The Department of Environmental Health and Engineering seeks a Research Program Assistant to assist with general duties in Dr. Quiros-Alcala’s Research Laboratory and to assist on a study to better understand work exposures among Black and Latina hair salon workers. The individual will be responsible for assisting with development of study instruments and documentation for a research study, community outreach, data collection, sample collection and field work. A large part of the work will entail conducting field visits to hair salons in Baltimore City and the surrounding area (within a 30-mile radius) to set-up and pick-up environmental monitoring equipment, collect biospecimens, and to conduct interviews with salon workers.

*** Hours worked could be outside of the typical 9-5 schedule.

Specific Duties & Responsibilities

• Assist with development of standard operating procedures, training manuals, and study instruments for a research study.
• Assembling and calibrating air sampling equipment and taking it to field study sites and processing samples in the laboratory; training would be provided to execute these tasks so no prior experience with equipment is necessary.
• Scheduling visits at hair salons, calling participants to remind them of appointments, planning and organizing appointments.
• Assist with collection of environmental samples, health measures, and biospecimens.
• Obtaining informed consent from study participants.
• Administering questionnaires to participants.
• Must be willing to drive to field sites in Baltimore and surrounding area within a 30-mile radius and be able to have occasional schedule flexibility.
• Must have a vehicle.

• High School Diploma or graduation equivalent, with some college courses preferred.
• Some related experience.
• Additional education may substitute for required experience, to the extent permitted by the JHU equivalency formula.

• Comfortable working and communicating with women from underrepresented communities.
• Works effectively in team settings and independently.
• Excellent verbal communication skills.
• Detail-oriented and excellent at following instructions.
• Expected to go on routine visits to salons to conduct field work.
• Be open to occasional schedule flexibility.
• Expected to be available to transition to a full-time position and be able to work for at least 2 to 3 years in the full-time position.
• Bilingual (reading/speaking) in Spanish is a plus.

• Customer service experience is a plus and preferred.

• Proficiency with RedCap survey software is preferred, but not a must.

• Prior experience working in a laboratory setting preferred, but not a must.

• Related experience working in field studies is a plus.

Classified Title: Research Program Assistant 
Job Posting Title (Working Title): Research Program Assistant   
Role/Level/Range: ACRO40/E/02/CB  
Starting Salary Range: $15.40 - $23.25 HRLY ($41,000 targeted; Commensurate with experience) 
Employee group: Casual / On Call 
Schedule: Varies 
Exempt Status: Non-Exempt 
Location: School of Public Health 
Department name: ​​​​​​​Environmental Health and Engineering  
Personnel area: School of Public Health