Research Data Analyst

Department Overview

The Community Outreach and Engagement (COE) team at the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute aims to identify and address priority issues related to cancer prevention, early detection and screening, and access to cancer care in Oregon and Southwest Washington through grantmaking, research and community outreach and engagement. Further, the Knight Cancer Institute’s Cancer Data Science Shared Resource (CDSSR) provides fee‑for‑service support for quantitative and qualitative research to Knight investigators.

This position will be split between COE and CDSSR.

This Research Data Analyst 3 will work closely with Dr. Van Houweling to carry out qualitative research initiated by community partners and OHSU researchers focused on cancer‑related topics along the cancer continuum (prevention to survivorship). They will also work with Dr. Van Houweling and the CDSSR Co‑Directors/staff to support the conduct of research projects using qualitative methodologies; these will also span the cancer continuum.

Under minimal supervision, this Data Analyst should be able to apply extensive knowledge as a research professional with an in-depth understanding of qualitative data collection and analysis techniques designed to support research projects of broad scope and complexity. They should have a track record of conducting research that is methodologically rigorous, ethical, and reflexive.

This Data Analyst 3 should have formal training and significant experience in qualitative research, including research design, developing research instruments, conducting interviews, facilitating focus groups, and analyzing qualitative data using computer assisted software. They should be able to independently move multiple projects forward in a time‑sensitive environment. They should be well‑organized, detail‑oriented and comfortable with project management and research coordination such as data management, scheduling interviews, and transcript cleaning.

They should also have demonstrated experience preparing reports, tables, and other visual aids to interpret and communicate data and results.

We are seeking a strong communicator and collaborative team member who feels comfortable engaging with both health researchers and community stakeholders. They should have experience in community‑engaged research and possess the ability to translate complex qualitative findings into actionable insights for academic and clinical audiences. Experience in scientific writing and/or supporting the dissemination of findings to academic, clinical, and community audiences is preferred.

Education and experience:

• PhD is a relevant field
  -or-
• Master’s Degree in a relevant field AND 4 years of experience
  -or-
• Bachelor’s Degree in relevant field and 4 years of experience.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Proven track record of project management skills and research coordination
• Collaborative and interdisciplinary mindset
• Demonstrated ability to build rapport with community‑based organizations and individuals
• Ability to manage and perform multiple tasks under conditions of fluctuating workloads, competing requirements, and changing deadlines
• Capable of working independently and following through on assignments with minimal direction
• Skilled in using computer assisted software for thematic qualitative coding
• Skilled in advanced statistical analysis
• Intellectual rigor and curiosity
• Comfort with ambiguity and complexity
• Empathy and cultural sensitivity
• Strong analytic, writing, and oral communication skills
• Ability to compose and prepare materials, memoranda and reports
• Ability to respond quickly and appropriately to urgent situations that may arise

Working Conditions:

• Some international, national, or local travel
  
  Travel between meeting locations including using the Portland Aerial Tram
• May have regular exposure to noise and interruptions
• Heavy use of computers and phones and long periods of sitting
• Regular communication with others in person and through video conferencing
• Able to handle a fast‑paced work environment with multiple time sensitive competing demands

• Formal qualitative research training
• Experience conducting community‑engaged research
• Experience conducting qualitative research in health, clinical, or applied research settings
• Experience carrying out qualitative research with minimal guidance
• Experience leading qualitative research projects
• Experience conducting implementation science research
• Experience in scientific writing, including grant writing, manuscript writing, and IRB submissions
• Experience working with human subjects and IRB processes
• Experience working with scientific researchers
• Second language fluency