Job location: Seattle, WA - Spokane, WA

Employment Type: Full-time
Posted data: 2022-02-22
Req: R-2615

Title:

155-NN - Research Assistant Professor - Career

Business Title:

Research Assistant or Associate Professor

Additional Titles:

Location:

MET PARK, WSU SPOKANE CAMPUS

Employee Type:

Faculty (+) (Fixed Term)

Job Family:

Faculty - Academic - Not OT Eligible

Position Details:

COVID-19 Vaccine Information: In accordance with the Washington State Governor’s Proclamation 21-14.1, as a condition of employment, all WSU employees must be fully vaccinated or have an approved medical/religious accommodation no later than October 18, 2021. One is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving the last shot in a vaccine series. Vaccination or an approved accommodation for new employees will be verified no later than October 18, 2021. If the effective date of appointment is October 18, 2021, or later, vaccination or approved accommodation status will be verified prior to first day of employment. For any questions related to this information, reach out to Human Resource Services (HRS) at hrs@wsu.edu or 509-335-4521.

Job Description Summary

Washington State University (WSU) Health Sciences and the Department of Medical Education and Clinical Sciences of the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine invite applications for a dynamic and engaged Research Assistant or Associate Professor passionate about community health and health equity. This full-time, 12-month non-tenure-track position is administratively located in either Seattle or Spokane, WA. The faculty member’s primary responsibility will be to participate in a collaborative, extramurally funded program of research focused on health research with Indigenous populations within the portfolio of the Institute for Research and Education to Advance Community Health (IREACH). The faculty member will work both on existing programs, grants, and centers; and will be fully supported to develop new areas of research aligned with his or her interests, as well as continue working on their ongoing research.

IREACH is one of the largest units dedicated to American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander health in the United States. Recent new areas of inquiry and active research include Hispanic/Latinx and rural health. IREACH also houses an emerging practice-based research network of 200 primary care facilities around the state that serve rural, American Indian, and other underserved populations. Comprising about 85 faculty, post docs, and staff members, IREACH supports a multidisciplinary faculty who are conducting exciting, innovative extramurally funded research. Our 16 faculty and post docs come from public health, economics, demography, epidemiology, biostatistics, sociology, psychology, public health, public administration and management, and internal medicine. We have a strong community engagement team and have worked with more than 150 partners of all kinds in 17 states.

IREACH is organized into units lead by master’s or doctoral-level leaders as follows: Fiscal/Administrative, Outreach and Engagement; Methods and Study Design; Communication; and IT. Especially important for conducting rigorous, culturally informed research is the IREACH Methods and Study Design unit comprised of 3 epidemiologists, 1 demographer, and 3 biostatisticians. In addition, IREACH has an in-house editor and a dedicated IRB/compliance coordinator. Our research portfolio includes community-based work on Alzheimer’s disease, cardiovascular disease, cancer, COVID-19, substance use, maternal/child health, and many other health inequities. The total active IREACH research portfolio exceeds $85 million dollars. More about the work of IREACH can be found on our home page (https://ireach.wsu.edu/).

Position Details

This position will work closely with our multidisciplinary team of scientists to conduct research with a primary focus on improving health in Native, rural, and other underserved populations. The successful candidate’s personal research focus is flexible but must relate in some way to advancing public health, population science, or reducing health disparities in our priority populations. Specific areas of need within IREACH include advanced quantitative research methods and study design; neuroepidemiology (including cognitive function, Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, and brain imaging); social epidemiology; practice-based research, food sovereignty and food systems, biomarkers for disease susceptibility and trajectory; and implementation science. The expectation is that the successful candidate will obtain funding and conduct research broadly related to one of the above areas. However, individuals with other research interests relevant to the IREACH mission are encouraged to apply.

Publication in peer-reviewed journals, presentation at professional societies, and engagement with relevant community groups is expected. Our faculty typically mentor graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, and early career faculty. The successful candidate is expected to contribute to a robust and collaborative academic life, including participating in College of Medicine and university committees, and in IREACH service activities. Classroom teaching is not required or expected but may be negotiated if desired.

The successful candidate’s time –90% – will be focused on extramural research. This time can represent a combination of independent, collaborative, or cross-disciplinary scholarship through both internal and external grant funding. The remaining time (10%) comprises grant writing. Teaching may be negotiated.

Occasional travel (< 10%) is required. IREACH faculty engage in both on- and off-site work.

The University

Founded as the people’s university in 1890, WSU fulfills that commitment by transforming lives through education, research, and community outreach. In 2015, the University celebrated 125 years of delivering life-changing knowledge and discoveries to citizens across the state, region, nation, and around the world. The state’s only land-grant institution and one of two public research universities, WSU provides a world-class education to nearly 30,000 students through its multi-campus, statewide locations and online. The University strives to ensure that higher education is accessible at an affordable cost—a decades-long WSU commitment to the state’s citizens. The University offers more than 200 undergraduate fields of study and 127 graduate and professional degree programs. Many academic programs win recognition nationally for excellence. WSU is one of just 108 public and private universities in the United States—out of more than 4,500—singled out for its “very high research activity” by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The University’s research agenda is focused on addressing challenges in health, sustainability, smart systems, national security, and opportunity and equity. WSU is a major driver of Washington’s economy, partnering with many of the state’s leading industries, including agribusiness, aerospace, health care, technology, and construction. The University is responsible for nearly 20,600 jobs statewide and generates an overall economic impact of more than $3.3 billion annually. The institution’s operating budget expenditures total nearly $2 billion annually.

