Research Assistant

A global higher education leader in innovative teaching, research and public service, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill consistently ranks as one of the nation's top public universities. Known for its beautiful campus, world-class medical care, commitment to the arts and top athletic programs, Carolina is an ideal place to teach, work and learn.

One of the best college towns and best places to live in the United States, Chapel Hill has diverse social, cultural, recreation and professional opportunities that span the campus and community.

University employees can choose from a wide range of professional training opportunities for career growth, skill development and lifelong learning and enjoy exclusive perks that include numerous retail and restaurant discounts, savings on local child care centers and special rates for performing arts events.

The Gillings School's Department of Nutrition is a global leader in research and training. We are the only nutrition department in the United States situated in both a school of public health and a school of medicine. We engage in innovative work that capitalizes on both these schools' approaches to health, and thus our department has an unusual breadth of scientific and policy approaches. Our faculty expertise spans from cell to society and moves from discovery to delivery. Our faculty and students work throughout North Carolina and reach populations in China, India, Malawi, Spain and the Philippines, to name a few.

We are seeking a motivated Research Assistant (RA) to support in-clinic DD screening efforts. The RA will work onsite at the UNC Hospitals Outpatient Eastowne Endocrinology Clinic, collaborating with our research team, clinic staff, and care providers to implement tablet-based diabetes distress screening. Responsibilities will include assisting patients with screening procedures, helping refine and optimize screening workflows, and conducting interviews with key stakeholders to identify opportunities for improvement. This person will work part-time (~15 hours/week) for a minimum of 6-months with our team.

Assessing and addressing elevated diabetes distress (DD) is now recommended by the American Diabetes Association Standards of Care. Despite this, clinic-based screening programs remain limited, resulting in many individuals living with undetected and untreated DD. Our team has developed innovative infrastructure to integrate routine DD screening into diabetes care at UNC. In collaboration with the School of Medicine, UNC Health, and the UNC Endocrinology Clinic, we incorporated a validated DD screening instrument into EPIC that can be completed either online before a visit or in the clinic using a tablet. Screening results are automatically integrated into the patient's medical record alongside routine laboratory data.

Demonstrated possession of the competencies necessary to perform the work.

-Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work with patients and interdisciplinary teams
-Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
-Ability to communicate effectively across email and messaging apps to stay connected to the research team
-Ability to work independently in fast-paced, outpatient clinical settings
-Comfort with electronic health record systems, tablets, and other digital research tools
-Professionalism, demonstrated ability to follow protocols, and respect for patient confidentiality

-Course work in relevant field or experience in related field
-Experience working in a healthcare or clinical settings
-Prior research or data-collection experience
-Experience with diabetes care or diabetes education
-Experience in mental health, behavioral health, or patient counseling
-Familiarity with patient-facing workflows or quality-improvement projects
-Experience interviewing and conducting qualitative research

If you experience any problems accessing the system or have questions about the application process, please contact the Office of Human Resources at (919) 843-2300 or send an email to employment@unc.edu

Please note: The Office of Human Resources will not be able to provide specific updates regarding position or application status.

The University is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all to apply without regard to age, color, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.