Research Associate

Hiring Range Dependent on Experience and Qualifications

One of the best college towns and best places to live in the United States, Chapel Hill has diverse social, cultural, recreation and professional opportunities that span the campus and community.

University employees can choose from a wide range of professional training opportunities for career growth, skill development and lifelong learning and enjoy exclusive perks for numerous retail, restaurant and performing arts discounts, savings on local child care centers and special rates on select campus events. UNC -Chapel Hill offers full-time employees a comprehensive benefits package , paid leave, and a variety of health, life and retirement plans and additional programs that support a healthy work/life balance.

Primary Purpose of Organizational Unit

Our mission is to improve the health and well-being of North Carolinians and others whom we serve. We accomplish this by providing leadership and excellence in the interrelated areas of patient care, education and research. Patient care: We promote health and provide superb clinical care while maintaining our strong tradition of reaching underserved populations and reducing health disparities across North Carolina and beyond. Education: We prepare tomorrow’s healthcare professionals and biomedical researchers from all backgrounds by facilitating learning within innovative and integrated curricula and team-oriented interprofessional education to ensure a highly skilled workforce. Research: We develop and support a rich array of outstanding health sciences research programs, centers and resources. We provide infrastructure and opportunities for collaboration among disciplines throughout and beyond our university to support outstanding research. We foster programs in the areas of basic, translational, mechanistic and population research.

Position Summary

Flexible work arrangements, including virtual/hybrid work locations, are an integral part of the School of Medicine’s Working Forward initiative. As such, this position’s work location is designated as virtual. Please note that the designated work location is subject to change based on the unit’s business needs. The NC Formerly Incarcerated Transition ( FIT ) Program is situated within the Department of Family Medicine at UNC Chapel Hill. The FIT Program is a partnership between UNC Family Medicine, the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction ( DAC ) (which administers the state prison system), Federally Qualified Health Centers, County Departments of Health, community-based organizations, and local reentry councils. The FIT Program coordinates with existing state and local resources to assist people coming out of incarceration with connections to essential medical services. The program hinges on Community Health Workers (CHWs) who connect eligible clients with chronic disease, mental illness, and/or substance use disorder to appropriate health care services. FIT CHWs also help clients put together comprehensive reentry plans working with local reentry partners and community resources. Similar programs have been successful in other parts of the U.S. and have decreased rates of hospitalization, emergency room use, and even recidivism. We have additional support from a national group that encourages the use of this model, the Transitions Clinic Network. The FIT Research & Evaluation Associate supports the planning, implementation, and continuous improvement of research, evaluation, and data management activities for the Formerly Incarcerated Transition ( FIT ) Program. The position is responsible for coordinating program evaluation initiatives, maintaining high-quality data systems, supporting research operations, ensuring regulatory compliance, and facilitating the analysis and dissemination of program outcomes. Working collaboratively with FIT leadership, clinical partners, researchers, community organizations, and external stakeholders, the Research & Evaluation Associate serves as a key resource for research administration, data management, quality assurance, and program evaluation. The position supports Institutional Review Board ( IRB ) processes, oversees data collection and reporting activities, develops and maintains evaluation infrastructure, and contributes to grant reporting, presentations, publications, and other scholarly products. The Research & Evaluation Associate applies research and evaluation methodologies to support data-informed decision making, continuous quality improvement, strategic planning, and demonstration of program impact across FIT sites.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements

Master’s or Bachelor’s and 0-2 years’ experience; or will accept a combination of related education and experience in substitution.

Required Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience

• Master’s degree in Public Health, Epidemiology, Health Services Research, Social Sciences, Health Administration, or a related field.


• Two years of experience in research, program evaluation, quality improvement, data management, public health, healthcare, or a related field.


• Experience supporting public health, healthcare, research, or evaluation projects, including familiarity with regulatory requirements and human subjects research processes (e.g., Institutional Review Board ( IRB ) requirements).


• Knowledge of research methods, program evaluation frameworks, data management, and quality assurance practices.


• Experience utilizing databases, survey platforms, research databases, or other data management systems.


• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.


• Excellent organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects, competing priorities, and changing workloads in a dynamic environment.


• Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present information clearly and collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders.


• Demonstrated ability to work independently while also contributing effectively as part of an interdisciplinary team.

Preferred Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience

• Experience supporting grant-funded programs, including performance measurement, reporting, and compliance requirements.


• Experience using Qualtrics, REDCap, or similar research, evaluation, and data management platforms.


• Experience conducting data analysis and preparing reports, presentations, manuscripts, publications, or other dissemination products.


• Knowledge of HIPAA , human subjects protections, and data privacy and security requirements.


• Experience working with justice-involved populations, community health workers, healthcare systems, reentry programs, or other community-based public health initiatives.


• Knowledge of the health, social, and structural factors impacting individuals affected by criminal legal system involvement.


• Experience with incarceration and/or experience working closely with individuals impacted by the criminal legal system.

Special Physical/Mental Requirements

This position is designated as a remote/virtual position and does not have a regular on-site work location. The designated work location and reporting expectations are subject to change based on programmatic, departmental, and organizational needs.

Campus Security Authority Responsibilities

Office of Human Resources Contact Information

If you experience any problems accessing the system or have questions about the application process, please contact the Office of Human Resources at or send an email to Please note: The Office of Human Resources will not be able to provide specific updates regarding position or application status.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement

The University is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all to apply without regard to age, color, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Required Documents

• Curriculum Vitae / Resume


• Cover Letter

Optional Documents

• List of References

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

• * Please select the response below that describes your level of education that best or most closely satisfies the education requirements for this position.
  
  
  
  • Bachelor’s degree in required discipline(s) listed or related field
  
  
  • Bachelor's degree in any field/discipline
  
  
  • Master's degree or Doctorate degree in required discipline(s) listed or related field
  
  
  • Master's degree or Doctorate degree in any field/discipline
  
  
  • None of the above