Research Program Associate
Listed on 2026-02-08
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Healthcare
Public Health, Community Health
Overview
The Research Program Associate will oversee a portfolio of community-based cancer education, outreach, and research initiatives within the I-CHARM Research Lab, led by Associate Professor Dr. Daisy Le
. This position provides leadership in project management, research oversight, community engagement, fiscal administration, and team supervision. The role collaborators with community organizations across the GW Cancer Center catchment area (DC, Maryland, Virginia). This role requires demonstrated experience in community-based participatory research (CBPR) and a commitment to working with diverse, medically underserved populations. Work occurs both on campus and in community settings, with occasional evening and weekend responsibilities.
The Research Program Associate will support multiple NIH- and ACS-funded studies, assist with pilot project development, contribute to grant writing, and supervise staff and student research assistants.
About the I-CHARM Research Lab
The I-CHARM Research Lab focuses on health disparities, cancer prevention and control, chronic disease management, substance use, digital information technology, health communication, and community-centered interventions. Our research incorporates:
- Mixed methods research to design culturally grounded interventions (e.g., digital/mobile health programs, interactive decision-support tools, tailored health communication strategies, storytelling- or narrative-based approaches, socio-emotional learning models, and community advocate training curricula).
- Clinical trials to evaluate feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy of community-based interventions.
- Evidence synthesis including systematic reviews and meta-analyses.
- Community-engaged intervention development
, using human-centered design and participatory co-creation with community partners. - Behavioral and communication science approaches to study multilevel influences (policy, media, interpersonal networks, digital ecosystems) on health behavior.
We work with communities locally and across the U.S., centering equity, scientific rigor, collaboration, and partnership-building. Our lab culture emphasizes inclusivity, kindness, professionalism, communication, and competence.
Key ResponsibilitiesThe responsibilities below reflect the typical sequence of a research project and lab workflow.
- Coordinate the planning, development, and launch of I-CHARM research projects
, including needs assessments, cancer health advocate trainings, intervention design, and educational workshop development. - Prepare and maintain IRB submissions and renewals
; finalize intervention materials, recruitment tools, and protocol documents. - Support daily project operations
, including participant engagement, intervention delivery, fidelity monitoring, and study coordination across in-person, online, and phone-based formats. - Establish and maintain data collection and tracking systems
; supervise data entry, cleaning, and preliminary analysis. - Monitor milestones, deliverables, and compliance with NIH / ACS timelines and metrics to ensure timely progress.
- Prepare and submit regular project reports
, including semi-annual progress reports and internal documentation. - Plan, schedule, and coordinate project-related meetings
, including research team meetings, conference calls, investigator check-ins, and Community Advisory Board (CAB) meetings. - Serve as the primary liaison for communications with community members, university officials, IRB representatives, funding agencies, and media contacts.
- Cultivate and strengthen partnerships with community-based organizations, CAB members, community advocates, and local stakeholders.
- Develop, deliver, and evaluate cancer education programming and health communication activities across the catchment area.
- Recruit, train, and coordinate community members for outreach, advisory positions, research participation, and intervention involvement.
- Support needs assessments, community consultations, and data dissemination initiatives to inform program improvement and policy relevance.
- Expand and sustain long-term community partnerships to support ongoing outreach, research, and education infrastructure.
- Monitor project budgets
, track expenditures, reconcile accounts, and review subcontractor financial documentation. - Participate in monthly financial and administrative meetings
, preparing updates and tracking CAB stipends, incentives, and other payments. - Coordinate lab communications
, including newsletters, social media content, and updates to the lab website. - Order, maintain, and organize supplies, equipment, and research materials to ensure smooth project operations.
- Mentor student researchers and volunteers working across lab projects.
- Support hiring processes
, including job posting development, candidate screening,…
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