Job Summary
We are looking for an attentive and detail-oriented Assistant in Research to support our research efforts. This role involves interacting with study participants and stakeholders by phone and email, processing completed surveys, assembling project mailing, and supporting the study's data collection unit. Interested candidates should have excellent communication skills, some experience in a similar role, and a demonstrated ability to work both independently and as a part of a team.
Responsibilities*
40% Study Participant Communications:
- Answer incoming calls to the project's main phone.
- Triage and transfer calls to relevant research staff as necessary.
- Conduct outbound calls to schools to obtain and confirm student enrollment numbers, principal contact, and mailing address information.
30% Research Mailings:
- Assemble mailings of important study materials to approximately 450 schools, including parental consent forms, for over 65,000 students.
- Assemble large batch survey mailings
- Process incoming and outgoing mail related to the study.
- Process returned surveys.
20% Data Management:
- Update databases with new school information gained from outbound calls and inform research staff of changes.
- Verify incoming respondent contact details by phone and mail.
- Conduct tracking of longitudinal survey respondents using internet-based search software.
10% Additional Responsibilities:
- Perform additional project-related tasks as necessary, which may include bulk mailings and additional data entry.
- Assist with paper and web survey proofing.
Required Qualifications*
- High School Diploma or GED equivalent
- Strong communication skills experience transferring calls and making professional outbound calls
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite
- Exceptional attention to detail and organization
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Demonstrated ability to work as a team member
- Must be self-motivated, willing to learn new skills, and be able to work independently
- Project duties cannot be performed remotely. All work for this position must be completed in the ISR building
- Must be able to lift and move boxes weighing up to 30 pounds on a regular basis
Desired Qualifications*
- Bachelor's degree in a social science field
- Prior experience working on a survey research data collection project
- Advanced computer skills, such as a mail merge in MS Word, and using queries and forms in MS Access
Modes of Work
Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.
Additional Information
Monitoring the Future (MTF) is a large national Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs study of American youth and is one of the largest studies within the Survey Research Center (SRC) at the Institute for Social Research (ISR). MTF has collected data from well over a million respondents. It is supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse and has been ongoing continuously since 1975.
The Institute for Social Research (ISR) at the University of Michigan seeks to recruit and retain a diverse workforce as a reflection of our commitment to serve the diverse people of Michigan, to maintain the excellence of the university, and to ground our research in varied disciplines, perspectives, and ways of knowing and learning.
Background Screening
The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background checks. Background checks are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
Application Deadline
Institute for Social Research job openings are posted for a minimum of fourteen (14) calendar days. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended.
U-M EEO/AA Statement
The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.
