School Nutrition Survey Data Analyst – Practicum

Early Childhood Education Program Evaluator, 3/18

Field Interviewers

Emory University’s Policy Analysis Laboratory is seeking interviewers to support its evaluation of Atlanta Housing’s (formerly Atlanta Housing Authority) Moving to Work program, an initiative which attempts to create healthy mixed-income communities and self-sufficient families through a range of interconnected strategies. The opportunity is a short-term commitment, lasting from March through the end of June and involves field interviewers conducting on-site and in-home interviews with households receiving housing assistance through the Atlanta Housing Authority and other housing authorities in the greater Atlanta area. There is no cold-calling or sales involved, but rather field interviewers will be assigned to households who’ve expressed a willingness to participate. This is the third round of field research (initial interviews were conducted in Spring/Summer 2013 and 2015) and we will be interviewing those households who have indicated an interest in continuing to participate in the study.

Interviewers will be hired as independent consultants and will be compensated $50.00 per interview, inclusive of interview and travel time, mileage reimbursement, and administrative follow-up. It is anticipated that most interviews will be completed in an hour or less.

In order to participate, potential field interviewers must undergo training and complete an online research certification. Individuals with past experience conducting face-to-face surveys, particularly with individuals from low-income populations are especially encouraged to apply.

If you are interested in this opportunity, please email your resume to Dr. Michael Rich at mrich [at] emory [dot] edu and enter “Emory University MTW Project” in the subject line.

Field Interview Supervisor

JOB DESCRIPTION: Responsible for supervising a team of approximately 30-35 field research interviewers to ensure that the survey administration is conducted according to research protocol. Assists in the recruitment and selection of field interviewers as well as their orientation and training, and provides ongoing performance feedback based on quality control reviews of completed interviews. Maintains ongoing communication with all field researchers as well as with the principal investigator, co-principal investigator, and research coordinator. Performs related responsibilities as required. Reports to Research Administrative Coordinator.

ADDITIONAL JOB DETAILS: This is a part-time position (approximately 20-30 hours per week) with Emory’s Policy Analysis Laboratory running from mid-March through the end of July 2019. We are seeking a Field Interview Supervisor for a large field research project involving face-to-face interviews with 1,250 low- and moderate-income households receiving public housing assistance in the greater Atlanta area. The project will examine how the receipt of housing assistance and related social services aids low- and moderate -income persons and families in improving their quality of life and moving toward economic self-sufficiency. The Field Interview Supervisor will primarily be responsible for ensuring quality interviews, managing interviewer schedules and invoices, and maintaining records on giftcard receipts and consent forms.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Bachelor’s degree in a related social science field OR equivalent combination of experience, education, and training. Prefer candidates with previous field research experience.

SALARY: $20 – $25/hr based on experience and qualifications.

CONTACT: Please send inquiries and resume to Dr. Michael J. Rich, mrich [at] emory [dot] edu. *This is a Non-Exempt position. Employees in this position are paid an hourly pay rate, on a bi-weekly basis, and are eligible to receive overtime pay for any hours worked over 40 in a work week.

Research Administrative Coordinator

JOB DESCRIPTION: Primary duties include assisting in the management of administrative activities associated with a large field research project including coordinating routine activities associated with the project (e.g., recruitment of research subjects and scheduling of interviews, survey administration, quality control, and data entry) working closely with the principal investigator, co-principal investigator, field supervisor, field interviewers and research assistants to ensure that all facets of the research project remain on schedule. Ensures project is administered according to research protocol. May also conduct literature searches and assist with the preparation of research report. Supervises staff by orienting, training and giving them ongoing performance feedback. Performs related responsibilities as required. Reports to principal investigator.

ADDITIONAL JOB DETAILS: This is a part-time position (approximately 20 hours per week) with Emory’s Policy Analysis Laboratory running from March through July 2019. We are seeking a Research Coordinator for a large field research project involving face-to-face interviews with 1,250 low- and moderate-income households receiving public housing assistance in the greater Atlanta area. The project will examine how the receipt of housing assistance and related social services aids low- and moderate -income persons and families in improving their quality of life and moving toward economic self-sufficiency. The Research Coordinator will work onsite at Emory to oversee the staff responsible for interview scheduling, field coordination, and data entry to ensure that study participants are scheduled promptly, that data are entered accurately, and that data security is maintained.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Bachelor’s degree in a related social science field OR equivalent combination of experience, education, and training. Prefer candidates with a masters degree (or higher) and previous research experience.

SALARY: $20 – $25/hr based on experience and qualifications.

CONTACT: Please send inquiries and resume to Dr. Michael J. Rich, mrich [at] emory [dot] edu. *This is a Non-Exempt position. Employees in this position are paid an hourly pay rate, on a bi-weekly basis, and are eligible to receive overtime pay for any hours worked over 40 in a work week.

Waterborne Diseases Student Worker, due 3/15

Job Summary

This position will primarily conduct specific Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) activities related to surveillance for and epidemiologic studies of waterborne enteric infectious pathogens; in particular, Cryptosporidium, Cyclospora, and Giardia.  This position will also assist in epidemiological investigation of outbreaks of communicable disease and participate in data collection using structured telephone interviews, data entry, and data management in epidemiological studies to describe illness and identify risk factors for infections caused by the pathogens

Minimum Qualifications:

Completion of at least two years of post-secondary education with some coursework related to the work of the position.  Applicants must provide relevant coursework information in their application materials to ensure credit.

