Careers @ MSU

Position Summary

The Foundry for Innovative Research and Education (FIRE) program integrates medical education, community-engaged research and faculty and student development. FIRE is designed to foster collaboration, innovation and outreach — key pillars for advancing MSUCOM's research mission. FIRE provides faculty and students with the resources, guidance and opportunities to drive innovation in health care education research while making a meaningful impact on the community. The Research & Community Engagement Program Specialist role strengthens FIRE’s capacity to support rigorous, research-based projects, community-engaged outreach endeavors, and healthcare education by providing project ownership, methodological expertise, and strategic support to faculty and students across the healthcare education continuum.

Responsibilities include: 

• Assume primary responsibility for assigned FIRE research, education, and community-engaged projects, ensuring timely progress from planning through dissemination
• Support faculty- and student-led scholarly projects, including education research and community-based initiatives
• Contribute to research study design, including development of protocols, control or comparison groups, outcome measures, timelines, and workflows
• Prepare, submit, and manage IRB applications, amendments, continuing reviews, and formal responses to IRB committee feedback
• Assist with data review, basic statistical interpretation, and synthesis of findings for internal reporting, grants, and scholarly dissemination
• Support grant development activities, including literature review, drafting proposal sections, assembling supporting documents, and preparing progress reports
• Draft, edit, and format technical reports, scholarly documents, internal summaries, and community-facing materials
• Coordinate and support community-engaged healthcare education initiatives, working with community partners to align projects with shared goals and ethical standards
• Provide strategic and logistical support to faculty and students, including project planning, documentation, and workflow development
• Utilize AI-assisted tools and digital resources to support research workflows, project management, and educational innovation, in alignment with institutional policies
• Develop and maintain standard operating procedures, project flows, and study documentation to promote efficiency and reproducibility
• Communicate effectively with a multidisciplinary group of students, staff, faculty, and community partners, primarily within healthcare and medical education settings
• Participate in local, regional, and occasional national travel to support FIRE projects, partnerships, and dissemination activities
• Perform additional duties as assigned in support of the FIRE program mission and strategic priorities

This position is currently approved for a hybrid work arrangement with 3 days working in the office on the East Lansing campus and 2 days remote.

Minimum Requirements

Knowledge equivalent to that which normally would be acquired by completing a four-year college degree program in health sciences, public health, education, social sciences, biomedical sciences, or a related field; three to five years of related and progressively more responsible or expansive work experience in overseeing research projects and laboratory operations, operating and maintaining a variety of laboratory equipment, performing specialized and difficult analytical and research techniques, and designing research experiments in an area related to research being performed; may require software specific to the area of research; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. 

Desired Qualifications

• Master’s degree or higher in public health, education, biomedical sciences, health services research, or a related field
• Experience in medical education, healthcare education, or academic health centers
• Prior involvement in grant writing or grant-supported projects
• Experience with community-engaged research or service-learning programs
• Familiarity with basic statistical concepts and data interpretation for education or health-related research
• Experience developing standard operating procedures, workflows, or research protocols
• Working knowledge of AI-assisted tools for research, data analysis, or project management
• Experience supporting faculty and student scholarly activities, including abstracts, presentations, or manuscripts
• Demonstrated experience supporting research, program evaluation, or community-engaged projects
• Experience with or strong familiarity in IRB processes, including preparation of applications and responses to committee feedback
• Ability to contribute to study design and project planning, including organization of protocols, timelines, and deliverables
• Experience reviewing and synthesizing data, reports, or scholarly materials
• Strong written communication skills, including drafting reports, proposals, or formal documentation
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary, team-based environment
• High level of organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects concurrently
• Professional demeanor characterized by humility, reliability, and diligence
• Willingness and availability to travel as required for project-related activities
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Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.

Required Application Materials

Cover letter

Resume/CV

Work Hours

STANDARD 8-5

Description of End Date

This is an off-dated position funded for one year from date of hire, with possible extension contingent upon funding renewal.

Website

www.com.msu.edu

Remote Work Statement

MSU strives to provide a flexible work environment and this position has been designated as remote-friendly. Remote-friendly means some or all of the duties can be performed remotely as mutually agreed upon.

The Bidding Eligibility ends on 02/17/2026 at 11:55 PM