Institute for Healthcare Improvement
Position Summary
Position Title: Research Assistant
The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (www.ihi.org) is an independent not-for-profit
organization that works with health care providers and leaders throughout the world to
achieve safe and effective health care. IHI focuses on motivating and building the will for
change, identifying and testing new models of care in partnership with both patients and
health care professionals, and ensuring the broadest possible adoption of best practices
and effective innovations. Based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, IHI mobilizes teams,
organizations, and increasingly nations, through its staff of more than 100 people and
partnerships with hundreds of faculty around the world.
IHI’s vision is to be a premier integrative force, an agent for profound change, dedicated
to improving health care for all. Our measures of success include improved safety,
effectiveness, patient-centeredness, timeliness, efficiency, and equity. This work relies
on the retrieval and use of information and scientific knowledge from health care and
other industries.
Position Summary:
As an integral member of the IHI staff, the Research Assistant works closely with IHI
staff and key customers and is responsible for a variety of data gathering and analytic
tasks in support of program development, maintenance and evaluation. At any time, the
Research Assistant may be working on five topics in different stages of development.
Topics of study may vary across many program areas of the Institute. Examples of typical
Research Assistant activities might include: researching and summarizing the literature
on mortality reduction for patients with Acute MI; compiling data on from a small
survey; and exploring non-health care industries such as education for new approaches to
solving problems. Each activity will be conducted in conjunction with an IHI senior staff
member or faculty member.
Position Responsibilities:
 Complete background research on specific topics
 Compile existing literature on specific topics
 Scan both health care and other industries for applicable innovations
 Find and sort large amount of data into useable formats
 Arrange interviews of experts when required
 Synthesize findings and produce summaries for staff
 Ensure project deliverables are met by project team and are consistent with IHI’s
quality standards
 Maintain project knowledge management system, as applicable
 Other tasks as assigned and necessary
Position Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
 Excellent literature search and review skills
 Strong written and oral communication skills
 The ability to work independently and as a team member
 A strong interest in health care and improvement
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The ability to collaborate with others
A talent for prioritizing and managing multiple projects with tight deadlines
Position Qualifications:
 Bachelor's degree required
 Experience conducting literature searches required
 Experience organizing large amounts of information required
 Experience meeting deadlines required
 Some experience with social science research preferred
 Working knowledge of Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Endnote and OneNote preferred
 A successful Research Assistant must also share the Institute’s mission and strategic
objectives.
Interested parties should send a cover letter and resume to:
Institute for Healthcare Improvement
Vice President, Human Resources
20 University Road, 7th Floor
Cambridge, MA 02138
employment@ihi.org