Research Program Associate

Job Overview The Research Program Associate will oversee a portfolio of community-based cancer education, outreach, and research initiatives within the I-CHARM Research Lab, led by Associate Professor Dr. Daisy Le. This position is central to the lab's daily operations, providing leadership in project management, research oversight, community engagement, fiscal administration, and team supervision. The Research Program Associate will collaborate closely with community organizations across the GW Cancer Center catchment area (DC, Maryland, Virginia). This role requires demonstrated experience in community-based participatory research (CBPR) and a commitment to working with diverse, medically underserved populations. Work occurs both on campus and in community settings, with occasional evening and weekend responsibilities. The Research Program Associate will support multiple NIH- and ACS-funded studies, assist with pilot project development, contribute to grant writing, and supervise staff and student research assistants. About the I-CHARM Research Lab The I-CHARM Research Lab focuses on health disparities, cancer prevention and control, chronic disease management, substance use, digital information technology, health communication, and community-centered interventions. Our research incorporates: Mixed methods research to design culturally grounded interventions (digital/mobile health programs, interactive decision-support tools, tailored health communication strategies, storytelling- or narrative-based approaches, socio-emotional learning models, and community advocate training curricula). Clinical trials to evaluate feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy of community-based interventions. Evidence synthesis including systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Community-engaged intervention development, using human-centered design and participatory co-creation with community partners. Behavioral and communication science approaches to study multilevel influences (policy, media, interpersonal networks, digital ecosystems) on health behavior. We work with communities locally and across the U.S., centering equity, scientific rigor, collaboration, and partnership-building. Our lab culture emphasizes inclusivity, kindness, professionalism, communication, and competence. Key Responsibilities Project & Program Management: Coordinate the planning, development, and launch of I-CHARM research projects, including needs assessments, cancer health advocate trainings, intervention design, and educational workshop development. Prepare and maintain IRB submissions and renewals; finalize intervention materials, recruitment tools, and protocol documents. Support daily project operations, including participant engagement, intervention delivery, fidelity monitoring, and study coordination across in-person, online, and phone-based formats. Establish and maintain data collection and tracking systems; supervise data entry, cleaning, and preliminary analysis. Monitor milestones, deliverables, and compliance with NIH/ACS timelines and metrics to ensure timely progress. Prepare and submit regular project reports, including semi-annual progress reports and internal documentation. Plan, schedule, and coordinate project-related meetings, including research team meetings, conference calls, investigator check-ins, and Community Advisory Board meetings. Serve as the primary liaison for communications with community members, university officials, IRB representatives, funding agencies, and media contacts. Community Engagement & Outreach: Cultivate and strengthen partnerships with community-based organizations, CAB members, community advocates, and local stakeholders. Develop, deliver, and evaluate cancer education programming and health communication activities across the catchment area. Recruit, train, and coordinate community members for outreach, advisory positions, research participation, and intervention involvement. Support needs assessments, community consultations, and data dissemination initiatives to inform program improvement and policy relevance. Expand and sustain long-term community partnerships to support ongoing outreach, research, and education infrastructure. Administrative & Fiscal Responsibilities: Monitor project budgets, track expenditures, reconcile accounts, and review subcontractor financial documentation. Participate in monthly financial and administrative meetings, preparing updates and tracking CAB stipends, incentives, and other payments. Coordinate lab communications, including newsletters, social media content, and updates to the lab website. Order, maintain, and organize supplies, equipment, and research materials to ensure smooth project operations. Team Mentorship: Mentor student researchers and volunteers working across lab projects. Support hiring processes, including job posting development, candidate screening, interviews, and reference checks. Support onboarding, training, professional development, and offboarding of lab personnel. Facilitate weekly team and research assistant meetings, coordinating workflow, setting goals, and resolving challenges. Foster a positive, inclusive, collaborative, and high-performing lab culture aligned with I-CHARM values. Research Support: Conduct literature reviews to support research design, grant proposals, and manuscript development. Assist with grant writing, pilot project development, and publication preparation. Manage research databases (REDCap, SPSS, SAS/R), ensuring data integrity, thorough documentation, and strong quality control. Support mixed methods research, including intervention delivery, qualitative/quantitative data collection, analysis preparation, and evaluation activities. Lead project-related meetings, prepare meeting minutes, and track action items to ensure follow-through. Physical Demands Routine office duties, including computer work and attending meetings across campus or partner sites. Lifting boxes and transporting materials for community events and outreach activities. Local travel for fieldwork, meetings, and community programming. Ability to navigate stairs and a variety of community settings. Performs other work related duties as assigned. The omission of specific duties does not preclude the supervisor from assigning duties that are logically related to the position. Minimum Qualifications Qualified candidates will hold a Bachelor's degree in an appropriate area of specialization plus 2 years of relevant professional experience, or a Master's degree or higher in a relevant area of study. Degree must be conferred by the start date of the position. Degree requirements may be substituted with an equivalent combination of education, training and experience. Preferred Qualifications Master's degree in Public Health or related discipline (e.g., psychology, sociology, anthropology, education, statistics). 2+ years of project management experience in academic, public health, clinical, or community research settings. Demonstrated understanding of CBPR principles and experience working with diverse and underserved populations. Evidence of research potential (peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, applied research experience). Experience developing community-facing or educational materials. Strong quantitative, computational, and data management skills, including proficiency in REDCap, Excel, SPSS (data entry and analysis), and statistical software such as R, SAS, or comparable analytical tools. Experience working in clinical, community, or laboratory environments. Supervisory experience overseeing diverse professional and student teams. Excellent oral and written communication skills; ability to multitask and meet deadlines. Knowledge of research methodology, IRB procedures, and grant-funded project processes. Ability to travel locally and to attend evening/weekend community events as needed. Experience in conducting community-based research, particularly in health disparities, cancer prevention, chronic disease, health communication, and/or information technology. Experience working with medically underserved populations and collaborating with Community Advisory Boards. Proficiency with public health datasets (HINTS, BRFSS, PATH). Familiarity with public data repositories (e.g., GitHub) and best practices for reproducible research. Experience developing social media strategies and community-focused communications. EEO Statement The university is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer that does not unlawfully discriminate in any of its programs or activities on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or on any other basis prohibited by applicable law. #J-18808-Ljbffr George Washington University