EUReCA! Qualitative and Quantitative Student Assistant (Public Health, Social and Behavioral Sciences)
The EURēCA! Student Assistants Program provides introductory opportunities for CU Denver undergraduates to engage in research and creative activities. Students MUST complete the EURēCA! Presentation and Quizzes in Canvas (30min) to apply for all EURēCA! positions. Register Here.
For more information, view visual guide: Applying for EURēCA! on Handshake, learn more on the EURēCA! Program Website, or email undergrad.research@ucdenver.edu.
Employer/Dept: University of Colorado Denver/ Department of Health and Behavioral Sciences
Supervisor: Ronica Rooks, Ph.D.
Job Title: EURēCA! Qualitative and Quantitative Student Assistant (Public Health, Social and Behavioral Sciences)
Job Location/Address: CU Denver / This position can be flexible with some remote and some on-campus components.
Purpose: Older Black and Latino vs. White adults are more likely to have faster rates of cognitive decline and higher Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) prevalence. But, older adults who manage ADRD through meaningful activities that bring purpose to their lives may improve their quality of life. Yet, scholars have not addressed if employment can mitigate relationships between race/ethnicity and cognitively impaired/no dementia (CIND) or dementia over time among older adults. We explore if relationships exist between race/ethnicity, employment and CIND or dementia; and if employment can mitigate Black and Latino vs. White disparities in CIND or dementia over time among older adults. Aims 1-2 explore if individual and business factors in the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) and Census-enacted HRS relate to CIND or dementia using OLS and logistic regression. This research will build population-level research to develop a pilot employment intervention for older adults with CIND. Learn More.
The team will include myself, a part-time graduate research assistant, a part-time Master's level biostatistician, and a part-time undergraduate research assistant.
Position Description: The research assistant will conduct interdisciplinary research (e.g., public health, behavioral and neuroscience, social sciences, and gerontology) aimed at understanding the role of employment in potentially slowing cognitive decline and reducing racial and ethnic disparities over time among older adults aged 55+ who have cognitively impaired/no dementia (CIND) or dementia and are either Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino/a, or White adults. This work-study employee will be involved in the secondary data download, building a data dictionary, using descriptive, ordinary least squares regression analysis, and logistic regression analysis, writing research results, and creating presentations.
Duties and Responsibilities: This EURēCA! undergraduate research assistant will work on literature searches, secondary data analysis using the longitudinal Health and Retirement Study (collected by the University of Michigan), presentation creation, and journal article writing. This student will collaborate with a graduate research assistant and the principal investigator. More details about RA job duty expectations follow:
- Learn about the Colorado Multiple institutional Review Board (COMIRB) process and ethical standards for conducting research via Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) training. Complete CITI training to assist with developing an application for protocol review to submit to COMIRB.
- Use multidisciplinary databases (e.g., public health, sociology, geography, political science, gerontology, and geriatrics/medicine) to conduct literature searches on the topics of cognitive functioning, mild cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia, racial and ethnic minorities, older adults, working or employment, job distress, and job cessation/quitting. RAs will gather research/journal articles using EndNote Web and Microsoft OneDrive, while documenting their searches and key words used. RAs will be involved in various aspects of research, including interview data collection, thematic analysis, and writing.
- Download quantitative, publicly-available Health and Retirement Study data from 2000-2022 data and provide descriptive analyses on race/ethnicity, employment, and cognitive functioning using SPSS. The student will build on prior RA work, adding to a data dictionary.
- Work on writing for a journal article publication, including a literature review, methods, results, and discussion.
- Work on a conference abstract and slide presentation for our research.
Skills and Knowledge Gained: Critical thinking; confidence with the research process (scientific method) and conducting literature reviews; communication, data analyses, and writing skills
Minimum Qualifications: Strong work ethic, organizational skills, written and oral communication skills, experience conducting literature searches, and proficient with Microsoft Word, Excel, and Powerpoint or Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides are needed.
Preferred Qualifications: Research Methods and/or Statistics Courses
Position Commitment: 8
Preferred Work Times: Work two-three days a week, including one weekly Zoom meeting for the research team's updates
Length of Employment:
This position is available for Fall 2025 and Spring 2026, employment may continue at Dr. Ronica Rooks’ discretion. Please reach out to ronica.rooks@ucdenver.edu with any questions. If both mentor and mentee agree, students can apply to continue with EURēCA! for a second year.
Application Requirements:
- Resume
- Cover letter
- Unofficial Transcripts
- Complete 2025-2026 FAFSA or CASFA and attach one of the following:
- Screenshot of email from Financial Aid stating potential work-study eligibility
- Screenshot of current 25/26 Work-Study award amount in Student Portal
- Statement on other status (e.g. international student)
- Learn more about work-study here. Please note: limited hourly funding is available, email undergrad.research@ucdenver.edu with questions about your status.