Research Associate

University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill

United States, North Carolina, Chapel Hill

104 Airport Dr (Show on map)

Jun 04, 2025

Posting Information

Department	Radiology - Research-412802
Career Area	Research Professionals
Posting Open Date	06/04/2025
Application Deadline	06/18/2025
Open Until Filled	No
Position Type	Permanent Staff (EHRA NF)
Working Title	Research Associate
Appointment Type	EHRA Non-Faculty
Position Number	20052192
Vacancy ID	NF0009140
Full Time/Part Time	Full-Time Permanent
FTE	1
Hours per week	40
Position Location	North Carolina, US
Hiring Range
Proposed Start Date	07/01/2025

Position Information

Be a Tar Heel!	A global higher education leader in innovative teaching, research and public service, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill consistently ranks as one of the nation's top public universities. Known for its beautiful campus, world-class medical care, commitment to the arts and top athletic programs, Carolina is an ideal place to teach, work and learn. One of the best college towns and best places to live in the United States, Chapel Hill has diverse social, cultural, recreation and professional opportunities that span the campus and community. University employees can choose from a wide range of professional training opportunities for career growth, skill development and lifelong learning and enjoy exclusive perks for numerous retail, restaurant and performing arts discounts, savings on local child care centers and special rates on select campus events. UNC-Chapel Hill offers full-time employees a comprehensive benefits package, paid leave, and a variety of health, life and retirement plans and additional programs that support a healthy work/life balance.
Primary Purpose of Organizational Unit	Our mission is to improve the health and well-being of North Carolinians and others whom we serve. We accomplish this by providing leadership and excellence in the interrelated areas of patient care, education and research. Patient care: We promote health and provide superb clinical care while maintaining our strong tradition of reaching underserved populations and reducing health disparities across North Carolina and beyond. Education: We prepare tomorrow`s healthcare professionals and biomedical researchers from all backgrounds by facilitating learning within innovative and integrated curricula and team-oriented interprofessional education to ensure a highly skilled workforce. Research: We develop and support a rich array of outstanding health sciences research programs, centers and resources. We provide infrastructure and opportunities for collaboration among disciplines throughout and beyond our university to support outstanding research. We foster programs in the areas of basic, translational, mechanistic and population research.
Position Summary	The primary purpose of this position is to serve as a Research Associate/Analyst for the Epidemiology Research Division with a focus on cancer screening and outcomes projects. In particular, this position will be the lead Analyst for the North Carolina Lung Screening Registry ( NCLSR), a community-based lung imaging registry established in 2014 within the Department of Radiology at UNC-CH. This position will play an essential role in supporting the operations of the NCLSR and work closely with a dynamic research team on various research activities. The Research Associate/Analyst will work Independently and in a team environment. Examples of the tasks performed by the position include: Managing/Conducting data acquisition, data processing and mapping tasks Developing and implementing rigorous quality control and quality assurance programs for multiple data sources Conducting data quality checks for information from multiple sources including but not limited to imaging facilities, the state cancer registry, pathology reports, and the State Center for Health Statistics Writing SAS programs, Python scripts, and SQL scripts to perform quality control, standardization of data, and data linkages Working with the NCLSR Data Scientist to ensure that all data is stored appropriately and in accordance with the NCLSR standard operating procedures Assisting NCLSR participating facilities with the data collection, exports, and processing Creating SOPs, maintaining documentations of code in programs, and improving workflow and efficiency Collecting and synthesizing dissimilar data sources and formats from multiple EMR systems Developing and implementing plans for data processing Performing descriptive statistics and cross-tabulations for accuracy of data Generating SAS output for review Managing storage of numerous datasets on an MS SQL server Developing and implementing complex forms for REDCap survey research projects Mentoring new data managers Providing cross-team support as needed Performing other data analytic tasks requested by the supervisor and the PI
Minimum Education and Experience Requirements	Relevant post-Baccalaureate degree required (or foreign degree equivalent); for candidates demonstrating comparable independent research productivity, will accept a relevant Bachelor's degree (or foreign degree equivalent) and 3 or more years of relevant experience in substitution. May require terminal degree and licensure.
Required Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience	Strong problem-solving skills, ability to work independently, attention to detail, strong organizational skills, ability to produce accurate results, aptitude to meet deadlines and multitask, and professional communication are critical for this position. To excel in this position, the successful candidate should have the following technical skills and competencies and the desire for learning new skills: Implementing data quality checks with SAS, Python, and SQL Performing data linkages with varying levels of identifier availability using SAS Standardizing data using SAS, Python, and SQL SAS Macro development and usage Understanding and awareness of data security practices for PHI and other HIPAA protected data Development, management, and updating of REDCap projects Qualtrics online survey development, implementation, and deployment Best practices in data management Excellent written and oral communication skills MS Office suite, Adobe Acrobat, Zoom
Preferred Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience	Preferred applicant will have 2+ years of experience in public health research related fields and proficiency with SAS, Python, SQL, REDCap, and Qualtrics. Experience working with electronic medical records (EMR) systems (e.g., Epic) and with large data files is highly desirable.
Special Physical/Mental Requirements
Campus Security Authority Responsibilities	Not Applicable.
Special Instructions	Please note: this appointment is contingent upon the availability of funds.
Quick Link	https://unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/302095

Posting Contact Information

Department Contact Name and Title	Alexis Evans, HR Consultant
Department Contact Telephone or Email	alexis_evans@med.unc.edu
Office of Human Resources Contact Information	If you experience any problems accessing the system or have questions about the application process, please contact the Office of Human Resources at (919) 843-2300 or send an email to employment@unc.edu Please note: The Office of Human Resources will not be able to provide specific updates regarding position or application status.
Equal Opportunity Employer Statement	The University is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all to apply without regard to age, color, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.