Research Study Assistant

Department: MED-Ctr-Dissemination & Implem
Salary/Grade: NEX/9

Job Summary:

This Research Assistant (RA) will support the Principal Investigator to implement a portfolio of NIH-funded clinical trials. The first, TECH, is a study of a new smartphone app to reduce marijuana use among court-involved, non-incarcerated adolescents; the randomized clinical trial is ongoing. Activities involve participant recruitment of adolescents, consent/assent, tracking and retention; administering clinical assessments with adolescents following protocols; coding audio recordings of app introductions; collecting, compiling, tabulating, and/or processing participant responses; and communicating with staff and study participants at the remote recruitment site. The RA is also expected to help with organization and maintenance of project documents and files, contributing to the continual submission of IRB documents, annual grant progress reports, and data safety monitoring board reports. The second study, FreSH, is a multisite randomized trial testing the implementation of a smoking cessation intervention in community dental clinics. On FreSH, the RA will be primarily responsible for conducting individual interviews with participants and dental providers, maintaining study records, coordinating with other research sites, coding the interviews, and preparing a monthly newsletter for study participants.

Performs biomedical &/or social-behavioral research by administering tests &/or questionnaires following protocols; collecting, compiling, tabulating &/or processing responses; gathering information; &/or assisting in the preparation of material for inclusion in reports. Completes all activities by strictly following Good Clinical Practices (GCP) & all relevant current local, state, & federal laws, regulations, guidance, policy & procedure developed by the NU Institutional Review Board (IRB), Food & Drug Administration (FDA) Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), & the International Conference on Harmonization (ICH).

Specific Responsibilities :

Technical

• Recruits study participants.
• Reviews & obtains informed consent.
• Schedules study visits with participants.
• Conducts interviews.
• Scores test results.
• Collects survey data.
• Reviews medical records.
• Consults with nurses & physicians to determine pretreatment & eligibility requirements of protocol from completion to registration of participants.
• Facilitates communication with key personnel & participants to maintain project study flow.

Administration

• Maintains detailed records of results which may include collecting, extracting & entering data; &/or preparing basic charts & graphs.
• Performs scientific literature searches in support of research.
• Completes portions of grant applications &/or documents associated with current local, state, & federal regulatory guidelines, requirements, laws & research protocols.

Finance

• Monitors & distribute petty cash.
• Processes invoices &/or purchase requisitions.
• Coordinates fund distribution among multiple sponsors and clinical sites.

Supervision

• May train other research staff to interview/test participants.

Miscellaneous

Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree in a major such as social or health science or related; OR appropriate combination of education and experience.
• Must complete NU's IRB CITI training before interacting with any participants & must re-certify every 3 years.

Minimum Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities.)

• Ability to set goals and work independently to manage both short- and long-term responsibilities.
• Flexibility to adapt to changing work conditions.
• Ability to receive and incorporate feedback into work products.
• Excellent organizational skills with keen attention to detail.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with ability to communicate effectively in both verbal and written form.
• Ability to compile and enter data accurately.
• Flexibility in scheduling of research assessments including sessions during early morning, evening, and weekend hours.
• Knowledge of computer applications, including word processing and data entry.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Proficiency in Spanish preferred
• Experience working with adolescents or youth who have come into contact with the juvenile legal system
• Experience working in a clinical setting or with a clinical population (i.e., volunteer experience in psychiatric hospital, experience in clinical research lab, etc.).
• Previous experience conducting structured clinical interviews and patient assessments.
• Experience and familiarity with grant funding and IRB procedures.
• Previous research experience through academic training or previous work experience.

Preferred Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities)

• Knowledge of experimental research methodology and clinical research procedures.
• Ability to use and navigate computer applications such as videoconference software (e.g., Zoom, Microsoft Teams), reference management software (e.g., Endnote, Zotero, Mendeley), data management software (e.g., Qualtrics), and project management software (e.g., Google Sheets).

Target hiring range for this position will be between $17.05 to $20.69 per hour. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data .

Benefits:
At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts and more! Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness:
Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life's challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.
We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html to learn more.

Professional Growth & Development:
Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you're interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more .

Northwestern strongly recommends COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters for people who can obtain them as a critical tool for minimizing severe illness. More information can be found on the COVID-19 and Campus Updates webpage.

The Northwestern campus sits on the traditional homelands of the people of the Council of Three Fires, the Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Odawa as well as the Menominee, Miami and Ho-Chunk nations. We acknowledge and honor the original people of the land upon which Northwestern University stands, and the Native people who remain on this land today.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Click for information on EEO is the Law.
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