CLI Research Assistant I (Administrative) - (Children's Learning Institute)

What we do here changes the world. UTHealth Houston is Texas’ resource for healthcare education, innovation, scientific discovery, and excellence in patient care. That’s where you come in.

Once you join us you won't want to leave. It’s because we reward our team for the excellent service they provide. Our total rewards package includes the benefits you’d expect from a top healthcare organization (benefits, insurance, etc.), plus:

• 100% paid medical premiums for our full\-time employees
• Generous time off (holidays, preventative leave day, both vacation and sick time – all of which equates to around 37\-38 days per year)
• The longer you stay, the more vacation you’ll accrue!
• Longevity Pay (Monthly payments after two years of service)
• Build your future with our awesome retirement/pension plan!

We take care of our employees! As a world\-renowned institution, our employees’ wellbeing is important to us. We offer work/life services such as...

• Free financial and legal counseling
• Free mental health counseling services
• Gym membership discounts and access to wellness programs
• Other employee discounts including entertainment, car rentals, cell phones, etc.
• Resources for child and elder care
• Plus many more!

Position Summary:

We are seeking a highly organized and detail\-oriented Research Assistant to support a dynamic research team through data management, administrative coordination, and partner communication. In this role, you will ensure accuracy and efficiency across research activities by maintaining records, managing data entry processes, and supporting project workflows.

The ideal candidate thrives in a structured environment while confidently juggling multiple priorities. You bring strong attention to detail, proficiency in tools such as Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Teams, and a willingness to learn new systems and technologies. Experience in early childhood education or related fields is a plus.

This position also plays a key role in maintaining professional communication with partners and stakeholders, requiring clear, timely, and service\-oriented email support. Success in this role depends on your ability to use sound judgment, take initiative when needed, and contribute positively to a collaborative, mission\-driven team.

Departmental Duties:

• Resolves routine inquiries and questions and responds to non\-routine correspondence or telephone contacts in area of responsibility within guidelines established by supervisor.
• Composes correspondence and memoranda; prepares graphs, tables and manuscripts; prepares reports and presentation materials.
• Schedules and maintains calendars and travel itineraries; coordinates related arrangements in compliance with all University, governmental, and/or grant policies and guidelines.
• Develops filing systems; maintains files, records and reports for assigned area.
• Receives, classifies, reconciles, consolidates, and/or summarizes documents and information.
• Compiles data from reports using required knowledge of departmental, project, and/or university policies and procedures.
• May be responsible for or assists with data entry and basic processing for the financial and/or human resources systems.
• Schedules meetings and rooms, invites participants, and arranges refreshments and equipment as needed.

May prepare and distribute meeting minutes.

• May be required to maintain office supplies and equipment.
• Screens calls and emails and receives and directs visitors.
• Retrieves information from departmental and/or project records and may produce reports.
• Handles confidential information and sensitive issues.
• Provides back\-up for other support staff as needed.
• May provide guidance and direction to lower level staff. May train entry level clerical staff.

May lead support staff.

• May serve as administrative liaison with others within and outside assigned areas regarding administrative issues on purchasing, personnel, facilities and operations.
• May be assigned routine budget or financial responsibilities by supervisor.
• May maintain or reconcile financial records/reports.
• Advises on policy and processes as assigned by supervisor. Is responsible for making routine decisions and judgment calls.
• Other duties as assigned.

Position Key Accountabilities:

• Provide reliability status on various objective and subjective coding analysis measures pertaining to projects within the department.
• Perform cognitive/social/emotional assessments with children and additional interviews with teachers and families which include an extensive battery of psychological and educational based evaluations and manage appropriate research equipment and supplies.
• Perform observational evaluations performed in schools and classrooms and focus on cognitive readiness activities by means of a complex live coding scheme.
• Work on a range of data and information including but not limited to transferring, verifying, entering, processing, management and analysis.
• Attend relevant trainings and assist in recruiting subjects (teachers, students, families, and individuals) and obtaining informed consent from potential research study participants. This often occurs in parent teacher meetings and sometimes in a family’s home.
• May serve in an intervention or coaching role in home or school setting to training parents or teachers in parenting, including extensive trainings and regular meetings to maintain certification and reliability.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Certification/Skills:

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Bilingual skills in English/Spanish preferred.
• Reliable personal transportation as some projects may require extensive out of town travel which will vary from Houston and surrounding areas to various sites across the state of Texas.
• Human Subjects Research (HSR) by Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI Program) within five days of employment required

Minimum Education:

Bachelor’s degree in psychology, human development, biology or relevant field or experience in lieu of degree; master’s degree preferred.

Minimum Experience:

Experience in customer service, behavioral analysis or research experience is preferred.

Physical Requirements:

Exerts up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 10 pounds frequently and/or a negligible amount constantly to move objects.

Security Sensitive:

This position is a security\-sensitive position pursuant to Texas Education Code §51\.215 and Texas Government Code §411\.094\. To the extent that a position requires the holder to research, work on, or have access to critical infrastructure as defined in Texas Business and Commerce Code §117\.001(2\), the ability to maintain the security or integrity of the infrastructure is a minimum qualification to be hired for and to continue to be employed in that position. Personnel in such positions, and similarly situated state contractors, will be routinely reviewed to determine whether things such as criminal history or continuous connections to the government or political apparatus of a foreign adversary might prevent the applicant, employee, or contractor from being able to maintain the security or integrity of the infrastructure. A foreign adversary is a nation listed in 15 C.F.R. §791\.4\.Residency Requirement:

Employees must permanently reside and work in the State of Texas.