About the Department

OPEN (Ohio Policy Evaluation Network) conducts rigorous, impactful, and forward-thinking social-science research on the reproductive health of Ohioans. Our program is comprised of multiple interdisciplinary research projects which assess reproductive health outcomes, equity, access, cost, and autonomy in the context of federal and state laws and policies. The research team includes faculty, staff, and students from Ohio State University, University of Cincinnati, Case Western Reserve University, and Mayo Clinic. OPEN seeks to hire a senior research associate based in the University of Cincinnati’s main campus in Cincinnati. This is a full-time, permanent position, subject to grant renewal. OPEN recognizes the strength that results from a diverse team, and applicants are encouraged to articulate which identities, backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences they will bring to the team and to the work. Each applicant will be evaluated on commitment to the University’s culture of valuing diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Job Overview

We seek an exceptional scholar with a strong background and interest in reproductive health research, including health policy, abortion, and contraception, for a senior research associate position at the University of Cincinnati. The senior research associate will work closely with Danielle Bessett (Sociology) on studies focused on abortion policies and their effects on abortion-seeking experiences and health system impacts in Ohio, West Virginia, and Kentucky. We expect data collection to be challenging and data analysis to be complex. The senior research associate will manage qualitative and quantitative studies and be involved in analysis and interpretation of findings, with an emphasis on disseminating results with principal investigators and co-investigators. The candidate must have prior experience analyzing quantitative data.

Essential Functions

• Report to the UC-based OPEN principal investigator and research project leaders.
• Engage with researchers at the University of Cincinnati and the Ohio State University to conduct data collection from abortion seekers, patients, health care providers, and other groups as new projects arise.
• Contribute effectively to the collective team effort.
• Coordinate closely with clinic staff to resolve issues that arise during the data collection processes. 
• Oversee compliance processes and maintain study files. 
• Perform analysis and interpretation of data, and assist in judging validity of data.
• Analyze and disseminate data with special attention and commitment to health equity.
• Create products and accomplish assigned tasks for OPEN studies or related projects.
• Travel for data collection in cities throughout Ohio and adjacent states (percent travel time estimated to be 5-20%; 80-95% based in the Cincinnati office).
• May provide direct and/or indirect supervision to exempt and non-exempt staff (e.g., hiring/firing, performance evaluations, disciplinary action, approve time off, etc.). 
• Perform related duties based on departmental need. 

Required Education

Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant field.

Required Experience

Three (3) years of experience in related field, process or discipline.

Additional Qualifications Considered

• Extremely strong attention to detail and organizational skills.
• Self-directed with excellent decision-making qualities.
• Desire to advance public health knowledge in Ohio.
• Experience interacting with multiple sites or projects at once.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Flexible, adaptable, and enthusiastic about growth through feedback and iteration.
• Basic knowledge of reproductive health landscape in Ohio or similar states. 
• Willingness to take ownership of routinized administrative tasks that support OPEN research and researchers; OPEN has a small core staff and everyone contributes.
• Database management experience (eg, REDCap, Qualtrics) and expertise with quantitative software (eg. SAS, STATA, R, SPSS).
• Master’s degree or equivalent research experience.
• Occasional travel across the state of Ohio and neighboring states is anticipated for this position; expenses for work travel are covered in accordance with UC policies.
• Eligible applicants are US citizens or permanent residents.

Physical Requirements/Work Environment

Application Process

Qualified and interested applicants must complete online application and include several additional documents. Please note that providing these additional documents is required for consideration for the position  Please upload the following:
 

• Current copy of their resume or curriculum vitae. 
• Use the “additional documents” function in the online application to attach a cover letter expressing the following: their knowledge, experience, and interest in reproductive health research, details about their training and work experience to date, and a description of what they believe it means to have a commitment to individual and organizational diversity, equity, and inclusion practices, and how they would develop and apply that commitment in this position.
• Use the “additional documents” function in the online application to attach a writing sample. 
• Please send contact information for two references to Dr. Stef Murawsky (murawssr@ucmail.uc.edu). 

 Review of applications will begin in September 2023 and will continue until the position is filled.