Faculty Specialist

Job Description Summary Title:
Faculty Specialist (Research Coordinator) - University of Maryland College Park - Center for Substance Use, Addiction & Health Research (CESAR) / IN-PLACE: Interdisciplinary Network for Place-based Learning, Action, and Community Engaged EnviroMental Health

Job Description Summary:

The Center for Substance Use, Addiction & Health Research (CESAR) seeks a full-time Faculty Specialist (Research Coordinator) to support the IN-PLACE initiative - the Interdisciplinary Network for Place-based Learning, Action, and Community Engaged EnviroMental Health - a multidisciplinary partnership advancing community-based mental health and environmental research across Maryland.

The Research Coordinator will support data collection across all IN-PLACE cores, including providing evaluation support to the Community and Campus cores that will also be used to generate pilot data for future proposals and to demonstrate the impact of IN-PLACE activities. This position will work closely with the Operations Director to collect all impact metrics across IN-PLACE activities, conduct rigorous data cleaning, promote dissemination, and work with the Research Core to assemble future grant proposals to sustain IN-PLACE.

Organization Summary Statement:

The Center for Substance Use, Addiction & Health Research (CESAR) at the University of Maryland, College Park, was created in 1990 as a college-wide interdisciplinary research center. CESAR is dedicated to addressing the problems substance use disorders may create for individuals, families, and communities in Maryland and around the world. Our practical action-oriented studies and evaluations focus on improving access to treatment for substance use disorders and supporting long-term recovery. Our work spans the State of Maryland, including several projects in DC and Baltimore as well as reaching rural areas of both Western Maryland and the Eastern Shore. In addition, CESAR has several clinical trials located in Cape Town, South Africa.

IN-PLACE is an interdisciplinary initiative advancing community-engaged research on the relationships between people, place, environment, and health. Through partnerships across the University of Maryland and communities statewide, IN-PLACE conducts research on equitable access to nature, develops and evaluates nature-based health interventions, and translates evidence into education, workforce development, and community programming.

Key Responsibilities:
● Supporting data collection across all IN-PLACE cores
● Supporting the administration of the IN-PLACE seed grant program, including assisting with calls for proposals, application tracking, review coordination, award administration, and program evaluation.
● Providing evaluation support to the Community and Campus cores, including generating pilot data for future proposals and demonstrating the impact of IN-PLACE activities
● Working closely with the Operations Director to collect all impact metrics across IN-PLACE activities
● Conducting rigorous data cleaning and data quality assurance
● Assisting in the implementation of effective data flow and tracking systems across cores
● Promoting dissemination of findings to academic and community audiences
● Working with the Research Core to assemble future grant proposals to sustain IN-PLACE
● Supporting qualitative and quantitative data collection, management, and analysis
● Assisting with administrative responsibilities to support IN-PLACE programming and events

In addition to work on active IN-PLACE activities, additional duties include but are not limited to: assisting with presentations for scientific conferences and manuscript/grant preparation, developing research protocols and preparing IRB submissions, supporting oversight and mentorship of students in the lab, and capacity building to support training of other team members. There will be opportunities for manuscript co-authorship and conference presentations if of interest.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education: BA/BS in Social Sciences (Psychology, Public Health, Anthropology, Environmental Science, or related field) from an accredited college or university

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
● Ability to organize and manage time and multiple tasks
● Attention to detail and excellent written skills
● Excellent organizational, interpersonal and communication skills
● Ability to work independently
● Ability to demonstrate a high level of cross-cultural sensitivity working with underserved populations
● Ability to maintain effective communication and working relationships with other study team members
● Experience with data collection, data cleaning, and program evaluation
● Project coordination and qualitative and/or quantitative research skills
Preferences:
● Master's degree (MA/MS) in Social Sciences (Psychology, Public Health, Anthropology, Environmental Science, or related field[AB1.1])
● Familiarity with electronic data capture tools (REDCap), statistical software (R, SPSS), and qualitative analysis software (NVivo)
● Interest in nature and health, environmental health equity, or community-engaged research

Job Risks: Occasional onsite presence involving participant-facing data collection in campus and community settings.

Physical Demands: Works in an office environment; regularly requires sitting for long periods of time in front of a computer; driving to the campus for onsite meetings and fieldwork sites.

Licenses/Certifications: Must have valid driver's license to drive to in-person meetings and fieldwork sites in Maryland.

Position Location: The position is a hybrid role and will involve on-site data collection as well as remote research coordination. This position will be based at the University of Maryland, College Park, the flagship campus of the University of Maryland, located only 5 miles outside of Washington DC, with occasional travel to off-site IN-PLACE locations across Maryland as needed.

Additional Job Details

This position provides opportunities to engage in community-based research, nature and health initiatives, program evaluation, and impactful public health-oriented research. IN-PLACE offers an exciting opportunity to support a statewide network connecting research, education, workforce development, and community engagement, with close collaboration across all IN-PLACE cores and Co-PIs.

Start date is negotiable in Fall 2026.

Required Application Materials:

Cover Letter
Resume
Transcript(s) – unofficial
Writing Sample
List of References (2-3)

Best Consideration Date: 9/22/26

Posting Close Date: N/A

Open Until Filled: Y

Financial Disclosure Required

For more information on Financial Disclosure, please visit Maryland's State Ethics Commission website.

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Benefits Summary

For more information on Regular Faculty benefits, select this link.

Background Checks

Offers of employment are contingent on completion of a background check. Information reported by the background check will not automatically disqualify anyone from employment. Before any adverse decision, the finalist will have an opportunity to provide information to the University regarding disclosable background check information. The University reserves the right to rescind the offer of employment or otherwise decline or terminate employment if the information reported by the background check is deemed incompatible with the position, regardless of when the background check is completed.

Employment Eligibility

The successful candidate must complete employment eligibility verification (on Form I-9) by presenting documents that establish identity and work authorization within the timeframe required by federal immigration law, and where applicable, to demonstrate renewed employment authorization. Failure to complete employment eligibility verification or reverification within the timeframe set forth by law may result in suspension or termination of employment.

EEO Statement

The University of Maryland, College Park is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment. Please read the University’s Equal Employment Opportunity Statement of Policy.

Title IX Non-Discrimination Notice

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