Staff Research Associate III (Ethnographer)

The incumbent will perform data collection and analysis for a mixed-methods in-home observational study examining everyday music engagement, well-being, and the lived experience of a new dementia diagnosis.

Essential Functions

• Lead in-home ethnographic research: Conduct in-home ethnographic interviews and anthropological participant observation with dyads, adapting interviews based on participant responses and emerging research questions.
• Critically evaluate participant responses and emerging findings to tailor interviews, refine data collection, and pursue study research questions.
• Apply music ethnographic research techniques to examine everyday music engagement and well-being among participants with dementia and their caregivers.
• Travel to/from participant homes throughout Northern California is required.
• Coordinate study operations: Schedule study visits, conduct home visits across Northern California, accounting for geographic considerations and the schedules of other team members doing in-home data collection.
• Ensure high-quality data collection, data management, and protocol adherence.
• Manage participant research activities: Maintain rapport with participants to support communication and retention, respond to diverse participant needs, and conduct follow-up interviews with participants in person, by phone, or by video.
• Serve as a liaison between participants and the research team and communicate relevant participant experiences, interim findings, and study updates to the research team.
• Conduct observational research: Identify and monitor relevant public events and online resources, attend and observe relevant events, and systematically collect observational data on music engagement to support study objectives.
• Conduct qualitative data analysis: Write detailed ethnographic fieldnotes and analytical memos following data collection.
• Conduct qualitative open coding, axial coding, content analysis, and thematic analysis using qualitative data analysis software (e.g. ATLAS.ti).
• Train research staff: Train other research team members in qualitative data collection and analytical methods.
• Contribute to scientific dissemination and research development: Perform literature reviews that substantially inform survey design, manuscripts, and grant applications.
• Assist PIs and biostatisticians in preparing and presenting research findings for national meetings scientific publications, including developing tables and figures from data.
• Contribute to and co-author scientific manuscripts and support publication coordination.
• Ensure research publications are compliant with the NIH and other external agencies.
• Support research data and project management: Assist with data entry, database management, project management, and coordination of research activities under the directions of the Program Manager and PI.
• Communicate and collaborate effectively with multiple PIs, statisticians, research coordinators, research fellows and external agencies across concurrent research projects.
• Coordinate research team and community activities: Coordinate project meetings, agendas, minutes, and progress tracking.
• Assist with onboarding new research staff, where needed.
• Organize meetings with community advisory board members.
• Serve as a liaison between community-based organizations and study PIs.
• Support regulatory and project operations: Support research protocol functions to ensure Institutional Review Board (IRB) compliance and approval, as well as with external agencies.
• Maintain regulatory documents, monitor timelines for data submission, and document and report adverse events to appropriate departments.
• May oversee participant remuneration processes including managing debit cards, gift cards or other participant compensation.
• Support general project operations: Complete requisition orders and reimbursement requests.
• Assist with general office tasks, where needed, related to project operations (e.g., order printer paper, managing calendars for shared spaces, order and manage office supplies, submitting work orders, etc.)
• Perform other project operations duties as assigned.
• Other duties as assigned.

Job Requirements

• BA in a related field (e.g. medical anthropology, music therapy, music, cultural anthropology, ethnomusicology, medical sociology, music psychology) or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Outstanding analytical and written skills in the context of mixed methods data that require analysis concurrent with data collection.
• Knowledge and experience with qualitative data analysis programs (e.g. ATLAS.ti, NVivo), word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation software (e.g., Excel, Word, and PowerPoint).
• Ability to read music (either treble/bass clef or guitar notation preferred)
• Strong attention to detail; excellent organizational skills; outstanding interpersonal skills
• Effective verbal and written communication skills to coordinate with participants, team members, other departments, and outside institutions.
• Ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment while working with a diverse participant population.
• Ability to work well as part of a team, complete projects in a timely manner, and prioritize multiple projects to ensure completion of essential tasks by deadlines.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s or doctoral degree preferred in a related field (e.g., anthropology, ethnomusicology)
• Anthropology, music therapy or ethnomusicology training.
• Experience designing, implementing and writing up qualitative and mixed methods
• Experience in REDCap and ATLAS.ti
• Experience working with a diverse patient population
• Experience working with older adults, include people with cognitive impairment, functional impairment, hearing and or vision impairment

Working Conditions/Environment

The work environment is an administrative research office and in-home data collection. It may include minor annoyances such as noise, temperature variations, etc. In-office work at our Mission Bay and/or SFVAHCS sites is expected once a workweek and as needed. In compliance with local/state/federal health orders, work may be conducted remotely the rest of the time. The incumbent may be required to sustain standing and seated postures and to use a computer keyboard and display monitor for prolonged periods. Candidates with a valid California driver’s license are preferred for this role, as the position may involve travel to various data collection sites.