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Job Category:
Academic Staff
Employment Type:
Regular
Job Profile:
Research Specialist
Job Summary:
The Wisconsin Research and Education Network (WREN) is a statewide practice-based research network of primary care clinicians and academic researchers. Founded in 1987, WREN is one of the oldest and most respected practice-based research networks in the United States. WREN members conduct high-quality translational research projects in academic settings and "real-world" family practices across Wisconsin. The mission of the Wisconsin Research and Education Network (WREN) is to promote and conduct primary care research and education in partnership with primary care clinicians and the communities they serve.
This position serves as a Research Specialist for wide-ranging WREN activities. The Research Specialist is part of the infrastructure of the UW Department of Family Medicine and Community Health and an essential member of the WREN team. WREN central offices are located in Madison, WI. The incumbent will staff multiple projects across diverse content areas and work with a variety of research teams and stakeholders within the UW and beyond. The Research Specialist develops, designs, and conducts research projects and organizes daily operation of projects and specialized research areas to ensure work meets established objectives under moderate supervision.
This position may require some work to be performed in-person, onsite, at a designated campus work location. Some work may be performed remotely, at an offsite, non-campus work location.
This position has been identified as a position of trust with access to vulnerable populations. The selected candidate will be required to pass an initial caregiver check to be eligible for employment under the Wisconsin Caregiver Law and every four years.
Must provide a valid driver's license. Employees may use their own transportation or receive approval for University Car Fleet usage. Employment is conditional pending the results of a Pre-hire Driver Authorization Check. See https://businessservices.wisc.edu/managing-risk/driver-authorization-and-insurance/driver-authorization/#become-authorized-driver (click on “Become an authorized driver;” then click on “Required criteria”).
Candidates who demonstrate the following knowledge, skills, and abilities will be given first consideration
Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, and interact professionally with study participants, external collaborators, and diverse stakeholders
Ability to effectively engage clinical and community audiences in group settings
Demonstrated organizational skills, including the ability to work independently, delegate, and oversee tasks
Ability to follow research protocols or other detailed procedures consistently and accurately, with a high level of attention to detail
Key Job Responsibilities:
Participates in project management and execution by developing timelines, task lists, and identifying future project needs; serves as project leader for research and Quality Improvement (QI) studies, as appropriate
- Participates in the development, interpretation, and implementation of research methodology and materials
- Reviews, analyzes, and interprets data and/or documents results for presentations and/or reporting to internal and external audiences
- Conducts research experiments according to established research protocols with moderate impact to the project(s). Collects data and monitors test results
- Performs literature reviews and writes reports
- Provides operational guidance on day-to-day activities of unit or program staff and/or student workers
Recruits study participants and manages their study participation, including scheduling visits, obtaining informed consent, enrollment, data collection and quality monitoring, and monitoring of study intervention sessions for consistency
Department:
School of Medicine and Public Health, Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, Wisconsin Research Education Network
The Department of Family Medicine and Community Health (DFMCH) at the University of Wisconsin is a leading clinical department within the School of Medicine and Public Health. DFMCH is dedicated to advancing patient care, education, and research. Our 18 clinics provide primary care to more than 170,000 patients, yielding over 375,000 patient visits annually. Each year, we train more than 160 residents (at sponsored and academic partner sites) and 300 medical students. Learn more: https://www.fammed.wisc.edu/.
Compensation:
The starting salary for the position is $50,000 annually; but is negotiable based on experience and qualifications.
Employees in this position can expect to receive benefits such as generous vacation, holidays, and sick leave; competitive insurances and savings accounts; retirement benefits. For more information, refer to the campus benefits webpage and SMPH Faculty /Academic Staff Benefits Flyer 2026.
Required Qualifications:
Proficiency in Microsoft 365 (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Teams, Outlook, etc.), and Adobe
Demonstrated experience facilitating meetings or practice-based improvement activities
Preferred Qualifications:
A minimum of 1 year of research experience is strongly preferred (medical, social science, and/or primary care)
Experience with patient recruitment and clinical, social science, and/or qualitative research methods
Experience with, or willing to learn, using electronic health record and data management systems, such as Epic, OnCore, and REDCap
Computer literacy for literature searches, data entry, data management, data tabulation, statistical analysis and data presentation in tabular and graphic formats
Education:
Bachelor’s Degree preferred; focus in public health, health professions, medical or psychological sciences, or a related field preferred.
How to Apply:
For the best experience completing your application, we recommend using Chrome or Firefox as your web browser.
To apply for this position, select either “I am a current employee” or “I am not a current employee” under Apply Now. You will then be prompted to upload your application materials.
Important: The application has only one attachment field. Upload the following documents in that field, either as a single combined file or as multiple files in the same upload area. Failure to submit the required documents will result in no longer being considered for the position.
• Cover letter required
• Resume
Your cover letter should address how your training and experience aligns with the required and preferred qualifications listed above. Application reviewers will rely on these written materials to determine which applicants move forward in the process. References will be requested from final candidates. All applicants will be notified once the search concludes and a candidate is selected.
University sponsorship is not available for this position, including transfers of sponsorship and TN visas. The selected applicant will be responsible for ensuring their continuous eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without the need of an employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of appointment. This position is an ongoing position that will require continuous work eligibility. If you are selected for this position, you must provide proof of work authorization and eligibility to work.
The department will not be able to support a request for a J-1 waiver. If you choose to pursue a waiver and apply for our position, neither the UW nor UWMF will reimburse you for your legal or waiver fees.
Contact Information:
Paige Steinert, paige.steinert@fammed.wisc.edu, 608-890-1740
Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See RELAY_SERVICE for further information
Institutional Statement on Diversity:
Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgrounds and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, visit the Human Resources Workplace Poster website.
To request a disability or pregnancy-related accommodation for any step in the hiring process (e.g., application, interview, pre-employment testing, etc.), please contact the Divisional Disability Representative (DDR) in the division you are applying to. Please make your request as soon as possible to help the university respond most effectively to you.
Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require your references to answer questions regarding misconduct, including sexual violence and sexual harassment.
The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7).
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