Health Science Research Associate

DESCRIPTION:

The Health Science and Behavioral Research Associate will support, facilitate, and coordinate daily activities while playing a critical role in the conduct of our pediatric anxiety study (SMART Study), Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) study with combat veterans, CAR T cell study with children diagnosed with Leukemia, Social Anxiety Disorder Study, Pediatric Anesthesia Neurotoxicity Study, Pre- and Postnatal Exposure to Air Pollutants Study, Obesity and Brain Development Study, and other studies on an as needed basis. The Associate will be responsible for screening, recruitment, consenting procedures, and scheduling, including administering, scoring, and entering data for all diagnostic interviews, clinical rating scales, and clinical trial procedures. The Associate will also monitor study participation, maintain relationships with study participants, perform retention procedures, record specified assessments as needed, and maintain communication with the study team. As part of project responsibilities, the Associate will assist the Principal Investigator (PI) in determining optimal usage of project resources and assist with the preparation of reports for conferences, meetings, and publications as needed.

FUNCTIONS:

Participant Management

• Screen and recruit participants by identifying appropriate participant pools, building relationships with those groups, conducting screening intakes on potential participants, and tracking participant progress and status in detail, and follow up with participants as needed.
• Obtain informed consent from study participants according to protocol and determine eligibility. 
• Maintain relationships with study participants and families to support retention efforts and ensure continued engagement throughout the study. 

Data Collection and Assessment

• Administer assessments including neurocognitive tests, semi-structured interviews, clinical rating scales, and diagnostic interviews.
• Score and enter data for all assessments into databases such as REDCap, ensuring data is entered regularly and accurately. 
• Record specified assessments as needed and monitor study participation. 

Study Coordination and Compliance

• Stay current with study policies and procedures and ensure IRB approvals and documentation remain up to date. 
• Ensure compliance with research protocols, review and audit study forms for completion and accuracy with source documents. 
• Prepare regulatory submissions and ensure Institutional Review Board renewals are completed on time. 
• Maintain study materials including protocols, assessment kits, and study supplies. 

Communication and Collaboration

• Serve as primary contact with research participants, funders, and regulatory agencies. 
• Develop local processes to facilitate smooth participant flow through study stages.
• Maintain communication with the study team and coordinate with research laboratory staff. 

QUALIFICATIONS:

Minimum educational requirements include a Bachelor's degree in a social, behavioral, or biological science, or other major with immediate applicability to scientific research. Work experience coordinating clinical research with human participants is highly desirable. This position also requires effective writing, editing, and oral presentation skills, along with strong interpersonal and communication skills and a strong interest in human research.

REQUIREMENTS:

Language fluency

• Spanish fluency is REQUIRED (Native /Advanced speakers are a plus) 

- “Native/Functionally Native”: I converse easily and accurately in all types of situations. 

Native speakers, including highly educated, may think that I am a native speaker, too.

- “Advanced”: I speak very accurately, and I understand other speakers very accurately. 

Native speakers have no problem understanding me, but they perceive that I am not a native speaker.

- Fluency, Proficiency, and your ability to Read, Write &Translate English to Spanish will be assessed.

Technical Skills

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, especially Word, Excel, and Outlook.
• Database management skills, including experience with REDCap or similar data entry systems, is beneficial.
• Knowledge of research protocols and ability to stay current with study policies and procedures.
• Understanding of IRB processes and regulatory compliance requirements.

Clinical and Assessment Skills

• Experience administering neurocognitive assessments, semi-structured interviews, and clinical rating scales is beneficial, however you will be trained.
• Ability to learn/conduct screening intakes and determine participant eligibility.
• Comfort working with trauma-exposed adult populations and understanding of trauma-informed care principles is beneficial.
• Comfort working with youth cancer populations and understanding interdisciplinary research procedures, including collaboration with clinical teams and managing study logistics is valuable.
• Comfort working with youth with mental health concerns and their parents.

Interpersonal and Communication Skills

• Excellent people skills, particularly when working with difficult patient populations and multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong written and oral for report preparation, participant interaction, and team collaboration.
• Ability to build and maintain rapport with study participants and families to support retention efforts.

Organizational Skills

• Superb organizational abilities and capacity to coordinate/manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Strong attention to detail for data entry, documentation, and regulatory compliance
• Ability to coordinate participant appointments and interviews while working collaboratively with research staff.

Personal Qualities

• Strong interest in human research and commitment to ethical research practices.
• Flexibility and adaptability to handle unexpected challenges in clinical research.
• Cultural sensitivity and ability to work with diverse populations affected.

Training and Certifications

Completion of required research training, such as study protocol, and CITI Program modules such as Information Privacy & Security (IPS), Basic Human Research – Biomedical (option) and Good Clinical Practice (GCP)

Annual Salary: $57,949 - $61,500