Clinical Research Coordinator/Research Assistant
MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL
GENERAL SUMMARY/OVERVIEW STATEMENT
The Medical Practice Evaluation Center (MPEC) is seeking Research Assistants (Clinical Research Coordinators) to work with an internationally recognized multidisciplinary team from Massachusetts General Hospital dedicated to improving clinical outcomes, increasing value in health policy, and informing global public health through innovative research, collaboration, and education. MPEC is a dynamic, results-oriented, and diverse group that values the unique contribution of its Research Assistants.
Research Assistants will receive training on clinical and public health research topics, simulation model design and application, research software and tools, interdisciplinary collaboration, and best practices in academic research. MPEC highly values communication of its work to external audiences and is committed to cultivating the presentation skills of Research Assistants – skills that are essential in virtually every field. Research Assistants work within a larger research community at Mass General Brigham and Harvard Medical School that provides exposure to a breadth of interdisciplinary collaboration, access to lectures, and training on a wide array of topics, including programming languages, writing, presentation skills, phlebotomy, ethics, and clinical topics. MPEC values individual mentorship and career development for Research Assistants evident in opportunities for coauthorship on peer-reviewed manuscripts, clinical shadowing, presentations at conferences, and references for future jobs and schooling. Research Assistants in our group frequently go on to pursue careers in medicine, public health, epidemiology, global health, and health policy research, as well as careers in economics, public policy, biostatistics, and non-governmental organizations.
Research Assistants will either work with investigators in the Simulation Modeling and Cost-effectiveness Analysis pillar or the Epidemiology and Implementation pillar within MPEC.
The Simulation Modeling and Cost-effectiveness Analysis pillar conducts clinical and cost-effectiveness analyses on key aspects of HIV disease management across the life cycle, from infancy to adolescence to aging with HIV. This pillar also develops models to address other chronic and infectious disease treatment and prevention. The pillar works on rapid turn-around high priority key policy issues in the US and beyond. Past and current projects include:
- Projecting the harms and benefits of dolutegravir treatment for HIV in women of childbearing age, which was cited in the WHO policy decision to not withhold this important new treatment option from this population
- Working closely with the Zimbabwean Ministry of Health and Child Care to develop a location-optimization model that could help inform the placement of limited point-of-care testing devices for early infant diagnosis of HIV
- Examining the clinical and economic impact, as well as optimal drug price, of current and novel HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) medications for populations at high risk of acquiring HIV in the United States, India, and South Africa among other populations
- Assessing the cost-effectiveness of new tuberculosis diagnostic tests in South Africa and Malawi, which was cited in the WHO’s guidelines on tuberculosis testing in people with HIV
- Estimating the impact of tobacco smoking and smoking cessation on the health of people with HIV in the US, which was cited in the US Department of Health and Human Services guidelines on primary care of people with HIV
- Working alongside national clinical trials networks in the US and other settings to project the long term outcomes of interventions to improve health
- Projecting the burden of dementia, cardiovascular disease, and depression among people aging with HIV
Please note that no prior experience in mathematical modeling, programming, economics, or cost-effectiveness analysis is expected of applicants to the Simulation Modeling and Cost-effectiveness Analysis Research Assistant position.
The Epidemiology and Implementation pillar develops, implements, and evaluates interventions to improve engagement in medical care in the United States and international settings. Past and current projects include:
- Establishing an international registry of dermatologic manifestations of COVID-19, which led to the discovery of “COVID toes” as a sequela
- An evaluation of pre-therapy HIV adherence counseling, which eliminated delays between eligibility and initiation of HIV therapy in sub-Saharan Africa
- Established one of the first routine HIV screening programs in South Africa, which has since been incorporated into routine practice
- Evaluating the clinical impact of a policy change to allow virologically stable HIV patients to pick up medications at community venues in South Africa
- Quantitative measurement of the effects of HIV on aging and heart disease in rural Uganda
- Investigating the role of maternal HIV infection in the development of early childhood infections
- Studying low-barrier service delivery mechanisms for sexually-transmitted infection screening and prevention out of the MGH Sexual Health Clinic and in partnership with community organizations in the Boston area
- A pilot project to offer HIV prevention and family planning to young women in community venues (such as hair salons) in South Africa
APPLICATION PROCESS
Interested candidates should apply via www.massgeneral.org/careers website using Job ID 3261614.
