Senior Research Assistant I
Portland State University
Position Announcement Position Details Proposed Start Date 02/02/2026 Rank K1 - Senior research Asst I Working Title Senior Research Assistant I Position Number D96943 Representation AU - AAUP Faculty Type Fixed Term Research/Grant Fixed Term End Date: 09/30/2027 Position FTE Variable between .50 and 1.0, starting at 1.0 FTE Term of Service 12 month Position Summary Brief Description of PSU/School/Dept Portland State University 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.
The Institute on Aging was recently awarded a federal grant through the Administration on Community Living, Promoting Older Adult Behavioral Health Wellness in Oregon to advancing strategies to deliver and sustain evidence-based chronic disease self-management education programs (CDSME) to support older Adults with behavioral health conditions, specifically depression and substance use. CDSME programs focus on building healthy behaviors and skills– such as goal setting, decision-making, problem-solving, and self-monitoring.
This three-year project builds on Portland State University (PSU) and Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) ongoing work to support behavioral health of older adults in Oregon including the Oregon Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health and Aging (OCEBHA). The Promoting Older Adult Behavioral Health Wellness in Oregon program builds on this existing work by increasing the number of older adults and people living with disabilities participating in structured evidence-based chronic disease self-management education (CDSME) and self-management support programs to address behavioral health challenges, specifically depression and substance use disorders across Oregon.
The program will deliver two evidence-based programs, the Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) and Program to Encourage Active, Rewarding Lives (PEARLS) to empower participants to improve their mental wellbeing by developing problem-solving skills, engaging in social and physical activities, and adopting behavioral techniques and coping strategies. The goal of this initiative is to develop the capacity (e.g., instructors, partnerships, and referral networks) to increase the number of older adults and adults with disabilities in the target populations who participate in evidence-based chronic disease self-management education (CDSME) and self-support programs.
The CDSME Senior Research Assistant will, in partnership with the wider CDSME leadership team, lead the project’s goal of improving care and services for older adults with behavioral health needs by working with community partners to become trained to deliver PEARLS and WRAP. This position involves working with project leadership and an assistant research assistant to recruit trainers to receive training to deliver PEARLS and WRAP, coordinate with training entities to deliver “train-the-trainer” sessions in Oregon, recruit and coordinate with implementation sites (assisted living, adult foster homes, and senior centers), and develop recruitment materials to recruit assisted living and adult foster home residents, and senior center attendees to participate in WRAP and PEARLS sessions.
Developing and maintaining community engagement and partnerships are vital components of this position. The person in this position must meet with collaborators and potential collaborators in the CDSME programs and develop and maintain partnerships with organizations across the state.
Specifically, the position duties involve supporting the workforce development coordinator in the following activities:
Participate in PEARLS training and occasionally deliver PEARLS training to older adults Coordinate training of PEARLS coaches and WRAP facilitators Recruit PEARLS and WRAP collaborators and implementation sites Work with training platform vendor to include CDSME program information Work with leadership team to develop outreach materials for assisted living facilities/adult foster home staff and residents and senior center staff and attendees throughout Oregon Plan and attend regional meetings for program partners Work with the Evaluation team to collect data on attendance and measure behavioral health improvements among participants Work with leadership team to develop and disseminate 508-compliant resources specific to lessons learned to enhance knowledge in serving the target population and promote program sustainability Participate in bi-monthly meetings with program coaches/trainers to collect and analyze information about what is/not working well and lessons learned from project implementation As needed, travel to implementation sites
Other Duties as assigned Primary Activity R - Research Minimum Qualifications Graduate degree in social work, public health, psychology or related field(s) or comparable work experience 2 or more years as a Research Assistant or equivalent, performing the following tasks: 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 Experience collaborating with community partners in behavioral health or aging services, including those who provide culturally-specific services (e.g., assisted living facilities, senior centers) Knowledge of behavioral health needs of older adults Ability to travel to different locations across the state, approximately once per quarter Ability to manage regular correspondences with multiple partners involved with training, including trainers, trainees, clinical supervisors, adult foster home staff, and senior center directors Experience managing or coordinating research and evaluation activities. Ability to deliver trainings in group settings to diverse populations (e.g., older adults)
Preferred Qualifications Knowledge of evidence-based programs targeted to older adults and/or behavioral health Experience implementing evidence-based programs targeted to older adults with behavioral health needs Experience planning in-person training events for health and human service professionals Experience developing recruitment materials for diverse audiences (e.g, older adults with behavioral health needs, managers of adult foster homes or assisted living facilities) Experience managing or coordinating research and evaluation activities
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 minimum salary for a Senior Research Assistant I (on a 12-months term of service) is $69,216 at 1.0 FTE. 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 The appointment is renewable, contingent upon grant funding. Additional Application Instructions (deadlines, etc.) Your references will be contacted only of you are selected as a finalist. Does this position require the employee to drive a motor vehicle? No Background Check Required Yes If you have questions Please email ioainfo@pdx.edu Search Details Posting Close Date Projected Close Date for Posting Open Until Finalists Identified Application screening begins 01/20/2026 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.
