The primary duty of this position is to support the Institute for Disability Research, Policy & Practice (IDRPP) Research and Training Division with data collection, management, and analysis, including assisting with writing up research findings for publication in journals and technical reports. This position will also involve assistance in grant writing and execution. This position may also have opportunities to help in the design and delivery of trainings and in developing new programs. This position reports to the Research and Training Division Director and may involve providing training and guidance to graduate and undergraduate students, student employees and others as assigned. This position is telework eligible within the state of Utah.

USU full time benefits include choice of medical & dental plans, 22 days paid annual leave, 12 days of accrued sick leave, 14.2% contribution to annual gross earnings 401(a) retirement plan, 50% USU tuition waiver for employee and immediate family, and much more. See USU Benefits Website for full details (https://www.usu.edu/hr/benefits/index).

Research: Help coordinate existing research projects and facilitate successful completion of manuscripts. Tasks include data entry, data cleaning, analysis, and write-up of empirical studies using existing data. Typical research-related responsibilities for this position include the following:

• Conduct literature reviews.
• Collect and analyze both quantitative and qualitative data.
• Prepare materials for submission to granting agencies and foundations.
• Prepare materials for IRB/Human Subjects Committee review.
• Prepare surveys, interviews, and other data collection instruments.
• Recruit and/or interview subjects.
• Oversee focus group design and facilitation.
• Maintain accurate research records safeguarding the confidentiality of subjects, as necessary.
• Summarize data and help develop findings.
• Prepare progress reports for the PI and funding agency.
• Prepare other articles, reports, and presentations.
• Monitor the project budget.
• Request or acquire equipment or supplies necessary for the project.
• Manage and respond to project related email.
• Prepare, maintain, and update project website materials.
• Help mentor undergraduate students working on the research projects.
• Attend all relevant project meetings.
• Attend conferences, seminars, and other meetings as necessary.

Collaborate: Work with both faculty, graduate students, and undergraduate students on existing research projects and developing new projects.

Grant Prospecting/Writing: Help to identify and write grants that support current mental health projects.

Training: Create, adapt, and deliver evidence-based mental health literacy trainings in rural communities to varying groups (e.g., agricultural workers; paraprofessionals; youth; etc.).

Team Player: Work as part of a larger team emphasizing mental health promotion and prevention of mental health issues in varying contexts (e.g., school, rural areas) for varying populations (e.g., youth, college students, parents, etc.) leveraging existing public health infrastructures and resources.

Project Management: Assist with project evaluation and reporting on grant projects to ensure project fidelity to the approved workplan.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Human Development, Family Studies, Special Education, Public Health, Sociology, or a related field AND six years of experience in a related field OR a Master’s degree in Psychology, Human Development, Family Studies, Special Education, Public Health, Sociology or a related field AND four years of experience conducting research.
• Job offer is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Doctorate degree in Psychology, Human Development, Family Studies, Special Education, Public Health, Sociology, or a related field.
• 2-4 years of work experience in disability or mental health related field.
• Experiencing working with and publishing both quantitative and qualitative data.
• Demonstrated ability to edit and write research articles, technical reports, and/or grants.
• Competence in R, Stata or other statistical analysis software.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of experimental procedures and protocols in your area of specialty.
• Knowledge of institutional research and current issues/trends in higher education.
• Computer skills including spreadsheet and word-processing programs.
• Skilled at data management, including data organization and quality assurance.
• Able to work within a team-based environment within the program, department, and college.
• Experienced in managing multiple responsibilities and deadlines. Able to organize work responsibilities and self-assess personal performance against target objectives.
• Proactive in resolving issues, setting up processes, and meeting deadlines.
• Ability to take initiative, maintain confidentiality and work without close supervision.
• Demonstrated experience with data collection, data management, and basic data analysis for social sciences research.
• Strong interpersonal skills along with a demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with a diverse group of people.
  

Along with the online application, please attach:

1. Resume or CV to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Resume/CV”
2. Cover Letter to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Documents 1-10”

**Document size may not exceed 10 MB.**

Employees work indoors and are protected from weather and/or contaminants, but not, necessarily, occasional temperature changes. The employee is regularly required to sit and often uses repetitive hand motions.

The Institute for Disability Research, Policy & Practice (IDRPP) is Utah’s federally designated University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD). The IDRPP opened its doors in 1972 and was the first UCEDD program in the U.S. to focus on the educational and social needs of children and adults with disabilities. Over the past 50 years the IDRPP has grown into one of the largest UCEDD programs in the nation and is recognized as a pioneer in research, training, technical assistance, and services for children and adults with disabilities, their families, and the professionals who serve them.

