Summer Intern Research Assistant, Health Lab/Urban Labs

The Health Lab’s mission is to partner with civic and community leaders to identify, rigorously evaluate and help scale programs and policies that improve health outcomes, particularly for low-income and disadvantaged urban residents. To accomplish our mission, we seek to identify and engage vulnerable people so they can access services and opportunities that will improve their safety, health, and vitality. We work closely with partners, including persons with lived experiences, to learn directly from them about their challenges. We evaluate interventions that seek to address these challenges and advise our partners using data-driven results. We are deeply committed to understanding the impacts of policies, programs, and interventions. 

Like the needs of those we seek to serve, our partnerships are vast. While these partners represent many communities and community-based organizations, they also include medical and social service providers, emergency service providers, members of the corrections, policing, and other law enforcement communities. 

We believe that two key obstacles prevent cities from mobilizing and coordinating their rich resources across sectors. First, cities lack evidence about the multi-sector impact of their efforts. Second, cities lack coordination mechanisms and incentives to collaborate across sectors. The Health Lab dedicates our work and our resources to these two issues. Our primary goal is to generate high-quality evidence about interventions that can sustainably improve urban health and be widely scaled.

For more information about the UChicago Urban Labs, go to http://urbanlabs.uchicago.edu/ 

The University of Chicago Health Lab is seeking an intern to work on large-scale data and research amalgamation to support the development of effective social policy interventions. The role will primarily focus on supporting an ongoing foundational research project called TRANSFORM911 (T911). T911 is an eighteen-month research study led by the University of Chicago Health Lab that aims to create a community of practice and national dialogue around 911, launch a comprehensive T911 website, and produce interactive reports and recommendations to improve dispatch services. 

Particular focus areas within the work include bias elimination in dispatch, alternative crisis response, and 911-related technology. The project is part of a larger 911 Analytics portfolio of work at Health Lab. This position requires an individual who is able to work as a part of a small research team supporting a variety of data and research collection endeavors. The position offers the opportunity to work directly with leading social policy researchers at the University of Chicago, as well as a team of administrative staff, project managers, and other student research assistants. Interns will also have exposure to partnering research organizations, governmental agencies, community-based organizations, and advocates.

· Supports day-to-day implementation of a community-facing social system research project, including secondary data and research collection, while ensuring fidelity to research ethics and study design.

· Assists with the historical analysis of relevant crisis response narratives.

· Facilitates integration of community feedback into the research process and generated products.

· Prepares and edits project memos, summaries, presentations, and manuscripts targeting both technical and non-technical audiences, including policymakers, academic researchers, and other stakeholders.

· Prepares sections of research results, including proofing, formatting, and creating tables and graphs.

· Coordinates and documents internal and external meetings.

· Assists in writing grant proposals and preparing presentations targeting both policymakers and academic audiences.

· Supports data collection and analytical needs of research projects.

· Conducts literature reviews and helps write reports and manuscripts. Ensures project compliance with different policies, procedures, directives, and mandates.

· Performs other related work as needed.

Enrolled in an undergraduate program in criminal justice, economics, sociology, public health, public policy, or another relevant field required. Will consider applicants with equivalent lived experience. 

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through at least one year of relevant research experience. Experience gained in school counts towards requirements. 

• Experience collecting and managing qualitative and quantitative datasets.

• Familiarity with large-scale data collection. 

• Experience working with law enforcement or in emergency response.

• Passion for social policy.

• Strong quantitative and qualitative skills.

• Strong leadership, interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.

• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.

• Demonstrated capacity to work independently in an organized, detailed manner, while maintaining a collaborative team environment.

• Ability to think abstractly and concretely.

• Excellent data visualization ability.

• Ability to work both independently and as a team member.

• Ability to work discretely with sensitive and confidential data.

• Knowledge and understanding of criminal justice and 911 emergency crisis response.

• Strong computer skills including the ability to effectively use software applications such as Zoom, Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Access, and Internet Explorer. 

• This role will be indoors, on phone, Zoom, email, and other digital formats - working remotely initially.

• Requires the ability to work independently and virtually with teams for periods of eight (8) hours or more.