Research Assistant

Research Assistant

Wayne State University is searching for an experienced

Research Assistant at its Detroit campus location.

Wayne State is a premier, public, urban research university located in the heart of Detroit, Michigan where students from all backgrounds are offered a rich, high-quality education. Our deep-rooted commitment to excellence, collaboration, integrity, diversity and inclusion creates exceptional educational opportunities which prepare students for success in a global society.

Essential functions (job duties):

WSU Center for Urban Studies is seeking a full-time staff person to manage the Strategies and Tools for Overdose Prevention (STOP) Unit, a team that seeks to reduce deaths and harm related to opioids in Metro Detroit, serving all of Oakland, Wayne and Macomb counties. The Research Assistant will manage personnel and lead STOP programs, in-person, as outlined briefly below. STOP currently offers two main services:

Narcan Access Points:

In collaboration with Wayne State University’s School of Social Work’s Well Wayne Station initiative, STOP helps monitor and restock over 100 Narcan access points across Wayne County. These vending machines, porch boxes, and dispensers provide free Narcan to any member of the community who needs it at any time.

Overdose Rescue Training:

STOP is the home of the Ameri Corps Community Training for Overdose Rescue (ACT) program. ACT recruits local volunteers (Ameri Corps service members) to teach people in our community how to provide life-saving first aid during an overdose emergency.

Duties and Responsibilities:

● Ensure that STOP meets grant all output requirements ((tracking/monitoring program outputs and performance measures, drafting project updates and reports, completing required trainings and certifications, preparing documentation for program files, etc.).

● Assist in grant management activities, including programmatic and financial reports in eGrants and OnCorps.

● Become fully knowledgeable about national Ameri Corps requirements, policies, and procedures; and diligently adhere to Ameri Corps guidelines in all aspects of program operations.

● Complete routinized activities and procedures for ACT:

-Recruit new Ameri Corps service members and meet quarterly enrollment targets (update position postings, proactively identify networks and pathways for promoting the position, circulate recruitment information to key contacts, review applications, conduct interviews, etc.).

-Complete enrollment, exit, or other status changes (gathering and organizing required documents, conducting criminal history checks, preparing payroll forms, entering member data into WSU and Ameri Corp/OnCorps s systems, etc.).

-Oversight of coordinators verifying member service hours biweekly, ensuring documentation needed to demonstrate that approved hours are compliant with Ameri Corps and program rules, and providing final approval of these efforts.

-Oversight of coordinators verifying that all member records are accurate, complete, and compliant with funder guidelines; maintain file checklists and complete regular file audits to ensure member records are up to date.

● Develop and carry out training for new STOP Techs/Ameri Corps members that covers essential public health, social justice, health equity, harm reduction concepts and up-to-date information about opioid use, the opioid overdose crisis and relevant cultural elements related to these concepts. Review training materials on a regular basis to ensure they are up-to-date and culturally responsive.

● Supervise team of STOP Technicians, Ameri Corps Members, and program staff in carrying out Narcan access point management and overdose rescue trainings.

● Maintain work plans, task lists, and project calendars on a regular basis; meet interim deadlines; and provide regular progress updates to Center leadership and other team members.

● Serve as primary liaison between the Well Wayne Station team and state-level Ameri Corps leadership.

● Communicate effectively with project team members and community partners and represent STOP in the media and in funder meetings as needed.

● Prepare regular updates to Center leadership.

● Perform…