The Institute on Aging was recently awarded a federal grant through the Administration on Community Living, Promoting Older Adult Behavioral Health Wellness in Oregon to advancing strategies to deliver and sustain evidence-based chronic disease self-management education programs (CDSME) to support older Adults with behavioral health conditions, specifically depression and substance use. CDSME programs focus on building healthy behaviors and skills– such as goal setting, decision-making, problem-solving, and self-monitoring.
This three-year project builds on Portland State University (PSU) and Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) ongoing work to support behavioral health of older adults in Oregon including the Oregon Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health and Aging (OCEBHA). The Promoting Older Adult Behavioral Health Wellness in Oregon program builds on this existing work by increasing the number of older adults and people living with disabilities participating in structured evidence-based chronic disease self-management education (CDSME) and self-management support programs to address behavioral health challenges, specifically depression and substance use disorders across Oregon.
The program will deliver two evidence-based programs, the Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) and Program to Encourage Active, Rewarding Lives (PEARLS) to empower participants to improve their mental wellbeing by developing problem-solving skills, engaging in social and physical activities, and adopting behavioral techniques and coping strategies. The goal of this initiative is to develop the capacity (e.g., instructors, partnerships, and referral networks) to increase the number of older adults and adults with disabilities in the target populations who participate in evidence-based chronic disease self-management education (CDSME) and self-support programs.
The CDSME Senior Research Assistant will, in partnership with the wider CDSME leadership team, lead the project’s goal of improving care and services for older adults with behavioral health needs by working with community partners to become trained to deliver PEARLS and WRAP. This position involves working with project leadership and an assistant research assistant to recruit trainers to receive training to deliver PEARLS and WRAP, coordinate with training entities to deliver “train-the-trainer” sessions in Oregon, recruit and coordinate with implementation sites (assisted living, adult foster homes, and senior centers), and develop recruitment materials to recruit assisted living and adult foster home residents, and senior center attendees to participate in WRAP and PEARLS sessions.
Developing and maintaining community engagement and partnerships are vital components of this position. The person in this position must meet with collaborators and potential collaborators in the CDSME programs and develop and maintain partnerships with organizations across the state.
Specifically, the position duties involve supporting the workforce development coordinator in the following activities:
Participate in PEARLS training and occasionally deliver PEARLS training to older adults Coordinate training of PEARLS coaches and WRAP facilitators Recruit PEARLS and WRAP collaborators and implementation sites Work with training platform vendor to include CDSME program information Work with leadership team to develop outreach materials for assisted living facilities/adult foster home staff and residents and senior center staff and attendees throughout Oregon Plan and attend regional meetings for program partners Work with the Evaluation team to collect data on attendance and measure behavioral health improvements among participants Work with leadership team to develop and disseminate 508-compliant resources specific to lessons learned to enhance knowledge in serving the target population and promote program sustainability Participate in bi-monthly meetings with program coaches/trainers to collect and analyze information about what is/not working well and lessons learned from project implementation As needed, travel to implementation sites
Other Duties as assigned Primary Activity R - Research Minimum Qualifications Graduate degree in social work, public health, psychology or related field(s) or comparable work experience 2 or more years as a Research Assistant or equivalent, performing the following tasks: 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 Experience collaborating with community partners in behavioral health or aging services, including those who provide culturally-specific services (e.g., assisted living facilities, senior centers) Knowledge of behavioral health needs of older adults Ability to travel to different locations across the state, approximately once per quarter Ability to manage regular correspondences with multiple partners involved with training, including trainers, trainees, clinical supervisors, adult foster home staff, and senior center directors Experience managing or coordinating research and evaluation activities. Ability to deliver trainings in group settings to diverse populations (e.g., older adults)
Preferred Qualifications Knowledge of evidence-based programs targeted to older adults and/or behavioral health Experience implementing evidence-based programs targeted to older adults with behavioral health needs Experience planning in-person training events for health and human service professionals Experience developing recruitment materials for diverse audiences (e.g, older adults with behavioral health needs, managers of adult foster homes or assisted living facilities) Experience managing or coordinating research and evaluation activities
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 minimum salary for a Senior Research Assistant I (on a 12-months term of service) is $69,216 at 1.0 FTE. 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 The appointment is renewable, contingent upon grant funding. Additional Application Instructions (deadlines, etc.) Your references will be contacted only of you are selected as a finalist. Does this position require the employee to drive a motor vehicle? No Background Check Required Yes If you have questions Please email ioainfo@pdx.edu Search Details Posting Close Date Projected Close Date for Posting Open Until Finalists Identified Application screening begins 01/20/2026 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.com HERCJobs Urban League of Portland Hispanic Metropolitan Chamber Oregon Employment Department Social Media Person Referral Career Builder Glass Door Other - Please describe in the next Question If you selected Other, please describe.(Open Ended Question)
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