Grad Research Assistant-NDSU Serology Seroprevalence Surveillance

Position Information

Assistantship appointments may vary in length and are contingent upon the availability of funding. Terms on duties and responsibilities will be provided on the graduate assistantship contract.

• Students must be registered for graduate credit each semester (fall and spring) they receive an assistantship and must be in good academic standing and maintaining satisfactory progress toward their degree. In addition, international students must maintain the appropriate residency status.
  
• Teaching assistants whose native language is not English must demonstrate English proficiency (refer to section titled "English Language Proficiency Procedures for Graduate Teaching Assistants").
  
• Students offered a graduate teaching or graduate service assistantship must consent to a criminal background check. This includes graduate researchers teaching in a lab.
  
• Students placed on Academic Warning may retain their assistantship. Students placed on Probation may no longer receive an assistantship.
  
• Required annual training must be completed within 30 days of start date and yearly thereafter.
  

Responsibilities:
The NDSU Department of Public Health Graduate Research Assistant (GRA) is primarily responsible for assisting Dr. Paul Carson, Dr. Pamela Jo Johnson, and the TBD Project Manager with their CDC/NDDoH-funded study on COVID-19 seroprevalence.

Project Description:
As the number of COVID-19 infection and mortality rates rises in North Dakota, it becomes vitally important to understand the true scope of the epidemic. Understanding of this to date is markedly limited because our population-level surveillance relies primarily on clinical testing for active infection. Given the frequent occurrence of asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic infection, such surveillance likely misses the vast majority of infections in the community. Relevant information about infectious diseases and preventive measures is also not available in many under-served and vulnerable populations.

We will implement a household seroprevalence study in three of the most populous counties in North Dakota (Cass, Burleigh, and Grand Forks County) as well as two tribal populations (Spirit Lake and Turtle Mountain) in efforts to describe and respond to the epidemiology of COVID-19. The serial sampling of individuals aged ≥5 years and older in households residing in Burleigh, Cass, and Grand Forks counties will include testing for past or present infection with SARS-CoV-2. We will also conduct a longitudinal cohort of population-based surveys related to demographic characteristics, risk factors, preventive behaviors, and access to testing and healthcare. Survey data will be collected from individuals in a random sample of households across ND. This study will allow us to describe the prevalence of COVID-19 infections and ongoing susceptibility in North Dakota, to describe the epidemiology and risk factors associated with infection, and assess issues with access to testing, healthcare, and vaccines.

Results from our study will inform future public health pandemic response strategies and allow us to engage the community through education, prevention, and testing services to further prevent the spread of COVID-19 among vulnerable population groups in North Dakota. This project is a collaboration between researchers at NDSU and UND.

GA Duties and Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Assist the project manager with day-to-day project management
• Assist with survey data collection, management, and documentation
• Assist Project Manager in coordinating activities between NDSU and UND research teams
• Contribute to the development of reports, presentations, and publications
• Other duties as assigned by the Project Manager or Drs. Carson and Johnson

Requirements:
• Currently enrolled NDSU MPH student
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Strong organizational skills
• Ability to work independently with an autonomous, flexible work schedule
• Technological and computer proficiency (Microsoft Office)

Preferred Qualifications:
• Research study design knowledge or experience
• Survey research knowledge or experience
• Experience with data collection
• Experience with statistical analysis software (SAS or SPSS preferred; R or Stata experience are also relevant)

• Located in Fargo

• Phlebotomy skills are a plus

Upon satisfactory performance, assistantship may be extended through fall 2022, including summers.