McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics is shaping the future of patient care, disease prevention, and biomedical discovery by transforming data into innovative solutions powered by artificial intelligence, data science, and informatics. We are the only biomedical informatics program with advanced doctoral degrees in Texas and the largest and only free-standing informatics school in the nation.

This position is based in Liberty County/Cleveland area.

The role will support a Center for Behavioral Emergency and Addiction Research project.
We are leading an initiative to increase awareness and treatment access for Texans with substance use
disorders. The project is called Texas ICON (Integrated Community Opioid Network) and is funded by
TTOR (Texas Targeted Opioid Response, part of Health and Human Services). Because it is based out of
an academic institution (UT Health), ICON is also a longitudinal research study.
Our goals include the following:
• Facilitate community partnerships to support Texans with substance use disorder
• Promote access to medication-assisted treatment for substance use disorder
• Reduce opioid and other drug overdoses through overdose awareness and reversal training
• Increase access to peer recovery support services (recovery coaching) and other evidence-based
interventions
• Educate stakeholders and community members to remove the stigma around substance use
disorder and mental health
• Improve our understanding of the opioid crisis and substance use disorders in Texas through
mixed-methods research

Summary

The Community / Research Liaison interviews research subjects, primarily in the field. Records data for various projects.

Essential Functions

• Interviews and establishes rapport with study participants to encourage complete, accurate responses and continuing participation in the study.
• May work in the field, either going to homes, places of business, or specified study areas.
• Contacts potential study participants for recruitment and scheduling for a research study.
• Enters and codes information for research projects for entry into the database.
• Gathers data for study-related needs.
• Under supervision, they may refer study participants to the appropriate physician or healthcare practitioner according to the study policies, procedures, and protocols.
• Handles administrative details, including logging personal time and effort reports and submitting mileage reports.
• May utilize equipment as trained by the project manager or principal to obtain the required information.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Additional duties may include:

• Develop and expand local community partnerships in assigned region to improve service access to individuals with substance use and opioid use disorder.
• Organize meetings, trainings, and educational events to provide community partners with an understanding of, including but not limited to, overdose prevention, MOUD/RSS, the importance of reducing stigma, wrap-around services, overdose response and follow-up.
• Act as a key contact for partnership members when they identify individuals with a history of substance use or opioid use disorder, and help navigate those individuals to treatment, recovery, and other services.
• Provide access to education/information to family, friends, and supportive allies.
• Work closely with the project team in Houston for project deliverables and deadlines.
• Handle administrative and other duties, as assigned.

Minimum Education

• High School Diploma or equivalent required

Minimum Work Experience

• None

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Completion of Human Research Subject training.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Detailed oriented.
• May need to be bilingual.

Licenses and Certifications

• None

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.

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.