Staff Research Associate

DescriptionStaff Research Associate (Part-Time)

About UsThe Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center (TLI) is Los Angeles County's preeminent independent, not-for-profit biomedical research hub, excelling in transforming scientific breakthroughs into practical therapies. With a $90 million annual budget, TLI is home to over 150 investigators and 500 staff, advancing 600 projects in areas such as Infection and Immunity, Cancer, and Women's Health. Founded in 1952, the Institute continues to train physician-scientists and manage healthcare programs for 60,000 underserved families throughout South Los Angeles.

Position SummaryThe Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation is seeking a part-time Staff Research Associate to support an exploratory, grant-funded research project using community-based participatory research (CBPR) methods to examine the experiences, professional development pathways, and institutional interactions of frontline workers engaged in community violence intervention and life change mentorship.

This project aims to strengthen authentic community–institution partnerships and enhance the capacity of health systems to engage in community-driven research and service delivery. Primary data collection activities, including interviews and fieldwork, will be conducted by the project Co-Principal Investigators and Staff Research Associate in collaboration with a Community Engagement Specialist and trusted community partners. The Staff Research Associate will support qualitative data management, grounded theory analysis, documentation, and dissemination of findings.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Conduct literature reviews related to community violence intervention, frontline work, mentoring, and community-engaged research
Assist with preparation and organization of qualitative research materials, including application to the Institutional Review Board, interview guides, and analytic documentation
Conduct interviews with project Co-Principal Investigators in collaboration with a Community Engagement Specialist and trusted community partners
Review, organize, and manage interview transcripts and descriptive field notes generated by the research team
Support qualitative data analysis using grounded theory methods, including iterative coding, memo writing, and theme development
Utilize qualitative data analysis software (e.g., NVivo, Atlas.ti, Dedoose, or similar) to support transcript coding and data organization
Participate in team-based analytic discussions to identify emerging topics of inquiry and assess thematic saturation
Assist in preparing summaries and materials for iterative presentation of findings to hospital-based violence intervention program (HVIP) staff and community partners
Support documentation of strengths, challenges, and opportunities in HVIP operations and community–institution partnerships
Assist with IRB-related documentation, data security procedures, and adherence to ethical research standards
Contribute to dissemination activities, including reports, presentations, and manuscripts for academic and community audiences
Attend project meetings and perform related research and administrative tasks as assigned

Required Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree (required) in public health, sociology, psychology, social work, anthropology, criminology, or a related field
Demonstrated interest in community-based participatory research, health equity, and community violence intervention
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
Ability to work collaboratively within multidisciplinary academic–community research teams
Ability to maintain confidentiality and comply with ethical research and human subjects requirements

Preferred Qualifications

Experience with qualitative research methods, including grounded theory or other inductive analytic approaches
Familiarity with CBPR or other community-engaged research frameworks
Experience working with community-based organizations or community-serving programs
Experience using qualitative data analysis software
Lived experience or professional experience related to frontline work, violence prevention, community health, or community advocacy

Appointment Information

Part-time position, approximately 20 hours per week
Limited appointment for the duration of the grant period (anticipated 24 months), with potential for extension based on funding and performance
Occasional evening hours may be required for meetings with community or institutional partners

Please ensure your application is complete and signed; incomplete submissions will not be considered.

Position requires a background check and health clearance

Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action/Drug-Free Workplace