The College and the Department

The Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine is Washington’s premier community-based medical school. It is named after the university’s late president, Elson S. Floyd. Dr. Floyd was committed to the vision that Washington State University, as the state’s land-grant institution, should train doctors to serve all of Washington. The mission of the School is to: develop practical solutions to challenging problems in disease prevention, health care access and delivery; train primary care physicians who will work in Washington and help alleviate a shortage of doctors, especially in rural and under-served areas; and develop a strong research component, with faculty members who work on innovative projects, sharing what they know with students in classroom and research settings.

The Department of Medical Education and Clinical Sciences is a unique department within the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine that aims to prepare insightful and compassionate physicians. Designed to ensure faculty unity and continuity across a range of clinical disciplines and specialties, members of the department work to establish educational goals, plan, and teach course content and conduct research.

The department’s primary focuses include delivering the MD program; fostering scholarship; providing service to the university and community; and serving as the academic home for clinicians and researchers. As a faculty member, the candidate will be expected to participate in all required Department of Medical Education and Clinical Sciences faculty development opportunities and to monitor your WSU issued email account for official college communications.

The Area

Located on the Puget Sound in northwestern Washington, Seattle is a large city home to over 770,000 residents, as well as Fortune 500 companies and a lively performing arts and sports scene. Known as the “Emerald City” due to the lush surrounding greenery, the city’s proximity to mountains and forest make it an eclectic mix of urban and rural living. Seattle is one of the fastest growing cities in the country. It is the home to major philanthropic organizations, many institutions of higher learning, a large diversity of cultural events, superb restaurants, parks and recreational opportunities, and international corporations such as Amazon, Facebook, Starbucks, and Boeing.

The IREACH offices in Seattle are in the middle of Seattle’s three major urban hot spots – South Lake Union, the Central Business District, and Capitol Hill – and are easily accessible from almost anywhere. Virtually all IREACH faculty and staff walk to work or take public transportation. On-site perks include restaurants, green space and patio gathering spots, complimentary citywide shuttle, EV charging stations, on-site showers/locker rooms, and bike storage. The Seattle office is linked to both the Spokane and Pullman campuses through a sophisticated videoconferencing system used for teaching classes at a distance possible.

Located in the University District along the riverfront in downtown Spokane, WSU Spokane is the University’s health sciences education and research campus. The campus is home to the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, which graduated its inaugural class in 2021. The University has relocated all health sciences disciplines to Spokane and built new facilities on the campus in recent years. Among the new construction is an $80 million Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences Building and a $34.6 million Nursing Building. Nearly 1,700 undergraduate, professional, and graduate students pursue degrees at the 48-acre campus. The campus also houses programs offered by Eastern Washington University and is located just across the Spokane River from Gonzaga University.

Spokane is a major health care hub and the largest along the northern corridor of the United States between Minneapolis and Seattle. It offers the latest diagnostic and therapeutic care in all fields of medicine, and boasts four major hospitals, including Providence Health’s 644-bed Sacred Heart Medical Center. Complete with a rich cultural scene, historic neighborhoods and beautiful homes, a unique urban appeal, and easy access to four-season outdoor recreation, Spokane offers a high quality of life for the nearly half million residents who live in the region.

Required Qualifications

• An earned PhD in Public Health, Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Nursing, Medicine (i.e., an MD), or in another field relevant to public health research at the time of hire.
• A minimum of 2 years conducting applied public health research for a Research Assistant Professor and 4 years for Associate Professor.
• Demonstrated experience conducting research in Native health, rural health, behavioral health/addictions, health technology, social determinants of health, environmental health or similar disciplines aligned with IREACH’s mission.
• Some experience working with underserved populations, preferably American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, or rural populations.
• Demonstrated high level organizational and multi-tasking competencies while also being flexible.
• Demonstrated ability to interact with large groups and individuals at all work levels.
• Demonstrated experience writing successful grant applications. Track record of external research funding, preferably NIH.
• Proficiency in the use of computers and software applications.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience bringing together community organizations and academic constituents.
• Demonstrated experience engaging community organizations in the research process.
• Demonstrated sensitivity to and desire to promote health equity, inclusion, and diversity.

Additional Information:

Area/College: WSU Spokane Health Sciences

Department Name: Institute for Research and Education to Advance Community Health (IREACH)

Department Link: https://ireach.wsu.edu
City, State, Zip: Seattle, WA 98101 or Spokane, WA 99202

Position Type: Full-Time

Tenure-track: No

Appointment Status: Temporary

Temporary End Date: This is a temporary position expected to end on one year from hire date. Renewal is dependent on the need for extension and/or if additional funding is secured to extend employment.
Position Term in months: 12 Months

Salary: Commensurate with experience.

FTE: 100%
Background Check: This position has been designated by the department to require a background check.
Posting Close Date: Open Until Filled.

Screening Begin Date: October 1, 2021

Special Instructions to Applicants:

This post may be used to fill multiple positions.

At the time of application, please be prepared to submit the following documents 1) cover letter, 2) curriculum vitae, and 3) research statement. Applicants are required to include contact information for professional references within the application. Application materials should clearly communicate how the applicant meets all required qualifications.
Required Documents:

1) Cover Letter

2) Curriculum Vitae

3) Research Statement

Time Type:

Full time

Position Term:

12 Month

WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EDUCATOR AND EMPLOYER. Members of ethnic minorities, women, special disabled veterans, veterans of the Vietnam-era, recently separated veterans, and other protected veteran, persons of disability and/or persons age 40 and over are encouraged to apply.

WSU employs only U.S. citizens and lawfully authorized non-U.S. citizens. All new employees must show employment eligibility verification as required by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

WSU is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, education and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact Human Resource Services: 509-335-4521 (v), Washington State TDD Relay Service: Voice Callers: 1-800-833-6384; TDD Callers: 1-800-833-6388, 509-335-1259(f), or hrs@wsu.edu.