Navajo Research Specialist

• University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
• Colorado School of Public Health | Lifecourse Epidemiology of Adiposity & Diabetes (LEAD) Center
• Navajo Research Specialist Position #: 819833 – Requisition #: 37981

Job Summary:

Join the Colorado School of Public Health as a Navajo Research Specialist (Research Services Entry Professional). This position is a key member of the school’s Lifecourse Epidemiology of Adiposity & Diabetes (LEAD) Center that will support participant-facing data collection for the DISCOVERY study, which seeks to identify risk factors of youth-onset type 2 diabetes.

The position requires an individual with an interest in public health research in indigenous child populations, as well as data collection skills that include interviewing study participants, administering questionnaires, and taking physical measurements (height, weight, and blood pressure). The Navajo Research Specialist should also have strong attention to detail, excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and the ability to be self-directed.

Key Responsibilities:

• Collect physical measurements, blood (via finger stick, blood draw, and IV placement), and oral glucose tolerance tests from study participants.
• Assist with recruitment activities to identify eligible study participants.
• Administer health-related questionnaires to study participants; collect and enter data from visit forms in REDCap database.
• Document and organize data collection procedures in the manual of operations.
• Participate in opportunities to partner with community constituents interested in Native health and willing to participate in recruitment and outreach for the study.
• Attend community and constituent meetings.
• Follow IRB and study protocol guidelines for all study activities.
• This is a full-time (01.0 FTE) position that reports to the Shiprock Project Manager.

Work Location:

Why Join Us:

Onsite – This role is expected to work onsite and is located in Shiprock, New Mexico within the Navajo community.

The Colorado School of Public Health (ColoradoSPH) is a unique and collaborative graduate school that combines the collective expertise of three Colorado universities: the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus (CU Anschutz) in Aurora, Colorado State University (CSU) in Fort Collins, and the University of Northern Colorado (UNC) in Greeley, Colorado. The Colorado School of Public Health is the only accredited school of public health in the Rocky Mountain Region, attracting top tier faculty and students from across the country, and providing a vital contribution towards ensuring our region’s health and wellbeing. The school’s faculty, staff, and students work together to share knowledge and conduct innovative research and community service to actively address public health issues including chronic disease, access to healthcare, environmental threats, emerging infectious diseases, costly injuries, and more.

The LEAD Center is a groundbreaking research center that seeks to understand the developmental origins of health and disease, particularly obesity, type 1 and type 2 diabetes and the complex interplay of environmental exposures, genetic and epigenetic processes in critical developmental periods across the lifecourse. LEAD scientists work with data from multiple human cohort studies housed within the Center (Healthy Start, Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes [ECHO], Exploring Perinatal Outcomes among Children [EPOCH], SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth, Diabetes in Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults [DiCAYA], Diabetes Prevention Program Outcome Study [DPPOS], Tribal Turning Point [TTP], Discovery of Risk Factors for Type 2 Diabetes in Youth [DISCOVERY], National Diabetes Prevention Program).

Why work for the University?

We have AMAZING benefits and offer exceptional amounts of holiday, vacation and sick leave! The University of Colorado offers an excellent benefits package including:

• Medical: Multiple plan options
• Dental: Multiple plan options
• Additional Insurance: Disability, Life, Vision
• Retirement 401(a) Plan: Employer contributes 10% of your gross pay
• Paid Time Off: Accruals over the year
• Vacation Days: 22/year (maximum accrual 352 hours)
• Sick Days: 15/year (unlimited maximum accrual)
• Holiday Days: 10/year
• Tuition Benefit: Employees have access to this benefit on all CU campuses
• ECO Pass: Reduced rate RTD Bus and light rail service

There are many additional perks & programs with the CU Advantage.

Qualifications:

Minimum Requirements

• A bachelor’s degree in biological sciences, health/medical research, public health, social/behavioral sciences, physical sciences, healthcare, or a directly related field from an accredited institution.
• Substitution: A combination of education and related technical/paraprofessional experience may be substituted for the bachelor’s degree on a year-for-year basis
• Substitution: A combination of education and related technical/paraprofessional experience may be substituted for the bachelor’s degree on a year-for-year basis

Preferred Qualifications

• Bilingual Navajo Speaker

• Phlebotomy Experience

• Intravenous (IV) certification in the state of New Mexico

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to communicate effectively, both in writing and orally.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees at all levels throughout the institution.
• Outstanding customer service skills.
• Demonstrated experience in fostering a community that values a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. 

How To Apply:

For full consideration, please submit the following documents:

1. 1.     Curriculum Vitae / Resume
2. 2.     A letter of interest describing relevant job experiences as they relate to listed job qualifications and interest in the position
3. 3.     Three to five professional references including name, address, phone number (mobile number if appropriate), and email address

Questions should be directed to: Melanie Aspaas, Melanie.Aspaas@cuanschutz.edu  

Screening Of Applications Begins:

Screening begins immediately and continues until October 15, 2025.

Anticipated Salary Range:

The starting target salary for this position has been established as $50,000 - $55,000 (1.0 FTE).   

The above salary represents the University’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting. This position may be eligible for overtime compensation depending on the level.

Your total compensation goes beyond the number on your paycheck. The University of Colorado provides generous leave, health plans and retirement contributions that add to your bottom line.

Total Compensation Calculator: http://www.cu.edu/node/153125

Equal Opportunity Statement:

CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

As the School of Public Health located within the University of Colorado on the Anschutz Medical Campus, we are committed to developing and sustaining a faculty, staff, and student body that reflects a broad range of backgrounds and perspectives. We advocate for and actively lead efforts and activities to build a community that treats people with dignity, respect, and compassion among the school’s students, staff, faculty, and external community partners.

Ada Statement:

The University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities throughout the employment application process. To request an accommodation pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact the Human Resources ADA Coordinator at hr.adacoordinator@cuanschutz.edu

Background Check Statement:

The University of Colorado Denver | Anschutz Medical Campus is dedicated to ensuring a safe and secure environment for our faculty, staff, students and visitors. To assist in achieving that goal, we conduct background investigations for all prospective employees.

Vaccination Statement:

CU Anschutz strongly encourages vaccination against the COVID-19 virus and other vaccine preventable diseases. If you work, visit, or volunteer in healthcare facilities or clinics operated by our affiliated hospital or clinical partners or by CU Anschutz, you will be required to comply with the vaccination and medical surveillance policies of the facilities or clinics where you work, visit, or volunteer, respectively. In addition, if you work in certain research areas or perform certain safety sensitive job duties, you must enroll in the occupational health medical surveillance program.