Research Assistant

The Water Institute at UNC was created in 2009 and is hosted within the Gillings School of Public Health and the Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering. The Institute serves works to create a more water secure world through research, policy and practice and serves as a platform for mobilizing the knowledge, expertise, and resources that exist across UNC to address critical water and sanitation challenges within the U.S and abroad. The Water Institute includes a core staff and researchers and a network of experts and faculty members throughout the University that lead and drive research on areas related to access to safe drinking water and sanitation, water resources management, and transboundary water. It also hosts the annual Water and Health Conference which has become the largest international event that convenes academics, practitioners, and policymakers working within the drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene sectors.

The goal of the Water Institute is to address domestic and global water, sanitation, and hygiene challenges by:
• Providing the evidence base for action – by assessing the health, economic, and security impacts of water, sanitation, and hygiene related challenges.
• Developing solutions – through scientific research, technical innovation, and policy analysis.
• Ensuring that solutions can work at scale – through in-field monitoring, evaluation, and learning
test our solutions to ensure they can deliver the intended results where the problems exist.
• Promoting broad adoption of evidence-based solutions that work – through direct engagement with policymakers and in national, regional and international policy fora.

Equal Opportunity Employer    
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, race, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or status as a protected veteran.

Position Description    
The purpose of this position is to support research undertaken by the Water Institute related to environmental health, infection prevention and control (IPC), and the provision of safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene (WaSH) and IPC services in humanitarian and low-resources settings, by leading literature searches; collecting, compiling, editing, analyzing, and curating data and information; performing statistical and other analysis; writing, editing, and/or formatting of reports and other communication materials; co-author peer-reviewed academic publications; preparing funding opportunity proposals for submission; and/or coordinating research and outreach efforts. This position will require the use of considerable judgment and research skills in performing the work assignments. Work may include the training and supervision of staff, students, and others.

The incumbent will serve as a Social/Clinical Research Assistant supporting research activities undertaken by the Water Institute across a range of thematic issues including environmental health, infection prevention and control (IPC), and the provision of safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene (WaSH) and IPC services in humanitarian and low-resources settings.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements    
Bachelor’s degree; or equivalent combination of training and experience. All degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.

Essential Skills, Knowledge and Abilities    
Technical Knowledge: Demonstrated technical knowledge and skill in environmental health, infection prevention and control (IPC), and/or the provision of safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene (WaSH) and IPC services in humanitarian and low-resources settings. Ability to keep current with developments and trends in these areas of research. Working knowledge of the research principles, technical methods, and processes used to conduct a systematic and objective inquiry including methods of data entry, collection and analysis, and summarizing and reporting results. Working knowledge of statistics and related information technology. Working knowledge of the research principles and methods of data entry,collection, and analysis to complete defined assignments independently. Working knowledge of statistics and information technology to apply a variety statistical techniques and formulae in the collection and preparation of data/information related to defined research area.

Data/Information Collection: Ability to observe, monitor, collect, and record data/information in order to assess its accuracy, validity, and integrity. Ability to organize, collect, record and present data/information
within defined research parameters. Ability to ensure quality control. Ability to summarize data/information collected. Ability to carry out collection and screening under close supervision when atypical methods are used.

Information/Records Administration: Knowledge of data/information collection methods,data/information management systems, and project/program knowledge and ability to compile, assimilate,
organize, and store data/information. Ability to review, compile, summarize, and analyze data/information to prepare reports. Ability to compile and organize data/information from different sources to develop reports using established formats.

Communication: Ability to convey accurate information through a variety of means during all phases of research including data/information collection, processing, and dissemination and reporting to individuals or groups. Ability to ensure that information related to research is understood. Ability to listen and respond appropriately to others to make the information understandable. Ability to prepare and/or make presentations suited to the characteristics and needs of the audience. Ability to lead and update exchange of research information through dialog, instruction, and demonstration. Ability to contribute to preparation of publications, reports, and other presentations of compiled results.

Preferred Qualifications    
Demonstration of experience in field research in low resource / humanitarian settings.

Required Licenses/Certifications    
Special Physical and Mental Requirements    
Position/Schedule Requirements    
Position Attributes    
Stimulus/ARRA Funded    No
Quick Link    https://unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/186643

Information

• Location: Chapel Hill, United States

Industry experience

Education: Bachelor

Seniority: Expert, Engineer, Consultant

Taxonomy

• Research Institute
• Research