Job Description

Posting number: 2026-02390

Department: University of Hawai'i at Manoa - Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health

Job classification: GRADUATE ASSISTANT

Posting type: Open

Categories: Public Health, Social Sciences

Summary

Title: Graduate Research Assistant (0000GA11, Ha Kupuna National Resource Center for Native Hawaiian Elders)

Position Number: 0000GA11

Hiring Unit: Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health

Location: University of Hawai'i at Manoa

Date Posted: November 9, 2026

Closing Date: November 23, 2026

Salary: Minimum salary: $2,335.50 per month. Commensurate with qualifications and experience

Monthly Type: 11-month

Full Time/Part Time: Part Time (.50 FTE)

Temporary/Permanent: Temporary

Funding: Federal funds

Other Conditions

Appointment to begin approximately January 2027 or as soon thereafter as possible. Continuation is dependent upon satisfactory performance and availability of funding. Some flexibility in work schedule is available. Occasional travel to community sites may be required.

Position Description

Ha Kupuna National Resource Center for Native Hawaiian Elders seeks a Graduate Research Assistant interested in Indigenous health, aging, and community-engaged research.

Funded by the Administration for Community Living (ACL), Ha Kupuna works with Native Hawaiian elders, caregivers, community organizations, and service providers to strengthen services and promote healthy aging.

During the 2026–2029 grant cycle, Ha Kupuna will focus on three areas: (1) connecting Native Hawaiian elders to services, (2) promoting whole-person health, and (3) supporting family and formal caregivers. Activities include community-based research, development and evaluation of culturally relevant educational resources, and dissemination of findings to strengthen services for Native Hawaiian kupuna.

The Graduate Research Assistant will work collaboratively with faculty, staff, and community partners to support research and program activities. This position offers opportunities to develop skills in community-engaged research, qualitative methods, program evaluation, and knowledge dissemination.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Assist with community-engaged research involving Native Hawaiian kupuna, family caregivers, service providers, and community organizations, including recruitment, scheduling, focus groups, and interviews.
2. Support qualitative research activities, including transcription review, data organization, coding, thematic analysis, and preparation of research summaries.
3. Assist with the development, cultural adaptation, testing, and evaluation of educational materials and interventions related to healthy aging, brain health, fall prevention, medication management, advance care planning, caregiving, and intergenerational knowledge sharing.
4. Support program evaluation activities, including developing data collection tools, administering surveys, organizing evaluation data, and documenting participant feedback and program outcomes.
5. Conduct literature reviews and assist in reviewing and synthesizing research related to Indigenous aging, Native Hawaiian health, culturally grounded interventions, and caregiving.
6. Assist in preparing research findings and educational resources for dissemination through reports, manuscripts, conference presentations, fact sheets, and other materials for academic and community audiences.
7. Collaborate with project staff and community partners to support workshops, training activities, and community events.
8. Participate in regular project meetings, maintain research records, and assist with tracking activities and deliverables.
9. Perform other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

1. Classified, degree-seeking graduate student enrolled in a master's or doctoral program at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa in social work, public health, Hawaiian studies, psychology, sociology, or a related field.
2. Good academic standing and compliance with University of Hawai'i Graduate Division requirements for graduate assistant appointments.
3. Demonstrated interest in Indigenous health, Native Hawaiian communities, aging, gerontology, or caregiving.
4. Interest in community-engaged research and working collaboratively with community partners.
5. Strong written and oral communication skills.
6. Strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to work respectfully with individuals from diverse cultural and professional backgrounds.
7. Ability to work independently, manage multiple tasks, and collaborate effectively as part of a research team.
8. Proficiency with common computer applications, including word processing, spreadsheets, and presentation software.
9. Availability to participate in regularly scheduled project meetings and community research activities.

Desirable Qualifications

1. Doctoral standing or prior graduate-level research experience.
2. Experience with or coursework in Indigenous research methodologies, community-based participatory research, or culturally grounded research approaches.
3. Experience working with Native Hawaiian communities, Indigenous communities, older adults, or family caregivers.
4. Experience with qualitative research methods, including interviews, focus groups, transcription, coding, or thematic analysis.
5. Experience with program development, implementation, or evaluation.
6. Familiarity with qualitative data analysis software (e.g., NVivo) or quantitative data management and analysis.
7. Knowledge of Native Hawaiian culture, history, language, and community contexts.
8. Experience developing research reports, manuscripts, educational resources, or community-facing dissemination materials.
9. Knowledge of aging-related issues, including dementia, healthy aging, long-term care, caregiving, and access to health and social services.

To Apply:

Click on the "APPLY" button on the top right-hand corner of the screen to complete an application and attach the following REQUIRED documents/information.

1. Current resume or curriculum vitae;
2. A cover letter describing how you meet the minimum and desirable qualifications;
3. Names and contact information (including email addresses) of at least 3 professional references;
4. Official transcripts or equivalent documents from the institution confirming the highest educational degree relevant to this position (copies acceptable, official originals required upon hire).

Note: If you have not applied for a position before using NeoGov, you will need to create an account.

Inquiries:

Dr. Miquela Ibrao at 808-956-4494; email: mibrao@hawaii.edu

Examples of duties

The University of Hawai'i is an Equal Opportunity Institution and is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination in employment, including on the basis of veteran and disability status. For more information, visit: https://www.hawaii.edu/offices/eeo/policies/

Employment is contingent on satisfying employment eligibility verification requirements of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986; reference checks of previous employers; and for certain positions, criminal history record checks.

In accordance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, annual campus crime statistics for the University of Hawai'i may be viewed at: https://www.hawaii.edu/titleix/help/campus-security/, or a paper copy may be obtained upon request from the respective UH Campus Security or Administrative Services Office.

Accommodation Request: The University of Hawai'i complies with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the EEO coordinator directly. Determination on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. For further information, please refer to the following link: https://www.hawaii.edu/offices/eeo/accommodation-request/