**When applying, please upload:
- Cover letter specific to the role in our Center
- Resume
- Transcript (unofficial transcript is OK)
Applications that do not include all three components will NOT be considered.**
We welcome applications as early as October 2, 2023. The start date for this position will be in June/July 2024, with the option for an earlier start date. If interested in an earlier start date, please specifically note this in your cover letter.
For more information regarding our group, please visit https://mpec.massgeneral.org.
PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
MPEC Research Assistants participate in all phases of research projects, from conception and design of studies through analysis and writing manuscripts for submission to academic journals.
Responsibilities may include, for example:
Modeling pillar-specific tasks
- Participate in simulation model development and design
- Design and execute simulation model runs to address critical policy research questions
- Extract model projections and summarize findings in tables
- Design and develop visually compelling figures that display model output
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary domestic and international scientists to assess datasets, design research questions, and present model findings to policymakers, collaborators, and community partners
Implementation pillar-specific tasks
- Design and manage study databases, generate data queries, and participate in data cleaning efforts
- Analyze quantitative data as part of cohort studies, clinical trials, and implementation studies
- Code qualitative data from in-depth interviews and focus groups
- Partner with international collaborators and study staff on oversight of studies, standard operating procedure development and review, and data quality assurance
Cross-pillar tasks
- Assist in writing abstracts and designing posters for submission to research conferences
- Present study results to project teams and external stakeholders
- Assist with the preparation of Data Use Agreements, Institutional Review Board (IRB) applications, and related documents regarding the protection of human subjects
- Perform systematic literature reviews and synthesize relevant data
- Help prepare grant applications
- Provide administrative support as needed, including organizing meetings and preparing slides for lectures and seminars
WORKING CONDITIONS
Duties will be carried out in a hybrid format, with time split between a typical office environment and a remote environment. We value work-life balance, and hours will typically be a standard 40 hours per week from Monday to Friday. Hours outside the 9-5 workday may be requested on occasion, with overtime compensation as appropriate, particularly around grant submission deadlines.
In keeping with our overarching mission to reduce health disparities and other disparities in vulnerable populations, the Medical Practice Evaluation Center is specifically committed to recruiting a diverse team of individuals across race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and ability backgrounds to ensure that our science is informed by and responsive to the communities we aim to serve. The Center strives to become a leader in developing and maintaining increased representation, recognition, and support of each of these dimensions of diversity among all of its members.
The above is intended to describe the general contents and requirements of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive statement of all duties, responsibilities, or skills of personnel so classified.
QUALIFICATIONS
The position requires a bachelor’s degree, with an academic record demonstrating experience and skills in analytical thinking and/or quantitative methods. Candidates should also demonstrate skill in organization, time management, and both verbal and written communication.
Additional qualifications include:
- Advanced attention to detail
- Problem-solving skills
- Experience with data organization and analysis
- Proficiency with standard Microsoft Office software (particularly Excel), as well as interest in learning new software applications
- Ability to work as part of a diverse team, including remote collaboration
- Intellectual independence and initiative
- Interest in decision science, simulation modeling and analysis, public health, health policy, economics, and/or medicine
- Excellent academic record
Additional experience that is helpful but not required:
- Previous research experience (classroom-based or professional), including investigator-initiated clinical research studies, decision science research and/or simulation tools, or qualitative research methods
- Experience in international or intercultural settings
- Familiarity with statistical programming software such as SAS, Stata, Python, or R
- Database design and management experience, particularly with REDCap or Access
SKILLS/ABILITIES/COMPETENCIES REQUIRED
Quantitative, analytical, computer, and English language (spoken and written) skills are required.