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EUReCA! Student Assistant in Social Networks Analysis and Communities

University of Colorado Denver - Office of Undergraduate Research & Creative Activities
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The EURēCA! Student Assistants Program provides introductory opportunities for CU Denver undergraduates to engage in research and creative activities. Students MUST complete the EURēCA! Presentation and Quizzes in Canvas (30min) to apply for all EURēCA! positions. Register Here. 

 

For more information, view visual guide: Appling for EURēCA! on Handshake, learn more on the EURēCA! Program Website, or email undergrad.research@ucdenver.edu.

Employer/Dept: University of Colorado Denver/ Department of Health and Behavioral Sciences

Supervisor: Paulina Erices-Ocampo, MS;  Ronica Rooks, PhD

Job Title: EURēCA! Student Assistant in Social Networks Analysis and Communities

Job Location/Address: CU Denver  College of Liberal Arts and Sciences / This position can be flexible with some remote and some on-campus components.

Purpose: This projects seeks to explain the social mechanisms that facilitate or constraint health in and across groups of Latin American, Vietnamese American, and Native American community members. 

The research assistants will participate in data collection and analysis of interviews with community members from three different ethnic/cultural groups, identifying patterns of social networks mechanisms at the individual and collective level.

During this time, we will host 1-2 community events to validate the data and gather further community input. The RAs will participate in analysis and dissemination of results.

Position Description: The research assistant will learn qualitative and quantitative data analysis methods - utilizing social networks motifs and thematic analysis. 

They will gain experience in group facilitation and community engagement, and participate in social network and qualitative methods analysis sessions. 

Students in this position will collaborate with other graduate students, community partners, and principal investigators. Learn more about Paulina Erices-Ocampo.

Duties and Responsibilities: Duties may include literature searches, data collection, survey administration, in-person interviews, data analysis, interview transcription, interview language translation (as needed) and data visualization supporting principal investigator's research on social networks and health.

Skills and Knowledge Gained:

  • Research methods and processes: students will be able to apply and integrate qualitative and quantitative methods in the pursuit of a meaningful answer to an important research question. They will learn what methods and designs can help to answer their scientific inquiries. 
  • Critical Thinking: in learning about the experiences of community members, directly from them, students will develop closeness to the issues we are seeking to understand and explain. It will give them a better understanding of the impact of policies, programs, and community implementation. 
  • Communications skills: interviewing is an art and a skill. Students will be able to practice top skills to develop trust, listen actively, and elicit participation. 
  • Public speaking: students will engage in formal and informal conversations with community members and organizational partners. 
  • Reflectivity: students will participate in reflective consultation sessions in which they will get to look into their own experiences and learning through this research experience.

Minimum Qualifications: 

  • Strong work ethic, responsibility, and punctuality. 
  • Ability to work independently and identify when to seek support. 
  • Good team member. 
  • Bilingual in English/Vietnamese or Native American Student 
  • Strong oral communication. 
  • Working knowledge of Excel and Word. 
  • Previous community experience, formal or informal, organizing events or leading initiatives desired. 
  • Care and interest in working with the community. 
  • Ability to keep confidentiality and demonstrate respect to the community, holding their relationship as researchers/community members sacred. 

Preferred Qualifications: 

 Some coursework on health, public health, business, sociology, anthropology, urbanism, psychology, education, or related.

Position Commitment: 10 hours per week

Application Requirements:

  1. Resume 
  2. Cover letter
  3. Unofficial Transcripts
  4. Work-study is required for this position, all offers will be contingent on a current work-study award. 
    1. First complete 2025-2026 FAFSA or CASFA and confirm work-study eligibility with the CU Denver Financial Aid office. 
    2. Once confirmed, attach email from Financial Aid stating potential work-study eligibility.
    3. Following interview and position offers, the EURēCA! Office will provide Work-study Authorization forms to confirm final work-study award amounts.

Learn more about work-study here or contact the Financial Aid Office with questions: FinancialAid@ucdenver.edu, 303-315-5969.

Length of Employment:

This position is available for Fall 2025 and Spring 2026, employment may continue at Paulina Erices Erices’s discretion. Please reach out to paulina.erices@ucdenver.edu with any questions. If both mentor and mentee agree, students can apply to continue with EURēCA! for a second year.