Public Health and Environmental Research Assistant At — Cannabis and Tobacco Research Lab of San Diego

Public Health and Environmental Research Assistants (PHERA) will be integral members of a two-campus research team devoted to improving public health and reducing a tremendous source of environmental harm: discarded tobacco, e-cigarettes, and cannabis waste (TECW). Participants in a research study at CSUSM will be using a Tracker app to report the locations of TECW on campus.  

Essential Duties and Responsibilities 

1. PHERAs will identify, document, and remove the TECW from the environment and place signage with cessation resources in hotspot areas. The mitigation efforts will be reported back to participants, which is expected to motivate additional reporting, creating a positive feedback loop.  
2. PHERAs will conduct environmental scans in assigned campus areas and will also assist with efforts to recruit participants into the research study. 

Learning Outcomes 

1. Learn how to conduct environmental scans of smoke and vape free policy signage, smoking, vaping, and related litter on campus  
2. Learn how to document activities and findings from environmental scans 
3. Learn to communicate with CSUSM students about the goals and benefits of participating in a research study 
4. Learn to communicate in a small group setting with a team of researchers  

Training 

PHERAs will receive a three-hour training to  

1. Learn about tobacco, e-cigarette, and cannabis products 
2. Learn how the Tracker app available at CSUSM to report TECW works 
3. Be shown various smoke and vape free signs and locations on campus 
4. Learn how to conduct an environmental scan and how to collect, document, and properly dispose of TECW using personal protective equipment 
5. Practice communicating with CSUSM students about the goals and benefits of participating in a research study 
6. Create activities and strategies to share information about the study with prospective participants 

PHERAs will receive a reading list of articles and view educational videos about tobacco, e-cigarette, and cannabis waste (TECW) to understand the public health and environmental consequences. 

Supervision 

1. Weekly meeting with the research team 
2. Communication with project coordinator with weekly assignments and feedback after each shift