The Stanford University – Stanford Prevention Research Center (SPRC) is seeking a full-time Social Science Research Professional (SSRP) to provide research support for a large-scale study of physical activity promotion in a national sample of older women. The Women’s Health Initiative Strong & Healthy (WHISH) is a pragmatic, randomized, population-level trial whose aim is to evaluate whether an intervention based on Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) recommended levels of physical activity for older adults reduce major cardiovascular events.More than 22,000 women from across the U.S. are enrolled in the trial. The employee will be based at the SPRC offices located on Hillview Ave. in Palo Alto.

Under the guidance of the Project Director and Principal Investigator, the Social Science Research Professional will design and develop written and online health promotion materials and work closely with study participants by phone, email and post mail. The SSRP will review relevant literature, presentations and publications to provide new resources and content for participant outreach and education. The SSRP will regularly interact with older adult study volunteers from diverse backgrounds, interdepartmental research colleagues and faculty, third-party vendors and external health promotion organizations. The position requires the candidate to develop, update and maintain a research database and to provide data for regular progress reporting. Interest and experience with behavior modification and/or promotion of physical activity preferred. The SSRP will be required to comply with standardized study protocols, health and safety policies and good clinical practice procedures (including those specifically related to the worksite). This position also requires a commitment to work in and foster a multicultural and multiracial environment.

Core Duties include:

• Apply knowledge of scientific concepts, behavior modification and motivational strategies to recommend and create print materials to promote physical activity in older women. Materials include feature articles in the quarterly newsletter citing evidence-based research on physical activity and health outcomes, targeted inserts for special populations, publicly-available and project-produced videos, participant interviews, website content, voice recordings, motivational segments to inspire participants to improve or maintain physical activity, and monthly email bursts with links to additional content
• Regularly communicate with mature research participants from diverse cultural and regional backgrounds (70 years and older from all regions of the U.S.)
• Conduct outreach with individual experts and health promotion entities in order to adopt the highest standard of evidence-based theory toward physical activity and health improvement in older adult populations
• Design and administer annual mail surveys of 22,000 participants to elicit overall progress, areas of decreased and increased physical activity, and assessment of physical, social and motivational barriers to physical activity
• Independently update and maintain an accurate database in REDCap to include participant contact information, survey results, metrics of participant engagement, and study status. Enter and extract data and structured information from surveys, questionnaires, databases, published literature and other sources for periodic progress reporting
• Work closely with production vendors to execute large scale mailings
• Independently prepare and present monthly research reviews and intervention content recommendations to faculty and members of the research team
• Prepare submissions for protocol modifications and annual continuing review of IRB protocols

* – Other duties may also be assigned

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Four year college degree majoring in health sciences, social sciences or related field (Public Health, Psychology)
• One year of relevant research experience in health promotion and/or working with older adults preferred
• Graduate degree in health sciences, social sciences or related field desirable
• Familiarity, proficiency or willingness to learn Excel, Microsoft Word, Drupal, Photoshop, InDesign and REDCap software and programming skills

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE (REQUIRED):

Bachelor’s degree in a related field or an equivalent combination of related education and relevant experience.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (REQUIRED):

• General understanding of scientific theory and methods
• General computer skills and ability to quickly learn and master computer programs
• Ability to work under deadlines with general guidance
• Excellent organizational skills and demonstrated ability to complete detailed work accurately
• Effective oral and written communication skills
• Ability to work with human study participants

CERTIFICATIONS & LICENSES:

Society of Clinical Research Associates or Association of Clinical Research Professionals certification is preferred. May require a valid California Driver’s License.