Professional Research Assistant Level 2

The University of Colorado is hiring a Professional Research Assistant Level 2 for its Center for Health, Work, and Environment. The role supports a clean air and health resilience study through community recruitment, participant consent and support, home visits, and collection of health and environmental data.

Responsibilities

• Conduct direct outreach across Alamosa County to engage residents in the Clean Air Study. Represent the study at community meetings, local events, and public hubs to build awareness and trust
• Reach out to households identified through randomized address sampling and community sign-up lists, maintaining respectful, multi-modal contact attempts (phone, in-person, email)
• Maintain accurate, real-time records of all participant contact attempts, eligibility screenings, and recruitment dispositions using REDCap and shared tracking logs
• Clearly explain study objectives, household eligibility criteria (year-round SLV residence, no existing air cleaner, adult 18+ household consent), and participation benefits ($200 incentive + free air filter)
• Guide participants through the informed consent process (via phone, Zoom link, or in person) and collect child assents during initial visits in accordance with IRB protocols
• Perform initial, quarterly/midpoint, and endpoint home visits to measure indoor air quality, record room dimensions, and set up DIY box-fan air cleaners (DIYacs) and UPAS air quality monitors
• Collect baseline and follow-up clinical and survey measures, including resting blood pressure, lung function testing (spirometry/PEF), survey responses, and urine sample coordination for designated sub-cohorts
• Inspect air filter units and sensors during routine visits, ensuring proper placement in participant bedrooms or primary living areas and supplying replacement filters as needed
• Assist participants during text-alerted poor air quality events (wildfire smoke or dust events) by supporting short 3-day daily surveys and lung function measurements
• Serve as the primary local point of contact for participating Alamosa households, delivering plain-language air quality/health results summaries and addressing participant questions
• Complete mandatory pre-study onboarding, including CITI Human Subjects Training, REDCap data collection training, recruitment protocol review, and the 8-hour Full Study Training
• Participate in bi-weekly (and subsequent monthly) study team check-ins, coordinate with local couriers for sample/hardware handoffs, and submit monthly invoices and mileage logs to the CN Manager

Preferred

• Prior experience working as a Community Health Worker (CHW), Promotora, patient navigator, research assistant, or community outreach worker in rural health or environmental health programs
• Established relationships with local community organizations, clinics, schools, agricultural groups, or public hubs in Alamosa and the San Luis Valley
• Prior experience conducting structured home visits, administering surveys, or collecting basic health measurements (e.g., resting blood pressure or peak flow lung function)
• Community Health Work
• Promotora Experience
• Patient Navigation
• Research Assistance
• Rural Health Programs
• Environmental Health Programs
• Structured Home Visits
• Survey Administration
• Blood Pressure Measurement
• Peak Flow Measurement
• Community Relationship Building

Benefits

• Remote work; this role is eligible to work remotely, but the employee must be in the United States.
• Medical: Multiple plan options
• Dental: Multiple plan options
• Additional Insurance: Disability, Life, Vision
• Retirement 401(a) Plan: Employer contributes 10% of your gross pay
• Paid Time Off: Accruals over the year (based on percentage of time)
• Vacation Days: 22/year (maximum accrual 352 hours)
• Sick Days: 15/year (unlimited maximum accrual)
• Holiday Days: 11/year
• Tuition Benefit: Employees have access to this benefit on all CU campuses
• ECO Pass: Reduced rate RTD Bus and light rail service

Company

• Public research university with four Colorado campuses
• Denver, Colorado, USA
• https://www.cu.edu/
• Founded in 1876
• 10001+ employees

Qualifications

• Must have Bachelor's degree and 1+ year experience, community health, research coordination, or public service outreach, preferably in rural health initiatives
• Bilingual in English and Spanish
• Basic computer and mobile technology literacy (e.g., using smartphones, tablets, Zoom, Google Sheets, and web-based survey software like REDCap)
• Interpersonal and Communication Skills
• Deep familiarity with local geography, rural cultural norms, and community resources in Alamosa County and surrounding Valley communities
• Strong active listening and trust-building skills; ability to communicate warmly and respectfully with varied rural populations
• Practical aptitude to set up, demonstrate, and inspect household air cleaning hardware (DIY box-fan air cleaners / DIYacs) and air quality monitoring devices (UPAS units)
• Proficiency in using smartphones, tablets, or computers for field data collection, including entering survey responses into REDCap, updating Google Sheets tracking logs, and participating in Zoom team check-ins
• Strong time management skills to schedule home visits, track up to 5 contact attempts per household, and maintain accurate activity logs
• Ability to translate study procedures, health results, and air quality concepts into clear, accessible, jargon-free language
• Ability to work independently during local home visits while maintaining consistent communication with the research leadership
• Ability to respond supportively during acute poor air quality alerts and handle participant questions or hesitations with empathy and patience
• Prior experience working as a Community Health Worker (CHW), Promotora, patient navigator, research assistant, or community outreach worker in rural health or environmental health programs
• Established relationships with local community organizations, clinics, schools, agricultural groups, or public hubs in Alamosa and the San Luis Valley
• Prior experience conducting structured home visits, administering surveys, or collecting basic health measurements (e.g., resting blood pressure or peak flow lung function)
• Must have Bachelor’s degree and 1+ year experience, community health, research coordination, or public service outreach, preferably in rural health initiatives

Required skills

• Air Quality Monitoring, Blood Pressure Measurement, Community Health Outreach, DIY Box-Fan Air Cleaner Setup, English and Spanish Bilingualism, Peak Flow Measurement, Research Coordination, Structured Home Visits, Survey Administration, Zoom

Experience

• 1+ years