Research Specialist; On-Call

The Work

ICF is looking for multiple Research Specialists to support a multi-year, large-scale systematic literature review project on physical activity for a federal client. Candidates will report to the Project Manager and/or Research Methodologist and will be primarily responsible for supporting literature screening and data extraction processes. They may also participate in various aspects of reporting results. The successful candidate will possess a strong understanding of exercise science concepts, the impacts of physical activity on health outcomes, the ability to critically evaluate scientific literature, familiarity with the systematic literature review approach, and strong attention to detail.

This is a remote position; however, the job must be performed in the United States. If you accept this position, please note that ICF monitors employee work locations and blocks access from foreign locations/foreign IP addresses, and also prohibits personal VPN connections.

As an on‑call/freelancer, you might work zero to 30 hours per week, depending on our workload.

• Work volume will fluctuate across the lifespan of the project. The weekly number of hours assigned to each Research Specialist will be dependent on project needs and Research Specialist’s availability.
• Research Specialists should be available to provide at least 5‑10 hours of support per week; however, some weeks may have 0 hours assigned.
• Our core work hours are 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Eastern Time with the option to start earlier or work later depending on your time zone.
• Research Specialists may work outside of core work hours but must be able to attend and participate in regularly scheduled team meetings during ICF core work hours. Work schedules will be coordinated with the project leaders.

Research Specialists will support the project through the following activities:

• Screening literature for inclusion/exclusion in reviews
• Extracting data from the included literature
• Assessing the quality of included studies using standardized assessment tools
• Supporting report development

• Master’s degree plus 1‑2 years of experience conducting research related to physical activity, exercise, or public health.
• Educational background in a physical activity–related field such as exercise science, kinesiology, physical education, health science, or public health.
• Ability to read, interpret, and critically evaluate scientific literature related to physical activity, public health, and health behavior and outcomes.
• Experience conducting systematic literature reviews.

• Familiarity with the 2nd Edition of the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans.
• Experience with systematic literature review management platforms (e.g., Distiller
  
  SR, Covidence, Rayyan, etc.).
• Basic understanding of the meta‑analysis approach as demonstrated through past job experience, coursework, and/or publication history.
• Basic understanding of umbrella reviews (review of reviews) as demonstrated through coursework or publication history.

• Strong attention to detail.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams.
• Ability to prioritize and work on multiple projects under strict deadlines in a fast‑paced environment.

ICF is a global advisory and technology services provider, but we’re not your typical consultants. We combine unmatched expertise with cutting‑edge technology to help clients solve their most complex challenges, navigate change, and shape the future.

We can only solve the world’s toughest challenges by building a workplace that allows everyone to thrive. We are an equal opportunity employer. Together, our employees are empowered to share their expertise and collaborate with others to achieve personal and professional goals. For more information, please read our EEO policy.

We will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Reasonable Accommodations are available, including, but not limited to, for disabled veterans, individuals with disabilities, and individuals with sincerely held religious beliefs, in…