We are seeking an career researcher (masters or doctoral level) with a background in social work, public health, early child development, or related fields, to lead and develop an National Institute of Health (NIH) diversity fellowship proposal related to a home visiting early child development and violence reduction intervention in Rwanda, titled Testing an mHealth Digital Dashboard to improve Quality of Delivery of Evidence-based Interventions that Promote Family Mental Health and Functioning in Rwanda. A Hybrid Type 3 Study, the parent study is available here on NIH reporter. The supplement will connect to the project specifically and the goal of the supplements is to increase diversity in the research workforce by providing training, mentorship and career development opportunities to individuals who are underrepresented in biomedical, behavioral, clinical, social, and basic sciences research. The individual will get individual and group mentorship to lead the proposal and have the opportunity to connect with key researchers based in Boston and Rwanda.Please review the diversity supplement requirements on the NIH website. Only for US citizens and greencard holders.
Thank you for your interest in supporting our research!
We have several opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students to gain experience in program coordination, research, and outreach. Specific positions are available below, but we are always accepting applications for RAs on a rolling basis! Please email your resume, cover letter, and any additonal information here!
Social Work Students at RPCA Lab Boston College
The RPCA accepts Research Assistant applicants on a rolling basis if there are no specific positions outlined. Students are encouraged to submit their resume and cover letter outlining their connection to a project, or projects, at the RPCA. Common skills and responsibilities of RAs are listed below (based on skill level).
Responsibilities:
- Manage and coordinate slide preparation for regional and national dissemination events
- Develop one-pagers and policy briefs to support the research outcomes
- Support analysis of data outputs
- Support project management activities
- Support data collection as needed
Qualifications include:
- Previous experience in research setting for 1 year
- Ability to work no less than 8 hours per week
- Strong communicator and strong organizational skills
- Cultural competence and cross-cultural communication skills
- Relevent course work in Public Health, Psychology, Social Work, or related fields required.
Paid positions at the RPCA are very competitive and not all RA applications will be paid. Please contact us with questions.
The RPCA is looking for a website and communications intern to support the development of a Wiki-page for the high-profile global research lab at Boston College School of Social Work. The Wiki page would include internal/sharable research policies, internal administration, and mutual learning resources for partner organizations, including non-profits, other universities.
The intern would be responsible for building out the website through WordPress [training will be given]. The intern would be given creative autonomy and will have the opportunity to be a direct point of contact with the administrative team to support the website development.
The RPCA is looking for an individual with the following skills:
- Strong communication, organization, and time management.
- Previous web design or related experience preferred.
- Background in communication, web design or another preferred field preferred.
- Experience in adobe pro, photoshop, Canva, or related system required.
- Flexibility and adaptability to support deliverables.
- Strong leadership skills.
- Ability to work independently.
Responsibilities will include:
- Coordinating the development of the website focused on making internal/sharable research policies, internal administration, and mutual learning resources available for RPFCA staff, partner organizations, including non-profits, and other universities
- Coding using WebPress – a platform for Wiki pages at BC – with training
- Building out links and other web related features to streamline development of website.
- Communicating to RPCA administrative manager on progress each week, including updating the RPCA online platform, Asana, for project management of this project.
Minimum hours per week: 6
This is an unpaid internship.
The RPCA is seeking a motivated Lynch School of Education undergraduate student to join our research teams in Boston and Rwanda to support the project, Sugira Muryango (SM) or Strengthen the Family. SM is a home-visiting program that uses active coaching to build parent capabilities and increase responsive parenting of both mothers and fathers to promote early childhood development (ECD) and prevent violence. SM has targeted families in extreme poverty with young children aged 0-36 months. The study has reached 10,000 families Full project information is available here. Through generous funding from the Lynch School of Education, the RPCA is seeking a student to join our team and support research and implementation of Sugira Muryango.
Responsibilities:
- Manage and coordinate slide preparation for regional and national dissemination events
- Develop one-pagers and policy briefs to support the research outcomes of SM
- Support analysis as needed to enhance implementation efforts in-country
- Coordinate reporting and other project support for study
- Take meeting minutes Wednesdays at 9 am
Qualifications include:
- Previous experience in research setting preferred
- Ability to work 10 hours per week
- Strong communicator and strong organizational skills
- Cultural competence and cross-cultural communication skills
Start Date: September 2024
Hours per week: 10
This is a paid position for Lynch School Students (Undergrad) only.
Significance of Research in the Context of BC’s mission and values:
At Boston College, our research closely aligns with the university’s mission to serve others and promote academic excellence. Our team’s work spans critical areas such as mental health disparities, humanitarian crises, and social inequities, aiming to improve the lives of children and families affected by adversity. By leveraging global partnerships and applying evidence-based interventions to support children, youth, and families across the globe, and ongoing studies in post-war settings, we strive to foster meaningful change and advance knowledge, reflecting Boston College’s dedication to supporting vulnerable communities.
Teaching, Advising, and Mentorship:
In addition to our research projects, our director, Dr. Theresa S. Betancourt, and junior researchers serve as a primary and secondary advisor and mentor to students and junior faculty at Boston College and beyond. We have advised students and trainees at University of Rwanda, Harvard Medical School, University of Makeni in Sierra Leone, Washington University in St. Louis, University of Cape Coast Ghana, Stanford University, and many others.
At the RPCA, we believe mentorship of multiple students at various levels is critical to our mission.Through collaboration with Washington University in St. Louis, we currently are the Boston College lead to the ACHIEVE D43 Training Grant, which is designed for medical doctors and postdoctoral trainees of diverse backgrounds in the United States, as well as post-professional degree trainees from six countries in sub-Saharan Africa, to increase dissemination and implementation (D&I) and data science research capacity in order to address global health disparities affecting children, adolescents, and their adult caregivers. For more information about the ACHIEVE Program please visit the WashU website and contact us to learn more about this training mechanism.
In addition, we often provide opportunities for visiting scholars across the world to work under our talented team. We welcome junior faculty and researchers from all across the world to reach out with a career development plan within the RPCA. Dr. Betancourt and our team mentors across many different fields. At Boston College, we are proud to serve as both a clinical and macro field placement for MSW, psychology, and public health students. Our students and mentees are a part of the RPCA team. Contact us for more information about how to get involved.