The IDRPP is committed to hiring people with disabilities, veterans, and diverse individuals from all communities and backgrounds.  We value visible and invisible differences, and we recognize that diversity makes us stronger.  We welcome applicants who bring something different and unique to our organization.  We value creativity, loyalty, and hard work.  We believe that we can change the world and make it a better, more inclusive place for everyone, and we want to hire people who also believe that they can make a difference.

Mission:

We are working together to create inclusive communities and improve the lives of children and adults with disabilities and their families through sustainable innovation, collaborative research, responsive service, and interdisciplinary training and education.

Values:

We Innovate: We lead by developing dynamic, sustainable, forward-thinking programs and services.

We Include: We demonstrate how to effectively work toward inclusive communities in our planning, programs, and services. We celebrate diversity in ability, race, ethnicity, culture, language, gender, sexual orientation, politics, and religion. 

We Collaborate: We forge partnerships. Working together makes us more effective and responsive to the current needs of our clients and communities.

We Care: We do what we do because we care. We are making the world a better place for people with disabilities and their families.

Funding Statement

The Institute for Disability Research, Policy, & Practice is one of the largest research and outreach centers at USU, and we are largely funded through grants, contracts, and fee-for-service programs. All staff positions at the IDRPP are contingent upon funding, and all senior staff at the IDRPP with graduate degrees are responsible for helping to generate funding to support our operations and growth.

College Highlights

The Emma Eccles Jones College of Education and Human Services is home to eight departments and is committed to providing the best learning opportunities and educational research in the state of Utah. Our programs are strengthened by an on-campus elementary laboratory school and five stand-alone centers, including the Sorenson Legacy Foundation Center for Clinical Excellence. The college offers clinical services to the community across the human lifespan and provides students with real-world service and research opportunities.

Utah State University (USU) was founded in 1888 and is Utah’s land-grant and space-grant university. USU is one of only 146 research institutions in the U.S. classified as R1 “very high research activity” by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. As one of the two premier research institutions in Utah, USU provides a high-quality education at an affordable price. With its main campus in Logan, the university serves approximately 27,500 students, including 24,255 undergraduates and 3,171 graduate students. USU Online has served students from all 50 states and 55 countries for 25 years.

USU’s statewide system features three residential campuses, 30 total campus locations, and 23 Extension education centers. The university employs 903 full-time faculty members, 124 executive administrators, and 1,649 full-time support staff. USU offers 115 undergraduate majors, as well as 91 master’s and 42 doctoral degrees. Learn more about USU.

A core characteristic of USU is engagement with communities and people in economic development, improvements to quality of life, and human capital. Through the practical application of knowledge, the University and its faculty engage and share expertise with the state, nation, and world, preserving the historical land-grant tradition of partnering with communities to address critical societal issues in the interest of the public good.

The USU main campus is located in beautiful Logan, Utah, a city of about 50,000 situated in a picturesque mountain valley about 80 miles north of Salt Lake City. Outstanding recreational opportunities abound in the nearby mountains and proximate region.

USU is sensitive to the needs of dual career couples and provides a Dual Career Assistance program to support careers for partners who are also seeking employment.

USU endeavors to provide reasonable accommodations to ensure equal access in all aspects of employment to qualified persons with disabilities. To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability, please contact the university’s ADA Coordinator in the Human Resource office at 435-797-0122 or submit a request at hr@usu.edu.

USU Land Acknowledgment

Please visit our website to learn about Utah State’s land acknowledgment of the eight tribes of Utah.

Notice of Non-discrimination

In its programs and activities, including in admissions and employment, Utah State University does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination, including harassment, based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by University policy, Title IX, or any other federal, state, or local law.

The following individuals have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the application of Title IX and its implementing regulations and/or USU’s non-discrimination policies:

Executive Director of the Office of Equity Matthew Pinner, discrimination@usu.edu, Distance Education Rm. 401, 435-797-1266

Title IX Coordinator Matthew Pinner, titleix@usu.edu, Distance Education Rm. 404, 435-797-1266

Mailing address: 5100 Old Main Hill, Logan, Ut 84322

For further information regarding non-discrimination, please visit https://equity.usu.edu/, or contact:

U.S. Department of Education, Office of Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 800-421-3481, OCR@ed.gov

U.S. Department of Education, Denver Regional Office, 303-844-5695, OCR.Denver@ed.gov

*updated 11/2022