Project Assistant

The USC Institute of Addiction Science (IAS), the Tobacco Center of Regulatory Science (TCORS), and the Health, Emotion, and Addition Laboratory (HEAL) is recruiting to fill a full-time 1-year term Project Assistant position with the possibility of renewal based on grant funds.

A dependable, flexible, detail-oriented individual is needed to assist with data collection efforts for two large high school-based cohort studies, exploring the appeal of e-cigarette (“vaping”) and smokeless tobacco products, initiation of product use, and progression to other forms of drug use.

This research is funded by the National Institutes of Health, the National Cancer Institute, and Food and Drug Administration. Specifically, they will execute data collection protocols involving collecting and documentation of information via phone-, web-based, and in-person interaction with research participants.

This position requires recruitment and retention of research participants remote (online) as well as in-person data collection including travel to public high schools in Southern California. They will work in a fast paced and high-volume outbound call environment when describing the studies and providing reminders to participants and their family members. The Project Assistant will provide consistent and comprehensive information in writing, and verbally to participants. In addition, this person must have an ability to prioritize and coordinate inquiries and concerns of participants and their parents in a diverse population local to Southern California. They will also help with the scheduling and planning of in-person data collection at high schools by coordinating with school partners.

Other duties include updating participant records in an online database, assisting with data visualization, contributing to study materials, as well as mentoring student volunteers. Overall, the successful candidate will have experience working in a behavioral research setting, have excellent organizational and critical thinking skills, a demonstrated ability to work independently while managing multiple tasks, work well as a member of a research team, and have good people skills in relation to interacting with study participants. Bachelor’s degree in a health-related field is preferred. The ability to communicate in Spanish or Mandarin is highly desirable but not mandatory. Access to a vehicle for data collection is highly desirable. The position is full-time and requires 5 days/week at our facilities at the USC Health Sciences Campus in Los Angeles, CA and at Southern California high schools.

The hourly rate range for this position is $26.72 - $26.80. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state, and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.

Minimum Education: High school or equivalent
Minimum Experience: 1 year
Minimum Field of Expertise: Knowledge of data collection procedures and some experience with proposal preparation and production of technical documents

USC is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or USC policy. USC observes affirmative action obligations consistent with state and federal law. USC will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal records in a manner consistent with applicable laws and regulations, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for employers and the Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and with due consideration for patient and student safety. Please refer to the Background Screening Policy Appendix D for specific employment screen implications for the position for which you are applying. 

We provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact USC Human Resources by phone at (213) 821-8100, or by email at [email protected]. Inquiries will be treated as confidential to the extent permitted by law.

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