Research Associate (Part-Time)

Description

Summary: 

The Institute of Human Development and Social Change (IHDSC) at New York University (NYU) is currently seeking a dedicated, detail-oriented, part-time Research Associate in to support qualitative research activities for a guaranteed-income project based in Los Angeles County, California. 

The IHDSC is evaluating the Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services TAYportunity Guaranteed Income Program, a 3-year initiative where a cohort of low-income young adults will receive unconditional, recurring cash transfers for the duration of the program. This is an innovative program designed to provide financial resources to young adult residents of Los Angeles County, California, and is being evaluated by a diverse, mixed-methods team of researchers. 

The IHDSC is looking to hire an organized, reliable, and friendly part-time Research Associate to assist with qualitative evaluation of this program. The Research Associate will conduct primarily in-person qualitative interviews with local residents who have been selected to be in this program, as well as members of a control group of local residents. Participants will be interviewed every several months. The interviews will be key for understanding the impacts of this program on the economic and social well-being of program participants in Los Angeles County. 

Along with participating in rigorous longitudinal qualitative data-collection, the Research Associate will contribute to qualitative data management and analysis, and will communicate by email, text, or phone with local program participants to ensure engagement and retention in this evaluation effort. The Research Associate will be based in Los Angeles, and will be a key member of a collaborative, virtual team working environment. The ideal candidate will have an interest in equality, economic inclusion, qualitative research, and public policy. 

This is a grant-funded, part-time position reporting to the project Research Manager, Ellie Witwer, and the Principal Investigator (PI), Dr. Ajay Chaudry, both located in New York, NY. Exact working hours (estimated 10-12 hours per week) will be negotiated together with the chosen candidate. Candidates must be based in Los Angeles, and have a driver’s license and access to a vehicle to get to and from in-person interviews (will be reimbursed for travel/mileage). To facilitate team collaboration, the Research Associate must be available for virtual weekly meetings at a time to be decided within the window of Monday-Friday from 9am to 3pm Pacific Time (US). Occasional evening or weekend availability to complete qualitative interviews may be required.

Responsibilities include: 

● Data collection: Take field notes, and schedule, conduct, and follow-up on 1-2 hour qualitative interviews with Los Angeles County program participants. 

● Data management support: Work closely with IHDSC’s research manager to transcribe, manage, and code the qualitative data collected.
 

● Qualitative data organization: Organize qualitative data into an outline that has been developed by the IHDSC Research Manager and PI.
 

● Project management support: Contribute to monitoring key updates in respondents’ lives, including place of residence and contact information, as well as other project management tasks. Strictly adhere to confidentiality protocols and procedures to ensure participants’ privacy and confidentiality.

Qualifications

Professional and personal attributes: 

● Strong demonstrated attention to detail and sense of personal accountability. ● Strong written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills. 

● Strong critical thinking and analytical abilities—able to foresee issues and proactively address them. 

● Able to work independently while clearly communicating progress and results with other team members. 

● Demonstrated organizational skills and ability to complete tasks on time. 

● Strong ethical commitment and ability to maintain strict confidentiality of data collected and to respect participants’ privacy. 

Qualifications: 

● Current enrollment in graduate program, or already received graduate degree.

● Coursework and/or experience with qualitative data-collection, coding, and/or analysis is highly desirable.

● Candidates must be based in Los Angeles, and have a driver’s license and access to a vehicle to get to and from in-person interviews. Research Associates will be reimbursed for travel/mileage. 

● Must be available to work 10-12 hours per week and attend virtual weekly meetings. Occasional flexibility on evenings and weekends may be required for in-person interviews. 

● Familiarity with typical organizational tools: MS Word; Powerpoint; Google Drive; DropBox; Slack; Zoom. 

● Fluency in Spanish (written and spoken) is preferred.  

● Must have an interest in understanding the economic and social well-being of individuals and households in Los Angeles, California.

Compensation: 

This position will work between 10-12 hours per week. Costs of travel to fulfill job duties (i.e. mileage/travel) will be fully reimbursed.

In compliance with NYC's Pay Transparency Act, the base hourly range for this position is $22-23/hour. New York University considers factors such as, but not limited to, the specific grant funding and the terms of the research grant when extending an offer. 

Per NYU's hybrid remote-work policy, this position will be fully remote. 

Application Instructions

To apply: 

Please email a 1) resume; 2) cover letter to the Research Manager, Ellie Witwer, at ejw7614@nyu.edu. Please include the subject line “Research Associate Applicant - Your name.” For best consideration, please submit your application materials by Friday, May 12, 2023. The position will remain open until filled. Start date anticipated in June 2022. 

About the Institute of Human Development and Social Change (IHDSC) at NYU: The Institute of Human Development and Social Change (IHDSC) supports rigorous research and training across social, behavioral, educational, policy, communication, and health sciences. Through collaborative and interdisciplinary research, IHDSC works to bridge the disconnect between the science of human development and policies and practices that affect children, youth, and families in diverse contexts.

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