Research Assistant II Non-Lab

The Department of Global Health and Social Medicine at Harvard Medical School (HMS) is seeking a Research Assistant for a research project on the online advocacy movement, TBFighters. TBFighters began organizing in 2023 to oppose policies and practices that limit access to lifesaving diagnostics and care for people affected by tuberculosis. This position offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to impactful research relevant to health equity organizing. The effort explores how TB Fighters formed, how the movement makes decisions and exercises power, and what distinguishes it from other health justice movements. This work is a collaboration among investigators—epidemiologists, sociologists, and activists—at HMS, University of Vermont, and Yale University School of Public Health. 

Key Responsibilities:

Empirical research

Under close supervision of the PIs, and together with other members of the study team, the RA will:

• Conduct semi-structured interviews and focus groups with a range of stakeholders. Interviews will be drawn through snowball sampling, and TBFighter alumni.

• Work with a team of Harvard students (identified through membership in a Harvard Club) to conduct content analysis of two bodies of cultural content: TBFighter documents and products and historical content produced by John and Hank Green, which presaged the formation of TBFighters.

• Perform coding and analysis of transcripts and results of content analysis.

Administration

• Track study activities and products per study timeline.

• Maintain IRB documents and approvals.

• Submit articles for publication, including gathering of input, disclosures and other forms from all stakeholders.

•  Attend seminars, meetings & other departmental events to learn about and contribute to intellectual community, particularly social-science-related activities.

• Dissemination and maintaining relationships.

Under close supervision of the PIs, the RA will:

• Provide regular updates to the research team, and other stakeholders.

• Guide students engaged in content analysis.

• Support the PIs in writing publications and making presentations, including: performing literature reviews, drafting sections of manuscripts and presentations, developing of figures/tables, formatting, and reference-checking.

Grantwriting

• Support the PIs in identifying potential sources of support for the TBFighter Project.

• Contribute to proposal writing and completion of administrative elements of submission.