Research Assistant - The Culture of Health Program
About the National Academy of Medicine (NAM)
The National Academy of Medicine (NAM), established in 1970 under the name Institute of Medicine (IOM), is an independent organization of eminent professionals from diverse fields including health and medicine; the natural, social, and behavioral sciences; and beyond. The NAM serves alongside the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering as adviser to the nation and the international community. The NAM’s mission is to improve health for all by advancing science, accelerating health equity, and providing independent, authoritative, and trusted advice nationally and globally.
About the Program
The Culture of Health Program is a multiyear collaborative effort to identify strategies to create and sustain conditions that support equitable good health for everyone in America; with a specific focus on building the evidence to support changes in policies and systems that aid in dismantling structural racism and lead to more equitable health outcomes for populations made vulnerable and marginalized.
The program has four goals that build upon and reinforce each other:
• Lead: Build, inform, and elevate the evidence base, including evidence from the lived experience of health inequity
• Translate: Communicate the evidence in a timely and culturally informed manner
• Engage: Integrate actors, working at every level of the government, in communities, and across disciplines, into the mission of the Program.
• Sustain: Transform culture and create a shared value system to advance health equity
About the Position
The NAM seeks a highly motivated entry-level Research Assistant (RA) to perform basic program and writing in support of the Culture of Health program. Under the guidance of senior staff, the research assistant will participate in the drafting of background papers and summaries; assist in the preparation of preliminary outlines for projects; help to identify prevailing social and economic conditions; research and outline policy impacts and implications, and assist the team in keeping abreast of future trends and implications. In addition, the RA will assist with administrative duties related to programs/projects such as scheduling calls with external stakeholders and taking notes.
The successful candidate will be passionate about the NAM’s vision and commitment to the advancement of health equity; a proactive, forward-looking thinker, who actively seeks opportunities and proposes solutions; will have the ability to exercise good judgment in a variety of complex situations, with strong written and verbal communication and organizational skills; will have the ability to effectively balance multiple priorities; and will enjoy working within a small, entrepreneurial environment with limited supervision.
Job Description:
Essential Job Duties:
1. Basic Research: Conducts database, website, and literature searches in various national/international publications to identify articles and other information that may provide pertinent data in support of programs/projects. Researches, compiles, and organizes journal articles and other research materials.
2. Project Administration: Researches and organizes information about external stakeholders, speakers, and members. Assists in the scheduling of meetings, calls, workshops and in taking notes. Attends and participates in meeting and workshops.
3. Communication: Responds to inquiries from the public sector, sponsors, and other scientific peers outside of the National Academies. Increases public awareness of programmatic activities. May identify and contact professional and advocacy groups interested in the program’s work.
4. Database Management: Manages database to track references. Manages and maintains bibliographic databases. May assist in maintaining email and distribution lists.
5. Publications: Performs fact and reference checking for reports. Inputs edits into report drafts. Create reference lists, bibliographies, figures, graphics, and tables for reports. Formats figures and tables.
NONESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES
- Related duties and special projects as assigned.
JOB SPECIFICATIONS
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Ability to solve intellectual problems through selection and application of commonly used rules, procedures, and precedents. Ability to work successfully in a team environment. Ability to develop relationships with co-workers and employees in other National
Academies' departments through effective communication. Good communication skills with a
proven ability to effectively interact with all levels of employees.
Minimum Education/Training Requirements: High School Diploma, GED, or equivalent knowledge.
Minimum Experience: Four years of related professional experience.
Preferred Education and Experience: Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent knowledge. Graphic design or data visualization experience.
Physical Capabilities: Ability to work at a computer for extended periods of time. Ability to travel.
Required Licenses, Certification or Registration: None.
Supervisory Responsibilities/Controls: Reports to program officer/program director. Sets objectives with supervisor and receives input and advice as needed. May assist in the supervision of project/program staff.
Work Environment: Hybrid Office/Telecommute environment, with occasional travel between National Academies’ facilities and to off-site meeting/sponsor locations. In accordance with the National Academies’ commitment to provide a safe and healthy workplace, all employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, except as otherwise permitted under a reasonable accommodation for medical or religious reasons. Unless granted an accommodation, successful applicants will be required to confirm their vaccination status and proof of vaccination promptly upon beginning employment. Applicants needing accommodations should indicate this in their application; applicants will not be discriminated against in the hiring process on the basis of requesting an accommodation.
The National Academies’ Statement on Diversity and Inclusion:
To promote diversity and inclusion in the sciences, engineering, and medicine, we are committed to increasing the diversity of the National Academies’ staff, members, and volunteers to reflect the populations we serve. We pledge to cultivate an environment and culture that promotes inclusion and values respectful participation of all individuals who help advance the mission of the institution.
Equal Opportunity Employer:
It is the policy of the National Academies to recruit, hire, transfer, compensate, and promote people in all job categories and to administer all other personnel actions, terms and conditions of employment in a manner that is consistent with equal employment, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, religion, disability, medical condition for which a person has been rehabilitated or cured, marital status, family responsibilities, genetic information, political affiliation, personal appearance, matriculation, unemployment status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws. It is also the institution's policy to recruit, hire, promote, and provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities and covered veterans who are otherwise qualified.
Any qualification to be considered equivalent, in lieu of stated minimum, requires the prior approval of the Office of Human Resources.
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified. Some functions in this description may be specific to a particular unit of the National Academies and not applicable to other units.