Research Assistant

998577

Research Assistant

Research

EZ - EHRA Non - Exempt Permanent

Located in North Carolina’s third largest city, UNC Greensboro is among the most diverse, learner-centered public research universities in the state, with 18,000 students in eight colleges and schools pursuing more than 150 areas of undergraduate and over 200 areas of graduate study. UNCG continues to be recognized nationally for academic excellence, access, and affordability. UNCG is ranked No. 1 most affordable institution in North Carolina for net cost by the N.Y. Times and No. 1 in North Carolina for social mobility by The Wall Street Journal — helping first-generation and lower-income students find paths to prosperity. Designated an Innovation and Economic Prosperity University by the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, UNCG is a community-engaged research institution with a portfolio of more than $67M in research and creative activity. The University’s 2,600 staff help create an annual economic impact for the Piedmont Triad region in excess of $1B.

The Department of Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS) at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro is committed to excellence in teaching, research, and service regarding human development and close relationships, especially marital and family relationships, across the lifespan. Our objectives are to educate the next generation of HDFS professionals and scholars, to generate new knowledge and to foster the well-being of individuals and families in their everyday lives.

iGrowUp is a new grant designed to follow the 299 mother-child dyads from iGrow (Infant Growth and Development Study) plus an additional cohort of 50 or more children from age 3.5 to 5 years. Key aims are: (1) to determine if child appetite and self-regulation constructs are distinct vs overlapping in preschool and (2) to test a comprehensive biopsychosocial model of predictors (assessed at age 3) of childhood obesity risk at age 5.

In addition to collecting data (administering questionnaires and observational protocols, collecting child urine, weighing and measuring participants) the Research Assistant in this position will be a main point of contact for the mothers enrolled in the study and will be the key person responsible for re-enrolling mothers in the follow-up study and retention efforts. In addition, the recruitment coordinator will assist with other duties as needed. This job requires good interpersonal skills with individuals of diverse socio-economic and cultural backgrounds, comfort interacting with young children, reliable transportation and a willingness to work a flexible schedule that includes some evenings and weekends. The Research Assistant will be closely supervised by the Senior Research Assistant, Project Coordinator, Principal Investigator, and Co-Investigators.

• Required qualifications include a Master’s or Bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Studies, Psychology, or a related field and 1 or more years of prior research experience.
• This job requires strong oral presentation skills, good interpersonal skills with individuals of diverse socio-economic and cultural backgrounds, reliable transportation and a willingness to work a flexible schedule that includes some evenings and weekends.

$25,709

Human Devlp and Family Studies - 12403

07/17/2026

07/24/2026

Yes

0.750

Time Limited

7/31/2027, with possibility of renewal pending funding.

12

Non-Exempt

45%

Data Collection

• The Research Assistant is a specialized researcher role. .
• The data collection procedures will include: collecting data, including: collecting urine samples from children, measure and weigh children and mothers, administer standardized observational tasks to mothers and children, administer questionnaires to mothers.)

20%

Recruitment/Scheduling Participants

• The Research Assistant will assist the Recruitment Coordinator, by being a secondary point of contact for the mothers enrolled in the study and will be the third person responsible for recruitment and retention efforts.
• This will involve visiting local recruitment sites including the Women’s Hospital, The Public Health Department Clinic, breastfeeding classes offered by the WIC program, local obstetric practices etc.
• The RA will deliver verbal summaries of the project to small-to-moderate size groups/classes and occasionally will call potential participants to describe the project in more detail.

10%

Coding

• The Research Assistant will help code behavioral data.

15%

Oversee retention efforts

• Oversee retention efforts (Serve as the main contact to participants.
• Call, text, email and/or use social media to describe the follow up study and re-enroll participants.
• Use the same methods to schedule appointments.
• Send appointment reminders.
• Mail/email needed materials before visits.
• Follow up after visits to secure additional needed information.)

10

Scoring Questionnaires and writing Measure Descriptions

• Score questionnaire data from waves 3 and 5, write measure descriptions for scored data, this helps with dissemination efforts.

Hand Movement-Repetitive Motions - O, Hand Movement-Grasping - R, Holding - R, Reading - F, Writing - R, Eye-hand coordination - R, Hearing - O, Talking - F, Standing - O, Sitting - O, Walking - O, Lifting-0-30 lbs. - R, Pushing/Pulling - R, Climbing-Stairs - R, Bending - R, Crawling - R

Inside - F, Outside - R