Associate Research Scientist

Description

The Yale School of Public Health is seeking an Associate Research Scientist to join a multidisciplinary research program focused on improving maternal, adolescent, and community health in American Samoa. The successful candidate will work closely with Dr. Nicola Hawley and collaborators at Yale and in American Samoa, engaging regularly with project partners virtually and making occasional site visits to support research and programmatic activities as needed.

A major focus of the position will be leadership of two newly funded randomized controlled trials in American Samoa: one evaluating the implementation and scale-up of a group prenatal care intervention and a second focused on improving adolescent mental health through a community-based intervention. The Associate Research Scientist may also contribute to other ongoing studies within the research program, depending on project needs, expertise, and scientific interests.

The Associate Research Scientist will have substantial responsibility for translating study protocols into effective research operations and ensuring rigorous implementation of the trials. The position will also provide opportunities to contribute to implementation science, intervention adaptation, data analysis, and dissemination of findings through scientific presentations and publications.

Responsibilities will include:

• Providing scientific and operational leadership for two randomized controlled trials conducted in American Samoa.

• Leading study start-up activities, including development and refinement of study protocols, standard operating procedures, implementation plans, and study workflows.

• Working closely with investigators and the American Samoa research team to support high-quality implementation of study protocols.

• Overseeing intervention implementation, including assessment of fidelity, documentation of adaptations, and identification of opportunities to strengthen intervention delivery.

• Monitoring participant recruitment, retention, intervention engagement, and overall study performance and developing strategies to address emerging challenges.

• Overseeing data quality and routinely reviewing study performance and data-quality reports.

• Troubleshooting operational and implementation challenges in collaboration with study investigators and the American Samoa research team.

• Supporting regulatory activities, protocol amendments, and other study modifications in collaboration with investigators and regulatory staff.

• Contributing to implementation science activities, including assessment of implementation outcomes and examination of factors influencing intervention delivery, adaptation, and sustainability.

• Contributing to analytic planning and interpretation of quantitative and qualitative study data.

• Leading and contributing to scientific abstracts, presentations, manuscripts, and other research products.

• Participating in grant reporting, development of future research proposals, and other activities supporting the broader research program.

• Contributing, as appropriate, to other ongoing maternal, child, adolescent, cardiometabolic, or community health studies within the research portfolio.

• Supporting mentorship and scientific development of research staff, trainees, and students involved in the projects.

Qualifications

Applicants must have a doctoral degree (PhD, DrPH, ScD, MD, or equivalent) in epidemiology, public health, behavioral or social sciences, implementation science, or a closely related field.

The successful candidate should have:

• Experience conducting intervention or clinical research, preferably including randomized controlled trials or pragmatic/community-based intervention studies.

• Strong organizational skills and demonstrated ability to coordinate complex, multi-component research projects.

• Experience developing or implementing research protocols and study procedures.

• Strong quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-methods research skills and experience contributing to scientific analysis and publication.

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work effectively with multidisciplinary and geographically distributed teams.

• A demonstrated commitment to collaborative and community-engaged research.

Experience in implementation science, maternal and child health, adolescent mental health, research conducted in Pacific Island communities or other under-resourced settings, and/or culturally adapted interventions is desirable but not required.

The successful candidate will join a collaborative research environment at the Yale School of Public Health with opportunities to contribute intellectually to ongoing studies, develop independent areas of scholarship, participate in publications and future grant development, and collaborate with investigators across Yale and partner institutions.

Application Instructions

Applicants should submit the following through Interfolio:

1. Curriculum vitae;

2. Cover letter describing relevant research experience and interest in the position;

3. A brief statement of research interests; and

4. Contact information for three professional references.

Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.

Salary will be commensurate with experience and qualifications and will follow applicable Yale University guidelines.