Professional Research Assistant Level 2

University of Colorado Anschutz
Department: Environmental and Occupational Health
Job Title: Professional Research Assistant Level 2
Position #:00853624 – Requisition #: 41280
Job Summary:
The Center for Health, Work, and Environment (CHWE) is seeking a part-time (50%FTE) Professional Research Assistant (PRA) – Level 2 position. This position will serve as an essential liaison and trusted bridge between the Mountain West Hub research team and local residents in Alamosa, CO. As part of a landmark clean air and health resilience study, the PRA is responsible for conducting community-based recruitment, securing informed consent, conducting structured home visits, placing indoor air filtration units, and collecting longitudinal health and environmental metrics across participating households.
Community Outreach & Recruitment
Local Outreach & Engagement: Conduct direct outreach across Alamosa County to engage residents in the Clean Air Study. Represent the study at community meetings, local events, and public hubs to build awareness and trust.
Participant Recruitment Waves: Reach out to households identified through randomized address sampling and community sign-up lists, maintaining respectful, multi-modal contact attempts (phone, in-person, email).
Recruitment Tracking: Maintain accurate, real-time records of all participant contact attempts, eligibility screenings, and recruitment dispositions using REDCap and shared tracking logs.
Informed Consent & Participant Onboarding
Study Explanation & Screening: Clearly explain study objectives, household eligibility criteria (year-round SLV residence, no existing air cleaner, adult 18+ household consent), and participation benefits ($200 incentive + free air filter).
Consent Administration: Guide participants through the informed consent process (via phone, Zoom link, or in person) and collect child assents during initial visits in accordance with IRB protocols.
Home Visits & Environmental / Health Data Collection
In-Home Monitoring & Equipment Setup: Perform initial, quarterly/midpoint, and endpoint home visits to measure indoor air quality, record room dimensions, and set up DIY box-fan air cleaners (DIYacs) and UPAS air quality monitors.
Health Measurement Collection: Collect baseline and follow-up clinical and survey measures, including resting blood pressure, lung function testing (spirometry/PEF), survey responses, and urine sample coordination for designated sub-cohorts.
Equipment Maintenance & Inspection: Inspect air filter units and sensors during routine visits, ensuring proper placement in participant bedrooms or primary living areas and supplying replacement filters as needed.
Acute Air Quality Event & Longitudinal Support
Poor Air Quality Event Follow-Up: Assist participants during text-alerted poor air quality events (wildfire smoke or dust events) by supporting short 3-day daily surveys and lung function measurements.
Ongoing Participant Support: Serve as the primary local point of contact for participating Alamosa households, delivering plain-language air quality/health results summaries and addressing participant questions.
Training, Logistics & Compliance
Required Study Trainings: Complete mandatory pre-study onboarding, including CITI Human Subjects Training, REDCap data collection training, recruitment protocol review, and the 8-hour Full Study Training.
Team Meetings & Administrative Reporting: Participate in bi-weekly (and subsequent monthly) study team check-ins, coordinate with local couriers for sample/hardware handoffs, and submit monthly invoices and mileage logs to the CN Manager.
Work Location:
Remote – this role is eligible to work remotely, but the employee must be in the United States.
Why Join Us:
The Colorado School of Public Health is a collaborative endeavor involving the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus (CU Anschutz), Colorado State University (CSU), and the University of Northern Colorado (UNC). The Colorado School of Public Health is the first and only accredited school of public health in the Rocky Mountain Region, attracting top-tier faculty and students from across the country and providing vital contributions towards ensuring our region’s health and well-being. Collaboratively formed in 2008 by CU Anschutz, CSU, and UNC, the Colorado School of Public Health provides education programs, including a Master’s concentration in global health, innovative research that places the School in the top 20 in NIH funding among Schools of Public Health, and community service that addresses public health issues including chronic disease, healthcare access, climate, and environmental threats, emerging infectious diseases, population mental health, ONE HEALTH and injuries for the Rocky Mountain region, nationally and globally.
Why work for the University?
We have AMAZING benefits and offer exceptional amounts of holiday, vacation and sick leave! The University of Colorado offers an excellent benefits package including:
Medical: Multiple plan options
Dental: Multiple plan options
Additional Insurance: Disability, Life, Vision
Retirement 401(a) Plan: Employer contributes 10% of your gross pay
Paid Time Off: Accruals over the year (based on percentage of time)
Vacation Days: 22/year (maximum accrual 352 hours)
Sick Days: 15/year (unlimited maximum accrual)
Holiday Days: 11/year
Tuition Benefit: Employees have access to this benefit on all CU campuses
ECO Pass: Reduced rate RTD Bus and light rail service
There are many additional perks & programs with the CU Advantage.
Qualifications:
Minimum Qualifications:
Applicants must meet minimum qualifications at the time of hire.
Must have Bachelor’s degree and 1+ year experience, community health, research coordination, or public service outreach, preferably in rural health initiatives
Bilingual in English and Spanish
Basic computer and mobile technology literacy (e.g., using smartphones, tablets, Zoom, Google Sheets, and web-based survey software like REDCap).
Interpersonal and Communication Skills
Conditions of Employment
Must be available to work year-round in Alamosa, CO, and have the ability to travel for local home visits across Alamosa County. Flexible work schedule requiring some evening and weekend hours to accommodate participant home visit availability.
Preferred Qualifications:
Community Health / Outreach Experience: Prior experience working as a Community Health Worker (CHW), Promotora, patient navigator, research assistant, or community outreach worker in rural health or environmental health programs.
Established Local Networks: Established relationships with local community organizations, clinics, schools, agricultural groups, or public hubs in Alamosa and the San Luis Valley.
Field Data Collection Experience: Prior experience conducting structured home visits, administering surveys, or collecting basic health measurements (e.g., resting blood pressure or peak flow lung function)
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Community Dynamics: Deep familiarity with local geography, rural cultural norms, and community resources in Alamosa County and surrounding Valley communities.
Interpersonal & Cultural Responsiveness: Strong active listening and trust-building skills; ability to communicate warmly and respectfully with varied rural populations.
Technical & Equipment Handling: Practical aptitude to set up, demonstrate, and inspect household air cleaning hardware (DIY box-fan air cleaners / DIYacs) and air quality monitoring devices (UPAS units).
Digital & Survey Literacy: Proficiency in using smartphones, tablets, or computers for field data collection, including entering survey responses into REDCap, updating Google Sheets tracking logs, and participating in Zoom team check-ins.
Organizational & Outreach Management: Strong time management skills to schedule home visits, track up to 5 contact attempts per household, and maintain accurate activity logs.
Plain Language Communication: Ability to translate study procedures, health results, and air quality concepts into clear, accessible, jargon-free language.
Field Autonomy & Collaboration: Ability to work independently during local home visits while maintaining consistent communication with the research leadership.
Physical & Equipment Capability: Ability to carry, transport, and assemble light study hardware (such as box fans, filters, and monitors) into participant homes.
Adaptability & De-escalation: Ability to respond supportively during acute poor air quality alerts and handle participant questions or hesitations with empathy and patience.
How to Apply:
For full consideration, please submit the following document(s):
A letter of interest describing relevant

Work arrangement
Yes