Research Staff Assistant

Position Summary

The Research Staff Assistant will coordinate across various research, monitoring, and evaluation projects at the Social Relations Lab and the Center for Justice.

These projects are carried out in collaboration with community, government, and academic partners.

The Social Relations Lab, led by Geraldine Downey, studies several topics that allow us to discern the effects of situational factors on the individual, and the effects of individuals on their environment and their immediate situation.

Much of the current work seeks to illuminate individual and structural pathways through which the stigma associated with carceral identity can adversely affect interpersonal functioning and well-being outcomes in high-stakes domains. One of the goals of this work is to inform the development of evidence-based interventions that can disrupt stigma in ways that enable flourishing during reentry.

The Center for Justice is committed to ending mass incarceration and criminalization and advancing alternative approaches to justice and safety through education, research, and policy change. Its mission is to help transform the approaches to justice from being driven by punishment and retribution to being centered on prevention and healing. The Center is interdisciplinary and works in partnership with schools, departments, centers, and institutes across Columbia, other universities, government agencies, community organizations, advocates, and those directly affected by the criminal justice system.

• Supports participant recruitment, coordinating scheduling interviews and focus groups 15 %
• Manages data storage and cleaning 10 %
• Assists with the preparation of research protocols and data transcription 10 %
• Supports the preparation of IRB protocols, publications, and grant material 10 %
• Oversees lab communications (social media, newsletters, website) and collaborates with other labs 10 %
• Supports recruitment, training, scheduling, and supervision of research assistants 10 %
• Coordinates lab meetings and activities 10 %
• Schedules meetings, organizes symposia, and conferences 5 %
• Purchases equipment and research supplies 5%
• Coordinates travel arrangements, reimbursements, and other financial tasks 5%
• Answers internal and external requests for partnerships, programming, internship opportunities, etc. 5 %
• Performs related duties & responsibilities as requested5 %

• Bachelor’s Degree required in a scientific discipline.
• 2 years of experience in a research environment.

• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to maintain high confidentiality and professionalism with a client focus.
• Strong multi-tasking, prioritization, and organization skills.
• Attention to detail, research, critical thinking, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Self-starter, a fast learner who can work independently under limited supervision.
• Work well in an interactive team environment.

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.