Undergraduate Research Fellowship
Supervisors: Depending on qualifications and home institution, URA will work under the supervision of either or a combination of one of the project CO-PIs: Drs. Katherine Weatherford Darling (UMA), Valerie Rubinsky (UMA), Jennifer Crittenden (UMO), or Erika Ziller (USM).
Stipend: $4000
Job Description: URFs will work directly with CO-PIs, Community Partners and Graduate Fellow to co-develop the interview protocol, recruitment strategy and will analyze the interview transcripts with mentorship from the Co-PIs and Graduate Fellow. They will establish an Individualized Development Plan (IDP) with their primary mentor (a Co-PI) including learning objectives and will be integrated into scholarly communities at UMA, USM’s Maine Rural Health Research Center and UMO’s Institute on Aging. These activities will contribute to their professional development and preparation for the public health workforce, especially through training and mentored experience in community-engagement, health policy and qualitative research. In addition, the URF will be integral to the development of the following project deliverables: A1) IRB-approved CBP research protocol A2) Presentation of research findings to partners / stakeholders, A3) Submission of one peer-reviewed journal article or conference paper, B2) Presentation of implementation recommendations to stakeholders / policy makers, and C1) Presentation of workforce development and curriculum design to stakeholders and policy makers. In addition, opportunities for authorship of publications, white papers, newsletters, or conference presentations will be available. Students will receive mentorship from faculty supervisor(s) and networking opportunities with community partners.
Responsibilities: The URFs will work on a community-based participatory research project concerning community health workers (CHWs) in Maine. URAs will be responsible for conducting literature reviews, scheduling and interviewing participations, transcribing meetings with community partners, analyzing data, writing and presenting research findings to a variety of stakeholders, and other research activities.
Required Qualifications: (1) URFs must be a student in the University of Maine System; (2) Must have knowledge of or demonstrated commitment to Maine’s rural communities; (3) Completion of an introductory course in the social sciences, social work, public health, or dental health; (4) Excellent organizational and communication skills. CITI training in research ethics will be required for the hired individual in addition to all other university mandated training.
Preferred Qualifications: (1) Completion of at least one research methods course; (2) completion of advanced coursework in the social sciences, social work, public health, or dental health; (3) completion of at least one writing intensive course.
Applying: Please send a brief cover letter, resume, and information for two references, including Professor for required and/or preferred coursework, by September 15, 2021.
Contact: Dr. Katherine Darling; katherine.darling@maine.edu
Federal Work Study 9162 UMA Research Assistant 5
Wage band 5: $12.15 / hour
Requesting Office: Social Science Program
Work Study Supervisor: Katherine Weatherford Darling
Hours: Up to 10 hours per week / virtual / as arranged with supervisor
*2 positions available
Responsibilities: The Research Assistant will support the research and community-engagement projects of Dr. Weatherford Darling in the Social Science Program. Dr. Weatherford Darling uses feminist and participatory sociological methods to understand how social institutions and biomedical practices shape health inequities in order to empower communities and inform public health policies.
Activities include: Assisting with coordination of meetings with investigators, collaborators and partners, maintenance of project records and documents; planning, coordination, communication and; assistance with development and updating of websites and social media communications; development and modification of IRB protocols, semi-structured interview and observation guides, editing of interview transcripts, qualitative analysis of transcripts, field notes and primary documents/media, development of literature review and maintenance of Zotero libraries and other appropriate research tasks. The research assistant will support collaborative research projects, including but not limited to projects on: 1) Social, Ethical and Legal Implications (ELSI’s) of implementing Precision Oncology and Genomic Tumor Testing, 2) Roadmap of Strategies to Interrupt Generational Incarceration in Maine, and the Downeast Rural Health Collaborative Institute. Mentored research and project management experience as well as opportunities for authorship, training and networking are available.
Qualifications: Training in social science research methods, including completion of SSC 220, SSC 320, or some similar research methods course. Successful completion of SSC 100, SOC 101, SOC 201 or SOC 330. Excellent organization and communication skills, knowledge of Maine’s rural communities and/or healthcare institutions and connections to local communities strongly preferred. CITI training in research ethics will be required for the hired individual in addition to all other university mandated training.
Applying: Please send a brief cover letter, resume, and information for two references, including Professor for SSC 220 / 320 or other research methods course work, by September 15, 2021.
Contact: Katherine Darling katherine.darling@maine.edu / 262-7982