Research Assistant

iGrow (Infant Growth and Development Study) is an interdisciplinary, 5 year longitudinal study that follows a diverse group of 300 pregnant women from their third trimester until their children are 2 years old, funded by NIH. iGrowUP will re-assess the iGrow children at ages 3 and 5 and recruit an additional 50 3-year-olds into this study to facilitate future longer-term follow-up into middle childhood and adolescence. We propose a biopsychosocial model of the early development of obesity risk that will clarify (a) the measurement structure of general self-regulation, appetite self-regulation, and food cue reactivity, and the extent to which each has unique versus overlapping antecedents and consequences.

The iGrowCARES Study will follow the same families through questionnaires tailored to how the COVID-19 pandemic affected them. (Aim 1) To examine the association between the timing of the COVID-19 pandemic and mothers' psychological, social, economic well-being and infants' social-emotional development. (Aim 2) To investigate the extent to which mothers' psychological, social, and economic well-being mediates the association between the timing of the COVID-19 pandemic and infants' well-being. (Aim 3) To explore whether the associations between the timing of the COVID-19 pandemic and mothers' and infant well-being varied across race and ethnicity and whether social support, co-parenting, and neighborhood factors were protective factors.

The primary tasks will be collecting data (e.g., administering questionnaires) and data entry. The research assistant will assist with recruiting and scheduling participants, arranging child care and transportation for participants as needed, sending reminder messages and maintaining the participant database. The research assistant will be closely supervised by the Project Coordinator, Principal Investigator, and Co-Investigators.

This job requires strong oral presentation skills, good interpersonal skills with individuals of diverse socio-economic and cultural backgrounds, reliable transportation, good comfort with technologies (e.g., zoom, google meets, teams), and a willingness to work a flexible schedule that includes some evenings and weekends. Required qualifications include a Bachelor's degree in Human Development and Family Studies, Psychology, or a related field and 1 or more years of prior research experience. The hourly rate is $15. This is a non-benefit earning part time, temporary (6 months to 1 year maximum), grant-funded position.