Research Coordinator

Overview

This position is budgeted for $19.23 per hour and is non-negotiable.

Established in 1943, the mission of the SDSU Research Foundation (SDSURF) is to support the research objectives of San Diego State University by helping faculty and staff find, obtain, and administer funding for their research and sponsored programs. SDSU achieved its strategic plan goal of becoming an R1, premier public research university in early 2025 furthering discoveries, interventions, and solutions that improve communities and change the world. SDSURF provides the full life cycle of grants services to faculty and staff to further their important work.

Our vision is to foster a culture of creativity and collaboration with integrity and respect for individuals that results in the delivery of superior service to support the university’s strategic aspirations.

Our core values

Service: We are a service organization that strives to provide superior support to the university community to achieve SDSU’s goals; we are committed to being professionally competent by setting high standards and working hard to achieve results; and we continually seeking to improve our skills and capabilities by valuing education and professional development.

Collaboration: We seek to actively engage with our stakeholders and employees to identify issues and design solutions, build strong relationships grounded in trust, openness, and inclusion and achieve the best results by taking pride in the accomplishments of our colleagues.

Innovation: We work towards inspired solutions to improve and adapt to emerging opportunities and challenges, creative ways to streamline and enhance our delivery of services through resourceful and proactive problem solving and strategic use of technology and reduction of obstacles.

Respect: We promote a culture where every individual is valued and treated with dignity, we honor open-mindedness toward different viewpoints and ideas and have a genuine appreciation for varied backgrounds, experiences, and ways of thinking.

Integrity: We are committed to act with the highest ethical standards, with honesty, integrity, and transparency, provide consistent and accurate information and value and respect all individuals.

FUNCTION OF THE UNIT

The Society, Equity, Stigma, and Health Lab (SESH Lab), directed by Dr. Arjan van der Star, conducts research focused on multilevel, societal systemic mechanisms driving adverse mental health outcomes among sexual and gender minorities, using a wide range of (social) epidemiological methods. The Body Image, Sexuality, and Health Lab (BISH Lab), directed by Dr. Aaron Blashill, conducts research focused on sexual orientation and gender identity-based disparities in mental health, physical health, and health behaviors. The Cancer Disparities and Cancer Communication Lab is directed by Dr. Kristen Wells. Research in this lab focuses on the development and evaluation of patient navigation, community health worker, and health communication interventions.

Drs. Van der Star, Blashill, and Wells received funds from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to conduct and facilitate epidemiological research and research on suicide prevention in gender and sexual minority youth and young adults.

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

This position will be primarily involved in two NIH-funded research projects: 1) an epidemiological data harmonization study on the socioecology of sexual minority stigma and sexual minority mental health and 2) an intervention study focusing on suicide prevention among sexual and gender minority youth. This is intended as a one-year position, pending availability of funding. Start date is summer 2026. The Research Coordinator will interact with multidisciplinary research labs focused on LGBTQ+ health, clinical psychology, health behavior, social and psychiatric epidemiology, and intervention development.

Responsibilities

The Research Coordinator is responsible for but not limited to:

Research Project Operations 75%

• Coordinating recruitment efforts including in-person recruitment events;
• Managing randomization and condition allocation;
• Overseeing and scheduling assessments and data collection;
• Ensuring quality of data and procedures;
• Maintaining the quality management system and documentations;
• Managing participant reimbursement;
• Training and supervising undergraduate research assistants;
• Coordinating intervention fidelity and interrater reliability monitoring;
• Preparing materials and progress reports for the Institutional Review Board (IRB), ClinicalTrials.Gov, Data Safety and Management Board (DSMB), and National Institute of Health (NIH);
• Preparing purchasing, reimbursement and remittance documentation.

Team Coverage 5%

• Contacting participants to invite them to assessment appointments;
• Making reminder and follow up telephone calls;
• Consenting participants;
• Conducting phone screens;
• Conducting assessment covers.

Administrative Tasks and Other Duties as Assigned 20%

• Attending regular operations meetings with Principal Investigators;
• Attending regular lab meetings with Principal Investigators;
• Completing and submit activity forms in a timely manner;
• Following all protocols, standard operating procedures, and human subject research regulations;
• Partnering with community organizations through frequent contact with agency representatives;
• Other duties as assigned;
• Potentially disseminating research findings;
• Potentially contributing to study publications.

Qualifications

Knowledge & Abilities

• Ability to stay calm under pressure, as high-stress situations may arise.
• Persistence in finding solutions to problems/addressing barriers.
• Demonstrated ability to multitask, manage multiple and competing priorities, and prioritize different task demands.
• Basic organization skills, attention to detail, time management skills, and motivation to meet deadlines and achieve goals.
• Demonstrated ability to take responsibility for assignments and deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to understand and follow work procedures.
• Ability to create, follow, and maintain detailed protocols.
• Good attention to detail and high standards of accuracy in all aspects of work.
• Ability to work independently and within a team.
• Ability to work in an interdisciplinary research environment.
• Ability to work with and motivate others.
• Ability to supervise research assistants and research procedures.
• Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with colleagues.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with a wide range of colleagues.
• Ability to display cultural sensitivity and respect to ethnically, culturally, sexually, and gender diverse individuals, communities, and organizations.
• Ability to interact with empathy, compassion, and sensitivity to the challenges experienced by the queer community and those struggling with suicidality.
• Comfort with discussing suicidality and working one-on-one with individuals experiencing self-injurious thoughts and behaviors.
• Ability to interact with persons of varied education and socio-economic levels.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Knowledge of grant responsibilities such as summary or progress reports.
• Knowledge of self-injurious thoughts and behaviors literature.
• Knowledge of sexual-orientation and gender identity-based health disparities.
• Basic computer literacy ability to comply with department needs and expectations (i.e., electronic medical record documentation, obtaining background information and reports on participants, following up on appointments, etc.).

Education & Experience

• Completion of sufficient upper division coursework in related field
• OR - equivalent of 2 years full time progressively responsible related experience in lieu of coursework.

Preferred Qualifications & Special Skills

• Bachelor’s degree awarded or near completion in relevant area (e.g., psychology, social work, other behavioral or social sciences)
• College-level coursework/training in research design or statistical methods
• Experience working with LGBTQ+ individuals.
• Experience working with youth and adolescents.
• One year of research experience.
• Experience working in a clinical research setting.
• Experience working with culturally and ethnically diverse communities.
• Knowledge of clinical services and support programs.
• Knowledge of data collection and management and study protocols.
• Knowledge of referral policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of the community resources, health and social service systems in San Diego County and skill in establishing working relationships with community partners.
• Personal experience and/or interest in mental health services.
• Experience working with individuals experiencing suicidal ideation.

ADDITIONAL APPLICANT INFORMATION

• Candidate must reside in California and live within a commutable distance from SDSU at time of hire.
• Job offer is contingent upon satisfactory clearance based on background check results (including a criminal record check).
• San Diego State University Research Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, SDSU Research Foundation provides equal opportunity in employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin or any other categories protected by federal or state law.
• Employment decisions are based on an individual’s qualifications as they relate to the job under consideration. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every employee has equal access to resources and support.
• SDSU Research Foundation complies with Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), and other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws including grant or contract terms and conditions related to funded program activities. Further the SDSU Research Foundation maintains a Nondiscrimination Policy that prohibits discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of unlawful discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all programs, policies, and practices.
• SDSU Research Foundation makes all employment decisions including, but not limited to, applicant screening, hiring, promotion, demotion, compensation, benefits, disciplinary actions, and terminations on the basis of merit.