Senior Research Assistant 1
Portland State University
Position Announcement Position Details Proposed Start Date 02/02/2026 Rank K1 - Senior research Asst I Working Title Senior Research Assistant 1 Position Number D97347 Representation AU - AAUP Faculty Type Fixed Term Research/Grant Fixed Term End Date: 09/30/2027 Position FTE Variable between .5 and 1.0, starting at 1.0 FTE Term of Service 12 month Position Summary Brief Description of PSU/School/Dept Portland State University (PSU) is Oregon’s most affordable public research university, located in the heart of one of America’s most dynamic cities. Our mission to “let knowledge serve the city” reflects our dedication to turning ideas into action — in Portland and around the world. The city is our campus, giving students unmatched access to career connections, a vibrant cultural scene and hands-on learning experiences with hundreds of community partners.
More than 20,000 students from all backgrounds bring diverse perspectives to our classrooms and campus life, from the tree-lined Park Blocks to the bustling Urban Plaza and state-of-the-art science labs. We are proud of our world-class faculty, groundbreaking research and international reputation for excellence in sustainability, community engagement and innovation.
Position Summary The Institute on Aging (IOA) is a research unit at Portland State University that conducts research, provides education, and collaborates with community partners on activities that promote the well-being of older adults.
Within the IOA, the Oregon Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health & Aging (OCEBHA) has a mission to improve care and services for older adults with behavioral health needs by educating, promoting, and maintaining the behavioral health workforce in Oregon.
The Older Adult Behavioral Health Training Program Manager will, in partnership with the OCEBHA Workforce Development Lead Coordinator and wider OCEBHA leadership team, lead the Center’s mission to improve care and services for older adults with behavioral health needs by educating, promoting, and maintaining the behavioral health workforce in Oregon.
This position involves assisting with the development of training curriculum, planning training events with other trainers across the state, as well as identifying and cataloguing existing training resources. Developing and maintaining community engagement and partnerships are vital components of this position. The faculty member will meet with collaborators and potential collaborators and others providing or looking for training and workforce development. This position involves developing and maintaining partnerships with organizations across the state.
Primary Activity R - Research Minimum Qualifications Graduate degree in social work, public health, psychology or related field(s) or comparable work experience, and 2 or more years as a Research Assistant or equivalent and demonstrated ability to perform focused research or evaluation tasks as follows: Gathering research or evaluation data using a predetermined protocol, Carrying out routine procedures, Gathering materials for reports, Performing routine data processing or lab work, Data management, and basic qualitative or quantitative data analysis. Demonstrated ability to perform focused research or evaluation tasks, and Ability to develop training materials for professionals in behavioral health and aging services, and Experience collaborating with community partners in behavioral health and aging services, including those who provide culturally-specific services (e.g., community mental health programs, senior centers), and Knowledge of behavioral health needs of older adults, and Experience planning training for professionals, and Experience planning training for students, and Ability to travel to different locations across the state, approximately once per quarter, and Demonstrated ability to communicate with local and national community and interdisciplinary collaborators. Preferred Qualifications Training/experience in behavioral health topics such as substance use disorders. Experience planning in-person training events (e.g., conferences, webinars). Knowledge of evidence-based practices pertaining to older adult behavioral health. Experience working with clinical interest groups. Experience developing training materials such as toolkits, factsheets or newsletters using published literature and Center reports. Ability to work with OCEBHA staff to develop workforce-specific deliverables for the funding agency and community partners. Key Cultural Competencies Creates an environment that acknowledges, encourages and celebrates differences. Functions and communicates effectively and respectfully within the context of varying beliefs, behaviors, orientations, identities and cultural backgrounds. Seeks opportunities to gain experience working and collaborating in diverse, multicultural, and inclusive settings with a willingness to change for continual improvement Adheres to all PSU’s policies including the policies on Prohibited Discrimination & Harassment and the Professional Standards of Conduct. Environmental Stewardship Contributes to a culture of environmental stewardship, practices resource conservation, and actively works toward achieving long-term sustainability goals. Professional Standards of Conduct At Portland State University, all employees are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner which maintains a safe, respectful, and productive environment for faculty, students, administrators, and staff. It is the responsibility of every member of the Portland State University community to conduct themselves in accordance with our PSU Professional Standards of Conduct which are available at https://www.pdx.edu/human-resources/professional-standards-conduct-policy. Total Compensation Range & Benefits Statement Salary is dependent on several factors, and new employees will typically start around the Q1 level to allow for later growth within the salary band. PSU has a structured process for determining starting compensation, taking into account years of related experience, applicable skills, knowledge and abilities, market parity, and internal equity.
The starting annual salary for this position will be $69,216 (at 1.0 FTE on a 12-months term of service). The salary may be negotiated above this rate dependent upon the factors above, the budget of the hiring department, and approval from HR.
An excellent benefits package includes 95% premium paid healthcare; a generous retirement and vacation package; and reduced tuition rates for employee, spouse or dependent at any of the Oregon University System schools.
Please visit our total compensation calculator to see the full value of our benefits package. Application Instructions Additional Information This appointment is renewable, contingent on grant funding. Additional Application Instructions (deadlines, etc.) Please list the names and contact information for two professional references. Letters of recommendation will be requested only if you are selected for further consideration. Does this position require the employee to drive a motor vehicle? No Background Check Required Yes If you have questions Please contact the IOA Director, Paula Carder at ioainfo@pdx.edu Search Details Posting Close Date Projected Close Date for Posting Open Until Finalists Identified Application screening begins 01/13/2026 Will you consider an ABD applicant for this position? No If yes, when must the degree be earned? not applicable If necessary, would you be willing to sponsor the succcessful applicant for permanent US residence, now or in the future? No Reference Requests Reference Requests Accept References Yes Minimum Number of References 2 Maximum Number of References 3 Cutoff Date Special Instruction for Reference Provider Supplemental Questions
More than 20,000 students from all backgrounds bring diverse perspectives to our classrooms and campus life, from the tree-lined Park Blocks to the bustling Urban Plaza and state-of-the-art science labs. We are proud of our world-class faculty, groundbreaking research and international reputation for excellence in sustainability, community engagement and innovation.
