Action Research Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Department

Crown Research Ma

About the Department

As one of the first schools of social work in the United States, the Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice has shaped the field for more than 100 years. As part of the University of Chicago, the Crown Family School shares the University's core values and distinctive intellectual culture. Crown Family School faculty, staff, and students focus on identifying solutions to complex social problems through research, training, and direct community engagement. Guided by an interdisciplinary tradition, Crown Family School scholars conduct innovative research to address interconnected social challenges such as educational inequality, health disparities, crime and violence, poverty, and child and family welfare-working at multiple scales, from individual to policy-level interventions. More than 10,000 Crown Family School graduates in the US and globally hold leadership positions in academia, at nonprofits, in business, and at governmental agencies. The Crown Family School is the home of four academic centers: These include the Susan and Richard Kiphart Center for Global Health and Social Development, Chicago Center for HIV Elimination (CCHE), the Kersten Institute for Urban Education, and the Center for Climate, Health, and Society (CHAS),. More information may be found at https://crownschool.uchicago.edu/.

Job Summary

The Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice is seeking a Research Professional to support a three-year, grant-funded project focused on building integrated service models for adolescents with significant mental health needs in China. This position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to an international, interdisciplinary initiative that bridges research, practice, and policy across the United States and China.
The project brings together university researchers and social work agencies in China to co-create integrated interventions that connect schools, families, hospitals, and communities. Through direct services, school-based training, participatory action research, capacity building for service providers nationwide, and policy advocacy, the project aims to help adolescents recover, reintegrate into school, and thrive in their communities.
The Research Professional will work closely with the Principal Investigator, Dr. Zhiying Ma, and the project team to design and conduct mixed-methods research, coordinate with partner institutions in China, and support the overall management and implementation of the project. This role requires frequent travel to China.

Responsibilities

• Research Design and Implementation:

• Help design, manage, and conduct mixed-methods research, including qualitative interviews, surveys, field observation, and participatory action research with adolescents, families, and service providers.

• Conduct literature reviews on adolescent mental health, school reintegration, psychiatric rehabilitation, and related topics in both English and Chinese.

• Prepare and submit IRB applications and ensure ongoing compliance with research ethics standards at all project sites.

• Assist in the development and refinement of research instruments, including interview protocols, survey questionnaires, and fidelity assessment tools.

• Contribute to data collection, management, and analysis using both quantitative and qualitative methods.

• Lead or contribute to academic publications, policy reports, and presentations for scholarly and practitioner audiences.

• Project Coordination and Partnership Management:

• Coordinate with partner institutions, including university collaborators and social work agencies in China, to facilitate and track project activities across multiple sites.

• Help organize and manage internship placements for Crown social work students at partner agencies.

• Assist in coordinating quarterly U.S.-China online workshops and other knowledge-exchange activities.

• Travel frequently to China to oversee research activities, provide on-site coordination, and maintain strong working relationships with project partners.

• Reporting and Funding Development:

• Prepare quarterly progress reports to the funding agency, documenting project milestones, deliverables, and outcomes.

• Assist the Principal Investigator in identifying and actively developing new funding opportunities to sustain and expand the project's work.

• Contribute to grant writing and proposal development for related research initiatives.

• Maintains technical and administrative support for a research project.

• Maintains recruiting and scheduling research subjects; assisting with developing or amending study protocols; assisting with developing data collection tools; assisting with building databases; and providing general administrative support. Has general awareness in research techniques or methods, regulatory policies and procedures, and relevant scientific field.

• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through < 2 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Master's or doctoral degree in social work, psychology, or a related discipline.

Experience:

• At least two years of relevant experience: for candidates with a master's degree, two or more years of direct service experience with adolescents and youth addressing mental health needs; for candidates with a doctoral degree, two or more years of research experience focused on adolescent or youth mental health. Candidates with a master's degree and significant practice experience, but limited research and publication experience, are encouraged to apply.
• Experience working with school-based mental health programs or psychiatric rehabilitation services.
• Experience managing multi-site or cross-national research projects.

Preferred Competencies

• Familiarity with mental health service systems, policies, and practices in both mainland China and the United States (or another context).
• Fluency in speaking, reading, and writing Mandarin Chinese.
• Demonstrated experience with qualitative or mixed-methods research and the ability to conduct systematic literature reviews.
• Strong academic writing skills in English, with the ability to produce publications, reports, and grant proposals.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively across cultures, institutions, and disciplines.
• Knowledge of social work practice frameworks, including strengths-based, recovery-oriented, and ecological perspectives.
• Strong work ethics and commitment to the highest standards of research ethics, including experience with or knowledge of IRB processes and human subjects protections.

Working Conditions

• Willingness and ability to be based in China for extended periods as needed by project activities.
• This is a full-time position based at the Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice.
• The position requires frequent international travel to China for research coordination, fieldwork, and partner engagement.
• This position is grant-funded for a three-year period from 5/1/26-4/30/29, with annual review and renewal contingent on performance and project needs.

Application Documents

• Cover letter (required)

• Curriculum vitae (required)

• Writing sample (required)

• Contact information for three references (required)

Job Family

Research

Role Impact

Individual Contributor

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

Drug Test Required

No

Health Screen Required

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No

Pay Rate Type

Salary

FLSA Status

Exempt

Pay Range

$58,000.00 - $62,000.00

The included pay rate or range represents the University's good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Benefits Eligible

Yes

The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

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