Research Coordinator

The starting salary range for this position is $26.44 per hour and is non-negotiable.

Function of the Unit

The Society, Equity, Stigma, and Health Lab (SESH Lab), directed by Dr. Arjan van der Star, conducts research focused on multilevel, societal systemic mechanisms driving adverse mental health outcomes among sexual and gender minorities, using a wide range of (social) epidemiological methods.

Dr. Van der Star received funds from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to conduct and facilitate epidemiological research on structural determinants of health among sexual minority youth and young adults. This three-year R01-type project, the Data Harmonization Project, focuses on the harmonization and integration of ten large US public health datasets (totaling data from over 2.5 million individuals), using advanced techniques to align data. The harmonized data will be combined with state-level data on legal/policy environments and population attitudes to construct structural sexual minority stigma indices that span from 2008-2023. Together, the integrated data will enable advanced cross-sectional and longitudinal multilevel models to examine how structural sexual minority stigma at macro (i.e., state) level drives and sustains sexual orientation-based disparities in depressive symptoms and suicidality outcomes across the lifespan and across two transformative decades for sexual minority emancipation, focused on differences by age group, gender identity and sexual orientation-based subgroup, and other intersectional group.

Purpose of the Position

This position will be primarily involved in a NIH-funded research project: the Data Harmonization Project, an epidemiological data harmonization study on the socioecology of sexual minority stigma and sexual minority mental health. This is a one-year position, with opportunities for extension pending availability of funding. Start date is planned for the end of spring/early summer 2026. The Research Coordinator will interact with multidisciplinary research labs focused on LGBTQ+ health, clinical psychology, health behavior, social and psychiatric epidemiology, and intervention development and will work in the Center for the Integration of Public Health and Clinical Psychology in Health Equity Research (CIPHER), co-directed by Drs. Blashill and Van der Star.

Research Activities (85%)

The Research Coordinator will oversee and coordinate day-to-day operations of the research project. This individual will report directly to the PI or Project Director. The Coordinator will be involved in data management and access, harmonization, construction of structural stigma indices, and data integration and analysis, as well as general project management, preparing and running project meetings, supervising of research assistants, and maintaining IRB/NIH documentation, correspondence, and compliance reports. As the project is moving into its next chapter, a large emphasis will be on (driving forward) data analysis, data presentation and visualization, and manuscript writing.

In addition to the role on the project, the Coordinator will have the opportunity to pursue independent data analysis/manuscripts on multiple existing datasets focused on structural drivers, suicide risk, and sexual orientation/gender identity health disparities, more broadly. The Coordinator will also have access to mentorship focused on career development and applications for graduate school/PhD programs. Structured mentorship will be available from Dr. Van der Star and other faculty in CIPHER, across the disciplines of epidemiology, health disparity research, and clinical psychology.

Other Duties and Responsibilities (15%)

Attend seminars, colloquia, and other regularly scheduled educational activities at San Diego State University and other identified locations. Attend weekly project and lab meetings.

MINIMUM EDUCATION

• Completion of sufficient upper division coursework

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE

• OR -Equivalent of two years full time progressively responsible related experience in lieu of coursework.

Core Knowledge and Abilities

• Ability to communicate effectively (both written and verbal), including communication with staff, faculty, students, and research participants, as well as groups
• Ability to train and supervise staff and students
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships and interact effectively with young adults, coworkers, research teams, and administrative staff
• Knowledge of manuscript writing and grant responsibilities such as summary or progress reports
• Ability to understand and follow work procedures
• Ability to multitask and prioritize different task demands
• Ability to be well organized, meet deadlines, display detail orientation, and possess good judgment and common sense
• Ability to work with vulnerable, marginalized and diverse populations including sexual or gender minority individuals
• Ability to demonstrate a high level of cross-cultural sensitivity 

Experience

• Relevant research experience (e.g., quantitative research methods and analysis, epidemiological methodologies, intervention development and evaluation)
• Relevant regulatory experience (e.g., institutional research boards, data and safety monitoring boards, funding agencies, quality management systems, reportable event management)
• Experience using statistical software programs (e.g., SPSS, Stata, R, Mplus)
• Experience of using Microsoft Office (e.g., Word and Excel) and Google Drive
• Experience of data gathering software (e.g., Qualtrics) and encryption software (e.g., Keka, Peazip, 7zip)
• Experience in leadership, group coordination, or management 

Preferred Experience/Education

• Master’s degree awarded or near completion in relevant area (e.g., psychology, social work, other behavioral or social sciences)
• College-level coursework/training in research design or statistical methods
• Experience in working with vulnerable, marginalized and diverse populations, including sexual and/or gender minority individuals (preferred)
• Experience in working in an ethnically, culturally, and racially diverse environment (preferred)
• Knowledge of sexual orientation/gender identity health disparities in adolescents and young adults (preferred)
• Knowledge of suicide risk literature (preferred)

ADDITIONAL APPLICANT INFORMATION:

• Candidate must reside in California and live within a commutable distance from SDSU at time of hire.
• Job offer is contingent upon satisfactory clearance based on background check results (including a criminal record check).
• San Diego State University Research Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, SDSU Research Foundation provides equal opportunity in employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin or any other categories protected by federal or state law.  
• Employment decisions are based on an individual’s qualifications as they relate to the job under consideration. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every employee has equal access to resources and support. 
• SDSU Research Foundation complies with Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), and other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws including grant or contract terms and conditions related to funded program activities. Further the SDSU Research Foundation maintains a Nondiscrimination Policy that prohibits discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of unlawful discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all programs, policies, and practices.  
• SDSU Research Foundation makes all employment decisions including, but not limited to, applicant screening, hiring, promotion, demotion, compensation, benefits, disciplinary actions, and terminations on the basis of merit.