Position Summary The Institute on Aging (IOA) is a research unit at Portland State University that conducts research, provides education, and collaborates with community partners on activities that promote the well-being of older adults.
Within the IOA, the Oregon Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health & Aging (OCEBHA) has a mission to improve care and services for older adults with behavioral health needs by educating, promoting, and maintaining the behavioral health workforce in Oregon.
The Older Adult Behavioral Health Training Program Manager will, in partnership with the OCEBHA Workforce Development Lead Coordinator and wider OCEBHA leadership team, lead the Center’s mission to improve care and services for older adults with behavioral health needs by educating, promoting, and maintaining the behavioral health workforce in Oregon.
This position involves assisting with the development of training curriculum, planning training events with other trainers across the state, as well as identifying and cataloguing existing training resources. Developing and maintaining community engagement and partnerships are vital components of this position. The faculty member will meet with collaborators and potential collaborators and others providing or looking for training and workforce development. This position involves developing and maintaining partnerships with organizations across the state.
Primary Activity R - Research Minimum Qualifications Graduate degree in social work, public health, psychology or related field(s) or comparable work experience, and 2 or more years as a Research Assistant or equivalent and demonstrated ability to perform focused research or evaluation tasks as follows: Gathering research or evaluation data using a predetermined protocol, Carrying out routine procedures, Gathering materials for reports, Performing routine data processing or lab work, Data management, and basic qualitative or quantitative data analysis. Demonstrated ability to perform focused research or evaluation tasks, and Ability to develop training materials for professionals in behavioral health and aging services, and Experience collaborating with community partners in behavioral health and aging services, including those who provide culturally-specific services (e.g., community mental health programs, senior centers), and Knowledge of behavioral health needs of older adults, and Experience planning training for professionals, and Experience planning training for students, and Ability to travel to different locations across the state, approximately once per quarter, and Demonstrated ability to communicate with local and national community and interdisciplinary collaborators. Preferred Qualifications Training/experience in behavioral health topics such as substance use disorders. Experience planning in-person training events (e.g., conferences, webinars). Knowledge of evidence-based practices pertaining to older adult behavioral health. Experience working with clinical interest groups. Experience developing training materials such as toolkits, factsheets or newsletters using published literature and Center reports. Ability to work with OCEBHA staff to develop workforce-specific deliverables for the funding agency and community partners. Key Cultural Competencies Creates an environment that acknowledges, encourages and celebrates differences. Functions and communicates effectively and respectfully within the context of varying beliefs, behaviors, orientations, identities and cultural backgrounds. Seeks opportunities to gain experience working and collaborating in diverse, multicultural, and inclusive settings with a willingness to change for continual improvement Adheres to all PSU’s policies including the policies on Prohibited Discrimination & Harassment and the Professional Standards of Conduct. Environmental Stewardship Contributes to a culture of environmental stewardship, practices resource conservation, and actively works toward achieving long-term sustainability goals. Professional Standards of Conduct At Portland State University, all employees are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner which maintains a safe, respectful, and productive environment for faculty, students, administrators, and staff. It is the responsibility of every member of the Portland State University community to conduct themselves in accordance with our PSU Professional Standards of Conduct which are available at https://www.pdx.edu/human-resources/professional-standards-conduct-policy. Total Compensation Range & Benefits Statement Salary is dependent on several factors, and new employees will typically start around the Q1 level to allow for later growth within the salary band. PSU has a structured process for determining starting compensation, taking into account years of related experience, applicable skills, knowledge and abilities, market parity, and internal equity.
The starting annual salary for this position will be $69,216 (at 1.0 FTE on a 12-months term of service). The salary may be negotiated above this rate dependent upon the factors above, the budget of the hiring department, and approval from HR.
An excellent benefits package includes 95% premium paid healthcare; a generous retirement and vacation package; and reduced tuition rates for employee, spouse or dependent at any of the Oregon University System schools.
Please visit our total compensation calculator to see the full value of our benefits package. Application Instructions Additional Information This appointment is renewable, contingent on grant funding. Additional Application Instructions (deadlines, etc.) Please list the names and contact information for two professional references. Letters of recommendation will be requested only if you are selected for further consideration. Does this position require the employee to drive a motor vehicle? No Background Check Required Yes If you have questions Please contact the IOA Director, Paula Carder at ioainfo@pdx.edu Search Details Posting Close Date Projected Close Date for Posting Open Until Finalists Identified Application screening begins 01/13/2026 Will you consider an ABD applicant for this position? No If yes, when must the degree be earned? not applicable If necessary, would you be willing to sponsor the succcessful applicant for permanent US residence, now or in the future? No Reference Requests Reference Requests Accept References Yes Minimum Number of References 2 Maximum Number of References 3 Cutoff Date Special Instruction for Reference Provider Supplemental Questions
Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).
* What is your highest degree earned?(Open Ended Question)
* Please name the specific field/discipline in which you received your degree.(Open Ended Question)
* Do you have the ability to travel to different locations across the state, approximately once per quarter? Yes No * How did you first find out about this position? PSU website Indeed Chronicle of Higher Education Higher Ed Jobs HERCJobs Referral Professional Listserv- please specify in comment box in the next question Professional Journal- please specify in comment box in the next question Other- please specify in comment box in the next question If you selected Other, please describe.(Open Ended Question)
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