Research Specialist - Outreach and Dissemination

Research Specialist - Outreach and Dissemination

Who We Are

The Department of Health Behavior & Health Equity (HBHE) at the University of Michigan School of Public Health brings together faculty, students, and staff committed to an equitable, healthy future for all. We translate theory and research into interventions and innovations that promote health, prevent disease, support people managing chronic illness and disabilities, and facilitate collective action for social change. Through research, teaching, and partnerships, we work to eliminate health disparities and improve lives.

Responsibilities

• Research translation and dissemination: Translate public health research findings into clear, engaging, and accessible materials for academic, community, practitioner, policy, and public audiences.

• Cross-project coordination: Lead the PRC's cross-collaborative communications team and work with project managers to coordinate outreach and dissemination priorities across affiliated centers and projects

• Dissemination planning: Develop and implement dissemination plans with research teams and community partners, identifying appropriate audiences, formats, channels, and timelines.

• Publication tracking and promotion: Maintain a record of research publications and coordinate timely dissemination through research summaries, website updates, social media, partner networks, and other channels.

• Content development and coordination: Plan, develop, and maintain website and social media content. Coordinate content calendars, branding, promotion, and analytics to assess reach and engagement.

• Community outreach and events: Support community-based outreach and help plan and coordinate events that share research findings, engage partners, and promote the use of research.

• Research products and proposal support: Assist with developing and editing manuscripts, presentations, reports, proposals, data visualizations, and other research and dissemination products.

• Required Qualifications

• Master's degree in public health, social work, information science, communications, or a related field

• 1-2 years of experience developing and implementing outreach or dissemination plans for multiple audiences and platforms, and 4-5 years for the Intermediate level.

• Strong writing and editing skills, with demonstrated ability to translate research findings for nonacademic audiences in public health or the social sciences.

• Experience creating and coordinating website, social media, or other digital content.

• Demonstrated project coordination skills, including managing timelines, organizing information, and balancing multiple priorities.

• Ability to develop creative approaches, communicate ideas clearly, and collaborate with faculty, staff, and community partners.

• Interest in community-based prevention research, school health, mental health, housing, health equity, or related fields.

• Course Description

• The Prevention Research Collaborative (PRC), based in the Department of Health Behavior & Health Equity at the University of Michigan School of Public Health, seeks a creative and collaborative Research Specialist to lead research outreach and dissemination activities.

• The PRC brings together a broad portfolio of community-engaged public health research, including the NIH-funded PEER Research Hub, CDC Prevention Research Center, Michigan Youth Violence Prevention Center, Youth Empowerment Solutions, Housing Solutions for Health Equity, and Healthy Minds Study. Our teams work with academic and community partners to advance prevention research and translate findings into practice.

• This position will help make research findings accessible, relevant, and useful to community partners, practitioners, policymakers, researchers, and the public. Responsibilities include developing dissemination strategies and products, coordinating website and social media content, tracking and promoting publications, and supporting presentations, reports, and proposals. The specialist will also lead the PRC's cross-collaborative communications team to coordinate priorities and activities across centers and projects.

• The position reports to the PRC Managing Director and works closely with faculty, center and project managers, research staff, and community partners.

• Modes of Work

• Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.

• The work requirements allow both onsite and offsite work and an employee has an expected recurring onsite presence. On occasion, the employee may be required and must be available to work onsite more frequently if necessitated by unit leadership or their designee and/or the job requirements.

• hybrid. 1-2 days in the office. But remote may be available

• Background Screening

• The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third-party administrator to do so. Background checks are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

• Application Deadline

• Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended.

• Job Detail

• Job Opening ID

• 284576

• Working Title

• Research Specialist - Outreach and Dissemination

• Job Title

• Research Area Specialist Inter

• Work Location

• Ann Arbor Campus

• Ann Arbor, MI

• Modes of Work

• Hybrid

• Full/Part Time

• Full-Time

• Regular/Temporary

• Regular

• FLSA Status

• Exempt

• Organizational Group

• School Pub Health

• Department

• Hlth Behavior & Hlth Eq Dept

• Posting Begin/End Date

• 10/21/2026 - 11/04/2026

Salary

$58,097.00 - $71,767.00

Career Interest

Research