Staff Research Associate II at NCIRE

About the Position

Staff Research Associate II at NCIRE

Location: San Francisco, CA

Job Type: Full Time

Salary: $25.24 - $40.6 per hour

Date Posted: 2026-10-01

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Responsibilities

The Staff Research Associate II (SRA II) will serve as an integral member of the Music and Dementia Lab within the Division of Geriatrics at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). The primary responsibility of this position is to conduct in-home participant-observation (anthropology) research, including scheduling and coordinating of in-home data collection, getting to and from participants’ homes, observation of and engagement in participants’ usual music activities. Additional responsibilities include recruitment, screening, consenting, telephone assessments, and observational research at public events and from online resources.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead in-home ethnographic research: Conduct in-home ethnographic interviews and anthropological participant observation with dyads, adapting interviews based on participant responses and emerging research questions.
• Coordinate study operations: Schedule study visits, conduct home visits across Northern California, ensuring high-quality data collection, data management, and protocol adherence.
• Manage participant research activities: Maintain rapport with participants, respond to diverse participant needs, and conduct follow-up interviews.
• Conduct observational research: Identify and monitor relevant public events and online resources, attend and observe relevant events, and systematically collect observational data on music engagement.
• Conduct qualitative data analysis: Write detailed ethnographic fieldnotes and analytical memos, conduct qualitative open coding, axial coding, content analysis, and thematic analysis using qualitative data analysis software (e.g., ATLAS.ti).
• Train research staff: Train other research team members in qualitative data collection and analytical methods.
• Contribute to scientific dissemination and research development: Perform literature reviews, assist PIs and biostatisticians in preparing and presenting research findings, and contribute to and co-author scientific manuscripts.
• Support research data and project management: Assist with data entry, database management, project management, and coordination of research activities.
• Coordinate research team and community activities: Coordinate project meetings, agendas, minutes, and progress tracking. Assist with onboarding new research staff and organizing meetings with community advisory board members.
• Support regulatory and project operations: Support research protocol functions to ensure Institutional Review Board (IRB) compliance and approval, maintain regulatory documents, monitor timelines for data submission, and document and report adverse events.

Requirements

• Education: BA in a related field (e.g., medical anthropology, music therapy, music, cultural anthropology, ethnomusicology, medical sociology, music psychology) or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Skills:
  • Outstanding analytical and written skills in the context of mixed methods data.
  • Knowledge and experience with qualitative data analysis programs (e.g., ATLAS.ti, NVivo), word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation software (e.g., Excel, Word, and PowerPoint).
  • Ability to read music (either treble/bass clef or guitar notation preferred).
  • Strong attention to detail; excellent organizational skills; outstanding interpersonal skills.
  • Effective verbal and written communication skills.
  • Ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment while working with a diverse participant population.
  • Ability to work well as part of a team, complete projects in a timely manner, and prioritize multiple projects to ensure completion of essential tasks by deadlines.

Nice to Have

• Preferred Qualifications:
  • Master’s or doctoral degree preferred in a related field (e.g., anthropology, ethnomusicology).
  • Experience designing, implementing, and writing up qualitative and mixed methods.
  • Experience in REDCap and ATLAS.ti.
  • Experience working with a diverse patient population.
  • Experience working with older adults, including people with cognitive impairment, functional impairment, hearing and/or vision impairment.

We Offer

• Competitive salary range: $25.24 - $40.6 per hour.
• Opportunity to work in a dynamic and innovative research environment.
• Collaborative and supportive team environment.
• Potential for professional growth and development.

About the Company

NCIRE is an affiliate organization of the San Francisco VA Health Care System (SFVAHCS). We are dedicated to improving the health of older persons in partnership with NCIRE and the SFVAMC. The Division of Geriatrics highly values mutual respect, diversity of perspectives, and collegiality.

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Apply Now to join our team and contribute to meaningful research in music, well-being, and dementia.