Research Assistant

About CEDAR

The CEDAR Center (Community Engagement for Decolonizing & Advancing Research) is an Indigenous Research & Evaluation Center within the Native American Community Clinic (NACC) in Minneapolis. CEDAR is committed to conducting research that upholds the rights of Indigenous Peoples, centers Indigenous knowledge systems and values, and produces innovative and meaningful solutions to health and wellbeing challenges facing our communities.

CEDAR operates from a foundation of relational accountability — to the communities we serve, to the data we steward, and to the methodologies we use. All research at CEDAR is guided by OCAP® principles (Ownership, Control, Access, and Possession), CARE principles for Indigenous data governance, and a commitment to healing-centered, community-engaged practice. We conduct research that is fully aligned with the promotion of wellbeing across generations, families, and communities.

Position Overview

The Research Assistant (RA) is a full-time, benefits-eligible position that provides essential support across CEDAR's research portfolio. This role is qualitative-heavy and mixed methods in scope and is well-suited for someone with a strong foundation in community-based participatory research, genuine commitment to Indigenous data sovereignty, and experience supporting qualitative data collection and analysis.

The Research Assistant will contribute directly to active research projects — including community health, youth wellbeing, and systems-change initiatives — and will work collaboratively with the Research Manager, Research Director, and community partners. This role is an excellent opportunity for someone early in their research career who is passionate about decolonizing research practice and working within an Indigenous-led clinic environment.

Primary Responsibilities

Qualitative Data Collection & Analysis (50%)

• Support community-engaged data collection including focus groups, interviews, surveys, and participant observation across project sites

• Assist with development of data collection instruments (interview guides, focus group protocols, survey tools) grounded in Indigenous research methodologies

• Care for and manage qualitative data in Dedoose, including uploading and organizing de-identified transcripts, supporting codebook development and refinement, and monitoring inter-rater reliability processes

• Participate in collaborative coding and thematic analysis, contributing to iterative, team-based interpretation of qualitative findings

• Support the preparation of memos, analytic notes, and preliminary findings summaries

Quantitative & Mixed Methods Support (15%)

• Assist with quantitative data entry, cleaning, and basic descriptive analysis

• Support mixed methods data integration, including preparing data for triangulation and helping coordinate across data streams

• Manage and maintain project tracking spreadsheets, participant databases (de-identified), and data logs in compliance with IRB protocols and CEDAR data governance policies

Community & Participant Engagement (20%)

• Support informed consenting procedures in culturally responsive and accessible ways

• Assist with community outreach & engagement (phone banking, program & project recruitment, community event attendance, etc.)

• Maintain respectful, trust-based relationships with community partners, research participants, and clinical staff in alignment with CEDAR's relational accountability values

• Assist with participant recruitment, scheduling, and coordination across project sites within the Twin Cities metro area (some local travel may be required)

Research Administration & Dissemination (15%)

• Support preparation and submission of IRB protocols, amendments, and continuing review materials

• Assist with literature reviews, background research, and annotated bibliography development

• Contribute to drafting and editing of research products for diverse audiences, including community reports, conference abstracts, presentations, and academic manuscripts

• Attend and participate in weekly project team meetings and CEDAR all-staff meetings

• Support grant-related data collection and reporting activities as needed

Qualifications

Required

• Master’s degree in social work, public health, sociology, Indigenous studies, or a related field

• Demonstrated experience with qualitative research methods, including interviewing, focus group facilitation, and/or qualitative data analysis

• Familiarity with community-based participatory research (CBPR) principles and practices

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate across community, clinical, and academic contexts

• Demonstrated commitment to Indigenous data sovereignty and culturally responsive, healing-centered research practice

• Ability to manage multiple projects, meet deadlines, and work both independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and comfort learning new platforms and tools

Preferred

• Experience with qualitative data analysis software (Dedoose, NVivo, Atlas.ti, or similar)

• Experience with survey platforms (REDCap, Qualtrics, or similar)

• Experience with basic quantitative data management and/or analysis software (Stata, SPSS, SAS)

• Lived experience as a member of a Tribal, urban Indian, or Indigenous community, or significant prior experience working in an Indigenous-serving organization

• Knowledge of OCAP® principles, CARE principles, or other Indigenous data governance frameworks

• Experience supporting IRB submissions, research compliance, or data management procedures

• Familiarity with healing-centered engagement frameworks and trauma-informed practice

• Experience with community advisory boards, coalition work, or participatory action research

Who We're Looking For

CEDAR is a small, collaborative team at the start of big, relationship-centered work. We are looking for someone who brings both methodological skill and genuine relational capacity — someone who understands that how we do research matters as much as what we find and can demonstrate flexibility while we build our center together.

The ideal candidate approaches research as a form of service to community, takes seriously their responsibility as a steward of community-generated knowledge, and is eager to grow in both technical and relational dimensions of their practice. Experience or connection to Indigenous communities is deeply valued, as is self-reflection and curiosity. We welcome candidates from a wide range of backgrounds who are committed to ongoing learning and to doing this work with humility, integrity, and care.