Job Description

Posting number: 2026-02264

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

Job classification: GRADUATE ASSISTANT

Posting type: Open

Categories: Public Health

Summary

Title: Graduate Research Assistant (0000GA11)-up to 2 positions

Position Number: 0000GA11

Hiring Unit: Department of Public Health Sciences

Location: University of Hawai'i at Manoa

Date Posted: 10/21/2026

Closing Date: 11/30/2026, 11:59 PM Hawai'i Time

Salary Information: GA Step 17 (11-month) or comparable to qualifications and experience, see GA Compensation Schedule

Monthly Type: 11-month

Full Time Equivalency (FTE): .50

Job Term: Non-Tenure/Part-Time/Temporary

Funding: Extramural

Other Conditions:

• position to begin in January 2027 or as soon as possible thereafter. Continuation dependent upon satisfactory performance, availability of funds, and project needs.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Assist the principal investigators and research team with the coordination and implementation of an NIH-funded epidemiological study examining prenatal exposure to PFAS and microplastics and early childhood neurodevelopment.
• Assist with participant recruitment, screening, enrollment, and follow-up activities in accordance with approved research protocols.
• Coordinate with clinical and community partners to facilitate participant recruitment, biospecimen collection, and neurodevelopmental assessments.
• Assist with data collection, entry, management, cleaning, and quality control to ensure data accuracy and completeness.
• Support epidemiological data analysis, including descriptive statistics, exposure assessment, and interpretation of research findings under the supervision of the research team.
• Conduct literature reviews and assist with preparation of scientific manuscripts, abstracts, presentations, and research reports related to environmental exposures and maternal and child health.
• Assist with preparation of study materials, research protocols, Institutional Review Board (IRB) submissions, and other regulatory documentation.
• Participate in project meetings, research trainings, and collaborative activities with investigators and research partners.
• Other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications:

• Classified graduate student at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa.
• Be in good academic standing and maintain a GPA of 3.0 or above.
• Maintain 6 credits per semester, with the exception of those who have reached 800 (dissertation) or 700F (thesis).
• Able to work respectfully and effectively with diverse populations, including pregnant women, infants, and families from different cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Able to work independently and collaboratively under the direction of the principal investigators and research team, with strong time-management and problem-solving skills.
• Prior experience conducting scientific literature searches using academic databases (e.g., PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar).
• Basic knowledge of epidemiological research methods, study design, and quantitative data analysis.
• Working knowledge of computers and common software applications, including Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and virtual communication platforms (Zoom, Teams).
• Strong written and oral communication, organizational, and attention-to-detail skills.
• Ability to handle sensitive participant information and maintain confidentiality in accordance with research ethics and institutional requirements.
• Willingness to complete required human subjects research, data security, and study-specific training.
• Have access to reliable transportation for study-related visits and meetings at clinical and community partner sites on Oahu, as needed.

Desirable Qualifications:

• University of Hawai'i graduate student pursuing a degree in epidemiology, public health, biostatistics, environmental health, or a related field.
• Knowledge or research experience in environmental epidemiology, maternal and child health, neurodevelopment, or environmental exposures such as PFAS and microplastics.
• Prior experience conducting epidemiological research, including study design, data collection, data management, and statistical analysis.
• Experience using statistical software such as R, SAS, or Stata for data management and analysis.
• Experience using research data collection and management platforms such as REDCap.
• Prior experience preparing IRB protocols/applications, research reports, conference abstracts, and/or peer-reviewed manuscripts.
• Prior experience with participant recruitment, informed consent, and data collection in human subjects research.
• Experience working with diverse populations, clinical research teams, healthcare providers, and community partners.
• Familiarity with biological sample collection, processing, or laboratory procedures related to environmental exposure assessment.

To Apply:

Click on the "APPLY" button to complete an application and attach the following REQUIRED documents/information:

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

Note: First time NEOGOV users are required to create an account. Only applications through NEOGOV are accepted.

Inquiries: Dr. Shiwen “Sherlock” Li, Principal Investigator, shiwenli@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/