Michigan Farmworker Project: Our Health and Work

Bilingual Research Assistant Position

Market Title Job Code

Working Title
Bilingual Research Assistant
(Title Dept will use for the position and for
(Spanish/English)
the posting)
Reports to (Name of supervisor/manager and Dr. Lisbeth Iglesias-Rios (Postdoctoral
title) Research Fellow)
Department Name Epidemiology

Compensation/Work Hours $15 per hour / 15 hours per week

DESCRIPTION:
The Department of Epidemiology at the School of Public Health is looking for a research
assistant to help assist with research tasks related to an exciting community engagement pilot
qualitative research project titled “Michigan Farmworker Project: Our Health and Work.” The
study aim is to examine the diverse working and living experiences of migrant and seasonal
farmworkers in Michigan and to identify indicators or perceptions of labor exploitation and labor
trafficking. The study will include interviews with migrant and seasonal farmworkers and
stakeholders in the state of Michigan. The research study is funded by the Michigan Life Stage
Environmental Health Department and the Edward Ginsberg Center. The Principal Investigator
is Dr. Marie O’Neill and Dr. Alexis Handal. The Co-Investigator is Dr. Lisbeth Iglesias-Rios.
RESPONSABILITIES:
 Assist Dr. Iglesias-Rios with interviews with migrant and seasonal farmworkers in the
state of Michigan. This includes providing administrative and logistic support and taking
notes during the interviews.
 Conduct interviews with stakeholders in the state of Michigan (e.g., government, non-
profit organizations, farm owners, independent groups). Most of the interviews with
stakeholders will be conducted in English but some of them may be conducted in
Spanish.
 Supervise and assist the coordination and communication between community outreach
workers and recruitment, setting interview appointments.
 Provide support with recruitment.
 Create a database and enter participants’ sociodemographic information.
 Provide support with other administrative duties (e.g., photocopies of research materials).
 Summarize and keep detailed notes of the research process.
 Attend weekly meetings.
 Provide support with qualitative analyses.

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QUALIFICATIONS & POSITION CRITERIA
 Be able to understand, speak and write in Spanish at a high proficiency level as to be
considered bilingual.
 Experience working with people from different cultures, backgrounds and levels of
education strongly preferred.
 Work experience with vulnerable or marginalized populations.
 Being able to work independently with professionalism and respect.
 Have excellent communication skills and experience conducting interviews.
 Being able to work with a diverse research team and with different stakeholders (e.g.,
non-profit organizations, government, churches).
 Experience conducting qualitative research or have similar working experiences.
 Experience using qualitative software (e.g., Atlas.ti), preferred but not required.
 Being able to travel in the state of Michigan with Dr. Iglesias-Rios to conduct interviews
with migrant and seasonal farmworkers.
 Willing to work in rural and office settings and dress appropriately to visit migrant labor
camps whenever needed. You are not expected to visit labor camps alone.
 Willing to work with community outreach workers and various other community
organizations.
 Strong organizational and leadership skills.
 Have a driver’s license and willing to drive a rental car or van.
 Have maturity, self-sufficiency and being able to make informed decisions.
WORKING CONDITIONS
 Work requires a flexible schedule that adapts to the schedule of research participants.
 Most of the interviews will be conducted evenings and weekends.
 Work involves driving in the state of Michigan and staying some days in areas of
recruitment, if needed.
 We will be working North, West, Central, Southeast and Southwest of Michigan.
Preliminary application:
A cover letter and CV is required for consideration for this position. The cover letter should
address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experience that directly relate
to this position.
Please send your documents to:
Dr. Lisbeth Iglesias-Rios
e-mail: lisgle@umich.edu
Subject line: Bilingual Research Assistant-Michigan Farmworker Project