Research Assistant Admin. Cancer Trials Cork @CUH

University College Cork; Ireland; On-site; EUR 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent educational institution in Ireland is seeking a Research Assistant to manage data and provide administrative support for clinical trials within the Cancer Trials Cork Unit. The role involves database maintenance, coordinating research activities, and ensuring compliance with clinical standards. Candidates should have a relevant qualification and experience in research support, alongside excellent organizational and communication skills.

Qualifications

• Secretarial or other relevant qualification (BSc desirable).
• Practical experience providing administrative support to research projects.
• Strong understanding of Good Clinical Practice and clinical trial protocols.

Responsibilities

• Manage data in the Cancer Trials Cork Unit.
• Create, update, maintain clinical study databases.
• Provide secretarial/administrative support to research projects.

Skills

Excellent communication

Organisational skills

Teamwork

Report writing

Analytical skills

Education

BSc or relevant qualification

Tools

Clinical data management systems (e.g., REDCap, Medidata Rave)

Job description

Organisation/Company University College Cork Department HR Research Research Field Medical sciences » Cancer research Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions Master Positions Country Ireland Application Deadline 28 Nov 2025 - 12:00 (Europe/Dublin) Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

The recently funded HRB UCC Cancer Trials Group will bring together cancer clinical trials units at Cork University Hospital (CUH), University Hospital Waterford (UHW) and the long-standing partner unit at the Bons Secours Cork Cancer Centre; in partnership with the HRB Clinical Research Facility in Cork (CRF-UCC) and University College Cork (UCC). UCC CTG will develop an efficient and coordinated cancer clinical trials infrastructure regionally which can “provide Irish patients access to a diverse portfolio of high-quality, safe and compliant cancer clinical trials”. UCC Cluster Sites have been in operation for close to two decades, serving a geographically diverse population of 1.2 million in the South of Ireland. Our broad portfolio encompasses phase 1-3 therapeutic trials in haematologic/solid malignancies, radiation therapy and surgery; including academic collaborative trials via Cancer Trials Ireland, and industry trials, with a developing portfolio of investigator-initiated trials (IITs).

The post holder will contribute to the data management portfolio of studies taking place in the Cancer Trials Cork Unit at the Cork University Hospital. This role requires excellent communication and interpersonal skills, computer literacy, organisation and an awareness of time management.

The Research Assistant is required to manage data in the department of Cancer Trials Cork at CUH. He/she is responsible for the creation, updating, maintenance and validation of clinical study databases, and for the provision of computerised reports of these data. He/she is a key member of the clinical project team and should be able to prioritise and work in line with project management decisions. The responsibilities of the Research Assistant are to manage clinical trials through review, computerisation, cleaning and auditing of clinical data and databases in compliance with standard operating procedures and regulatory agency guidelines. The role of Research Assistant is to ensure the data is accurate and consistent before it is passed on to the study team for analysis which will determine the outcome of the trial.

The key duties and responsibilities include:

• To provide an efficient secretarial/administrative support service to the research project(s) and Principal Investigator(s) or his/her nominee.
• Development of sustainable administrative and IT frameworks/structures.
• To arrange meetings, manage agendas and to take minutes.
• To support the research activities of the Principal Investigator or his/her nominee.
• To liaise with related departments, external agencies and project leaders within the research area to help co-ordinate their research activities.
• To facilitate dissemination of information and trial documentation as required.
• Implementation and co-ordination of actions on policy decisions in the research area.
• Implementation of a tracking mechanism to ensure all relevant queries and issues are addressed efficiently.
• To assist in the development of promotional material including website, brochure material, reports etc.
• To assist with organising events as required e.g. annual meetings, research conferences, workshops etc.
• To liaise with the Principal Investigator and colleagues on matters relating to the research project.
• To develop internal contacts and to develop a knowledge and understanding of the research project and research related work.
• To co-ordinate own day-to-day work to support the research project,
• To undertake duties assigned by the Principal Investigator or his/her nominee in support of the research area.
• Participates in the development, execution, completion and reporting of clinical trial(s) according to the regulations, on time and within budget.
• Inputting of source data into the eCRF or CRF in a timely and efficient manner.
• Query resolution in a timely manner in conjunction with the research team.
• Managing Data Locks.
• Investigator Site File filing and Investigator Site File maintenance.
• Organise, attend site initiation visits, routine monitoring visits, close-out visits and archiving.
• Part takes in pre-audit checks and attends audit meetings.
• Assist in process evaluation and improvements within the unit.
• To work under the direction of the Principal Investigator/Project Leader.
• To provide assistance in conducting research activities, including planning, organizing, conducting, and communicating research studies within the overall scope of a research project.
• To coordinate and perform a variety of independent and team activities involved in the collection, analysis, documentation and some interpretation of information/results.
• To undertake tasks which may include recording results and preparing technical reports including conclusions and recommendations. To coordinate the development of forms, questionnaires and the application of qualitative and quantitative research techniques; write procedures manuals for data collection and coding.
• To present information on research progress and outcomes to others responsible for the research project.
• To provide guidance as required to any support staff and/or research students assisting with the research project, as agreed with the Principal Investigator/Grant holder.
• Ideally to contribute to the publication of findings.
• To confer with the Principal Investigator in developing plans for research projects and to discuss the interpretation of results and the preparation of manuscripts for publication.
• To perform other related duties incidental to the work described herein.

Specific Requirements

• Secretarial or other relevant qualification (BSc desirable).
• Practical experience of providing administrative support to research projects or in a research area.
• Previous experience working in a clinical trials unit or HSE environment is desirable.
• Strong understanding of Good Clinical Practice, clinical trial protocols, CRFs, and data lifecycle from site initiation to close out is desirable.
• Proficiency with clinical data management systems (e.g., REDCap, Medidata Rave, Inform) is strongly desirable.
• Proven ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to relate to staff in a collegial manner.
• Excellent organisational, interpersonal, report writing and IT skills.
• Excellent communication, both written and spoken.
• Ability to work on own initiative.
• Strong IT and organisational skills.
• Some research experience is desirable.
• Good report writing and presentation skills
• Good analytical skills and computer skills.
• An ability to work independently to a tight schedule.
• Capability of working effectively within a team to achieve results.