Student Worker Eligibility:

To be eligible for appointment as a Student Worker ParaProfessional Senior you must be enrolled in a post-secondary or graduate educational program or plan to enroll within three months.  Students may be “off” for the summer or for one semester/quarter and remain employed as a student worker, but such absences cannot exceed one semester/quarter in a year.  If you are enrolled at a credit-granting institution you must carry at least six semester/nine quarter credits.  If enrolled at a non-credit granting institution or one that only offers one credit per class, you must be taking two or more classes per semester/quarter.  Any lesser credit (class) load will be treated as a semester/quarter off.  Graduate students must be enrolled in at least two courses or making progress on a dissertation.  You will be asked to complete an Educational Verification form prior to appointment.

Preferred Qualifications:

Pursuing a Master in Public Health majoring in Epidemiology, Environmental Health, or related field. 

Ability to understand and effectively carry out basic oral and written instructions regarding work assignments. 

Basic knowledge of computer databases in order to perform data entry and summary reports. 

Ability to work independently. 

Ability to prioritize tasks, manage time, and adapt to change. 

Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.

Critical thinking skills and judgement.

Demonstrate interest in disease prevention (e.g., public health, health promotion).

Additional Requirements

Must pass a background check.

To apply, click HERE.

The Why, What, and How of Phone Interviews

Phone based interviews, whether as the main interview or part of a preliminary screening process, are extremely prevalent in many fields, including public health. Phone interviews can help employers refine a large pool of applicants and/or can facilitate interviews for geographically distant applicants (i.e. that Epidemiologist I job you applied to in Alaska). I have done four phone interviews so far in my career (including one from my car—not generally recommended but works in a pinch) and I remember wondering how best to prepare: what types of questions would they ask, what did I sound like on the phone, should I prepare notes for myself?

As someone who will likely undergo a phone interview at some point in your career, and who may be in a position of conducting them yourself, it is important to be knowledgeable about best practices for phone interviews and the subtle ways they can differ from in-person interviewing. The below series of articles by Allison Green documents why employers conduct phone interviews, how to best conduct yourself during a phone interview, and, always important, what not to do during a phone interview. I would also encourage you to check out Allison’s popular website, askamanager.org, for more great tips on the job search process and answers to almost any job related question or scenario you can think of.

Why Employers Do Phone Interviews

How To Ace Your Next Phone Interview

Don’t Make These 10 Mistakes In Your Next Phone Interview

-Nicole Regan, EPI ADAP

KEEP CALM AND EPI ON: Emotional Intelligence and Epidemiology

You’ve probably heard about emotional intelligence (EQ). Google tells us that EQ is,  “the capacity to be aware of, control, and express one’s emotions, and to handle interpersonal relationships judiciously and empathetically”. But what does that mean in the workplace, and how do we apply that to careers as epidemiologists? 

Take a look at a recent take on Emotional Intelligence from TheLadders.com, a high-end career development site. How do qualities exhibited by the high-EQ apply to our careers as epidemiologists? 

People with emotional intelligence…

1. Respond rather than react: So often we react and get defensive when faced with an emotionally charged situation or a difficult co-worker or client. In high-EQ people, once they get a handle on the root cause of a negative emotion (what’s pushing their buttons), they typically respond with a more patient, “keep calm” approach. They’ll process a situation about to go south, get perspective, listen with without judgment, and hold back from reacting head on. 
2. Show up with their real selves: A common tendency for people at work is to put on a mask that hides who they truly are when faced with difficult people or situations. An emotionally-intelligent worker or leader shows up with integrity and her best and most authentic self; she’ll face those difficult people and situations with unfettered, emotional honesty and transparency.
3. Think before they speak: There’s a nifty conversational technique called the “six second pause,” used by people with emotional intelligence to gather their thoughts before they speak. Why six seconds? The chemicals of emotion inside our brains and bodies usually last about six seconds. During a heated exchange, if we can pause for a short moment, the flood of chemicals being produced slows down. When you are frustrated or upset, before you say something harsh, this precious pause helps you to quickly assess the costs and benefits of your actions and make more careful choices.
4. Handle tough situations better: Take an unhappy customer or a disgruntled coworker, for example. A high level of EQ in a colleague or manager will show up by staying calm and positive during tough conversations; it also shows up with firmness and boundaries to set limits on people during spiraling disagreements and unhealthy conflict.
5. Practice self-control: Psychologist and best-selling author Daniel Goleman says this about people with self-control:”Reasonable people–the ones who maintain control over their emotions–are the people who can sustain safe, fair environments. In these settings, drama is very low and productivity is very high. Top performers flock to these organizations and are not apt to leave them”.Self-control is a learned skill to help you be more present, calmer, and focused during times of high stress. It’s a necessary emotional skill with long-term payoff.
6. Look at the whole picture: Because they operate with a high degree of self-awareness, they’re able to see both sides of an issue and tap into their feelings and those of others to choose a different, and better, outcome. Quoting Daniel Goleman again, he says this about self-awareness:“If you don’t have self-awareness, if you are not able to manage your distressing emotions, if you can’t have empathy and have effective relationships, then no matter how smart you are, you are not going to get very far.”

Originally published on Inc.com