Undergraduate Research Assistant – Bilingual (Spanish-English)

The Rovniak Lab at the Penn State College of Medicine within the Department of Medicine is seeking several part-time research assistants for a large randomized controlled trial with over 1,400 participants to help engage older adults with osteoarthritis in no-cost exercise opportunities available nationwide.

Our project aims to connect older adults across the United States with supportive and convenient exercise opportunities that can help them improve their physical and mental wellness.

This work is being done with funding from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI).

Research assistants must be bilingual and speak fluent English and Spanish.

This job may be performed locally or remotely.

Campus(es): 
University Park
Work Setting(s): 
Hybrid
Area(s): 
Any
Description of responsibilities and minimum qualifications: 

Responsibilities include:

1) screening Spanish- and English-speaking older adults by phone to ensure they meet study eligibility criteria;

2) explaining study procedures via videoconferencing or by phone to both Spanish- and English-speaking participants;

3) following a scripted intervention protocol with both Spanish- and English-speaking participants;

4) attending study team meetings to ensure ongoing quality control;

5) maintaining records of screening/phone activities;

6) sending emails to Spanish- and English-speaking participants for various project-related administrative matters;

7) assisting with quality control of online Spanish and English measures; and 8) assisting with other project-related support activities.

The ideal candidate will be bilingual (fluent in Spanish and English) and have an interest in physical activity or health promotion research and some prior research or relevant related experience. In addition, the ideal candidate will also have the following traits: detail-oriented and precise; excellent interpersonal and communication skills; strong organizational skills; and strong writing skills, with a minimum GPA of 3.0 and able to work about 8 hours per week. We prefer those who can commit to 2 semesters.

The URA wil be supervised by Dr. Mari De Araujo-Greecher and Dr. Liza Rovniak.

Available Term(s): 
Fall, Spring, Summer
Position Type(s): 
Paid
Number of positions available: 
3-5
Application Instructions: 

Apply for this position in Workday by searching for REQ_0000062169 Application review will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.

To be considered for this position, applicants must include a cover letter indicating their interest in the position and a resume.

If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Mari Greecher by email (mod2@psu.edu).