, commitment to the arts and top athletic programs, Carolina is an ideal place to teach, work and learn.One of the best college towns and best places to live in the United States, Chapel Hill has diverse social, cultural, recreation and professional opportunities that span the campus and community.University employees can choose from a wide range of professional training opportunities for career growth, skill development and lifelong learning and enjoy exclusive perks for numerous retail, restaurant and performing arts discounts, savings on local child care centers and special rates on select campus events. UNC-Chapel Hill offers full-time employees a comprehensive benefits package, paid leave, and a variety of health, life and retirement plans and additional programs that support a healthy work/life balance.

Primary Purpose of Organizational Unit:

The mission of the School of Social Work is to advance equity, transform systems, and improve lives. The School's curriculum supports the mission and recognizes the uniqueness of the region served, including concerns for disadvantaged, vulnerable, and oppressed individuals, families, and communities. Classes provide rigorous and evidence-based content, and give students the opportunity to explore theory, learn intervention skills and engage in challenging dialogue with colleagues. The School works to become the leading school of social work for impact - generating knowledge with powerful and positive consequences.

The School of Social Work offers M.S.W. and Ph.D. degrees. Dual degrees are offered in Law, Public Health, Public Administration, and Divinity (with Duke University). The faculty members of the School of Social Work have strong collaborative relationships with many campus units such as the Schools of Medicine, Public Health, Nursing, Law, Government, Education, and the Department of City and Regional Planning as well as University Centers and Institutes such as the Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, the Carolina Population Center, the Center for Developmental Sciences, Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute, and the Institute on Aging. We also maintain dynamic relationships with community agencies, state and federal government, and research groups in the Research Triangle Park and across the U.S.

To learn more about the School of Social Work, please visit our website at https://ssw.unc.edu/.

Position Summary:

This posting is for two (2) Research Assistant Professor fixed-term faculty positions. By applying, applicants will be considered for all vacancies.

The School of Social Work at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill invites applications for two fixed-term research assistant professor positions. The individuals will be involved in research and evaluation projects that assess the impact of child welfare policies at the state and local levels. Research fixed-term faculty within the School of Social Work are expected to engage in scholarship and research as well as service. This position has a standard distribution of effort that includes 90% scholarship and research and 10% service and community engagement.

A significant aspect of these roles is integral to a multi-year state-wide evaluation of three therapeutic parenting interventions in Illinois: Child Parent Psychotherapy (CPP), Positive Parenting Program (Triple P), and Nurturing Parenting Programs (NPP). This evaluation is funded by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) as part of its Family First Prevention Services Act program plan.

Additionally, these roles will contribute to a larger research program aimed at identifying funding opportunities to support the development, testing, and scaling of interventions that support children's development and well-being.

Key Responsibilities:
* Research & Evaluation Support: Lead and support critical evaluation activities, including data collection, data sharing, data management, and analysis
* Intervention Monitoring: Monitor intervention fidelity and collect information on client participation, barriers, and facilitators of implementation.
* Team Leadership: Manage research assistants in tasks related to statistical analysis, continuous quality improvement, report generation, and presentations.
* Problem Solving: Identify and propose solutions to project implementation challenges.

The essential jobs functions may include:
* Develop and execute analytic and evaluation approaches with minimal supervision
* Assist with data collection protocols and data abstraction tools
* Oversee the development of large, longitudinal datasets from multiple sources (e.g., administrative data, survey data)
* Prepare data for analysis, including designing and implementing data cleaning protocols and ensuring data quality
* Prepare written materials, including reports, presentations, and academic papers
* Develop and manage Institutional Review Board (IRB) protocols
* Assist with project management tasks, grant proposals, implementation of research agenda, and stakeholder engagement.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements:

Applicants must possess a Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) degree from an accredited Council of Social Work Education program and 7 years of relevant experience (6 years must be post-Master's), or a doctoral degree in social work, education, psychology, sociology, or a related field.

Applicants must be able to demonstrate strong quantitative and qualitative research skills.
Demonstrate knowledge of research and evaluation methods, child welfare policies and practices, and mental/behavioral health interventions
Proficiency in statistical analysis programs (R, Stata, or SPSS)
Strong experience in data cleaning, merging datasets, and creating and analyzing large longitudinal datasets
Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to communicate effectively with various stakeholders
Demonstrate ability to present evaluation findings to various stakeholders, translating complex data into actionable insights
Collaborate effectively with team members while also working independently

Preferred Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience:

Applicants should have a strong background in statistical analysis and a passion for improving child welfare and mental health outcomes.

Preferred Qualifications:
* Experience with REDCap is strongly preferred
* Familiarity with secure file transfer and data security protocols

Campus Security Authority Responsibilities:

Not Applicable.

Special Instructions:

Candidates should electronically upload a CV, a cover letter outlining interest and prior experience, and a research statement. They should also include three references and their email and phone numbers. The research statement should be uploaded as "Other Document." Please note that if the candidate advances to the candidate pool, referees will receive a system-generated email to upload a referee letter.

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