Research Associate

Located in North Carolina's third largest city, UNC Greensboro is among the most diverse, learner-centered public research universities in the state, with 18,000 students in eight colleges and schools pursuing more than 150 areas of undergraduate and over 200 areas of graduate study. UNCG continues to be recognized nationally for academic excellence, access, and affordability. UNCG is ranked No. 1 most affordable institution in North Carolina for net cost by the N.Y. Times and No. 1 in North Carolina for social mobility by The Wall Street Journal - helping first-generation and lower-income students find paths to prosperity. Designated an Innovation and Economic Prosperity University by the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, UNCG is a community-engaged research institution with a portfolio of more than $67M in research and creative activity. The University's 2,600 staff help create an annual economic impact for the Piedmont Triad region in excess of $1B.

Through excellence in teaching, research and service, the Department of Kinesiology integrates the multi-disciplinary study of movement and application of lifetime physical activity to prepare professionals (teachers, clinicians, scientists, faculty) at both the undergraduate and graduate level to enhance the health, physical activity, physical performance, and well-being of individuals across the lifespan in diverse contexts.

This Research Associate position directly supports the multi-disciplinary nature of the research mission in Kinesiology. Dr. Jessica McNeil, Assistant Professor in the Department of Kinesiology, is inviting applications for a Research Associate working on the Sleep, Health Outcomes and Body Weight ( SHOW) study, which is a longitudinal observational study supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. This interdisciplinary, 5-year study aims to understand the prospective effects of sleep, race-related stress, and home/neighborhood environments on weight-related mechanisms (e.g., diet, metabolism, physical activity, hydration, and cortisol profiles) and obesity markers in Black emerging adults ages 18-28 years old. Data will be collected over 7 consecutive days at three timepoints: baseline, 6-month and 12-month follow-ups.

The primary tasks of the Research Associate will be leading data collection, such as intravenous (IV) placement for repeated blood draws, processing and storing blood samples, collecting, processing and storing urine and saliva samples, measuring height, weight and waist circumference in participants, assessing body composition and resting blood pressure, preparing food to assess dietary intake, completing participant home visits, which includes placing electrodes for sleep assessment via polysomnography and collecting observational data on the home and neighborhood environments.

The Research Associate will also lead data entry and analysis efforts, which include manually scoring and analyzing sleep data collected with the polysomnogram following rules and technical specifications put forth by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and conducting ELISA-based and other assay analyses on blood, urine, and saliva samples and interpreting the results of the assays. The Research Associate will also provide clear instructions for the collection of data completed by participants (e.g., how to collect urine and saliva samples, how to complete daily diaries prior to bedtime) and will also send regular reminders throughout the week to ensure compliance with this data collection. The Research Associate will work with the Program Coordinator to recruit and schedule participants. The Research Associate will train incoming staff and students in data collection, data entry and data analysis procedures as needed. The Research Associate will also supervise staff and student research assistants involved in data collection, data entry and data analysis to ensure accurate and safe data collection and quality.

This job requires excellent interpersonal skills with individuals of diverse socio-economic and cultural backgrounds, strong reliance on discretion and judgement when placing IVs to ensure participant safety, collecting and analyzing/scoring data, reliable transportation, and a willingness to work a flexible schedule that includes some evenings and weekends. The successful candidate will have a strong commitment to the success of this funded project.

Required qualifications include a Master's degree in Kinesiology, Psychology, Nutrition, Nursing, Clinical Health Studies or Bachelor's degree and 3 years or more in Kinesiology, Psychology, Nutrition, Nursing, Clinical Health Studies or a related field. The anticipated salary is $44,000 and includes full benefits.

This job requires strong oral communication skills, good interpersonal skills with individuals of diverse socio-economic and cultural backgrounds, as well as excellent discretion and judgement when interacting with participants in the laboratory space and conducting home visits with other members of the team to ensure safety of the participant and other members of the team throughout data collection.

This job also requires excellent use of discretion and judgement when placing IVs and conducting blood draws to ensure participant safety. Prior training in IV placement or conducting blood draws is preferred, but willingness to learn this skill is required. Blood draw and IV placement training will be provided to the selected individual, and they must meet training benchmarks and qualify for independent IV placement within 6 months of hire.

This job requires reliable transportation, and a willingness to work a flexible schedule that includes some evenings and weekends.

Blood draw and IV placement training will be provided to the selected individual, and they must meet training benchmarks and qualify for independent IV placement within 6 months of hire.

07/31/2027