Research Intern Fall ; Unpaid

OUR MISSION

Family Reach is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to removing the financial barriers standing between cancer patients and their treatment — such as loss of income, increased out-of-pocket expenses, and socioeconomic factors. When faced with these financial barriers, families have to make impossible decisions like choosing between paying for treatment or basic essentials like housing, food, and transportation. No family should have to choose between their health and their home — and we won’t stop until that’s the reality.

From the moment of diagnosis, race, ethnicity, income level, zip code, and language create financial and clinical barriers to cancer care. These factors should not define a patient’s chance of survival, but they do.

The Programs and Health Equity team at Family Reach is committed to expanding their knowledge on the effect of basic health-related social needs (HRSNs) - such as food, housing, transportation, and utilities - on patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and treatment adherence among cancer patients.

We are seeking a dedicated and detail-oriented Research Intern to support data collection and analysis for an ongoing research project evaluating our Financial Resource Center (FRC) interventions and their impact on patient reported outcomes. The research involves both survey data collection and focus group sessions with patients who have received our services.

The Research Intern will report to Family Reach’s Director of Research. The intern will work 10-20 hours per week from September 2025 to mid-December 2025, with an opportunity to continue through the Spring 2026 semester based on mutual interest and project needs. We are flexible and can accommodate academic calendars. The intern should be available for at least a few hours between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm EST, and we will work with the intern to determine a weekly schedule.

This is an unpaid position; however, we are happy to explore options for accommodating school credit requirements.

• Assist with survey and focus group data collection, accurate data entry, and organization of research records
• Manage focus group scheduling and logistics, create Google Forms for participant sign-ups, and handle consent form administration
• Conduct transcription quality control and review of focus group recordings
• Perform qualitative coding of focus group findings after training
• Collaborate with team members to discuss insights and implications of the research findings.
• Provide general research project assistance and maintain organized documentation as assigned

• Currently enrolled in or recently graduated from a Bachelor’s or Master’s program in Public Health, Social Sciences, Social Work, Health Policy, or a related field
• Strong research skills, including experience with qualitative and/or quantitative research methods, data collection techniques, and academic research projects
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Familiarity with Google Suite (Forms, Sheets, Docs) and basic data management software (Qualtrics or similar, SPSS)
• Excellent analytical and critical thinking skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Ability to manage time effectively
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Passion for understanding health-related social needs and improving health equity
• Access to computer with video-conferencing capability

Family Reach is inclusive of all racial, ethnic, and cultural minorities; LGBTQIA+ individuals, individuals with disabilities, individuals that are neurodivergent, and individuals from all educational backgrounds. We encourage multiple perspectives and experiences, support a multicultural environment, and are dedicated to building our leadership and staff to reflect these values and the diverse communities we serve.