PT Research Assistant

Research Assistant
- Health Services Research (Long-Term Care)

The Department of Health Policy and Administration in the College of Health and Human Development at Pennsylvania State University is seeking a part-time Research Assistant to work with Dr. Jess Williams on a program of research examining Total Worker Health® (TWH) adoption and implementation in nursing homes. This NIOSH-funded project (Implementation of Total Worker Health® in Nursing Homes) has two aims: (1) assessing organizational factors — such as chain membership and community resources — that influence TWH adoption in nursing homes in Federal Region VII, using survey data linked with Medicare data;

and (2) using in-depth interviews with Directors of Nursing to examine the decisional processes, competing priorities, and cultural factors that shape TWH implementation.

This position offers an excellent opportunity for a postdoctoral scholar interested in long-term care, health services research, and occupational health policy to develop an independent research trajectory while contributing to an active, externally funded project. The appointment is part-time and may be well suited to a candidate balancing another academic appointment, clinical role, or research position.

• Conduct quantitative statistical analyses of survey and Medicare claims/administrative data, primarily in Stata (R also acceptable), including data management, cleaning, and merging of complex datasets.
• Support qualitative data analysis of interview transcripts with Directors of Nursing, including coding, theme development, and interpretation (training provided as needed).
• Conduct literature reviews and synthesize prior research to inform manuscript introductions, discussion sections, and grant proposals.
• Co-author and lead the drafting of peer-reviewed manuscripts, conference abstracts, and presentations reporting project findings.
• Contribute to the preparation of research reports, dissemination materials, and stakeholder communications for academic and nursing home industry audiences.
• Assist with the preparation of grant proposals and progress reports as opportunities arise.
• Participate in regular research meetings with the PI and project team.

• In progress or earned Ph.D. in Health Policy, Health Services Research, Public Health, Gerontology, Health Economics, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated experience with statistical programming and quantitative data analysis (Stata strongly preferred; R acceptable).
• Strong written communication skills, with experience contributing to peer-reviewed manuscripts.
• Experience conducting literature reviews.

• Research related to long-term care, nursing homes, aging services, or occupational health and safety.
• Experience with Medicare claims data or other large administrative/secondary datasets.
• Qualitative data coding and analysis of interview transcripts (e.g., using NVivo, Atlas.ti, or comparable software).
• Experience preparing or contributing to federal grant applications (e.g., NIH, NIOSH, AHRQ).

• A cover letter describing their research experience and interest in occupational and health policy research.
• A current Curriculum Vitae (CV).
• Contact information for two professional references.

This is a part-time (50% FTE), limited-term position located at Penn State University Park and is funded until 8/31/2027.

Compensation:
The hourly rate for this job is $35.00