Clinical Research Assistant-FNNDSC

Boston Children’s Hospital; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Boston Children's Hospital's Fetal-Neonatal Neuroimaging and Developmental Science Center seeks a full-time Clinical Research Assistant to support NIH-funded studies using MRI to study placenta and fetal brain. You will enroll participants, coordinate visits, and assist with scans and data handling.

You will work with BCH, MIT, MGH, BI, and BWH across sites, develop study materials, ensure IRB submissions, and participate in data analyses and manuscript preparation; flexibility for early morning

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in STEM or Psychology is required.
• At least one year of relevant research experience preferred.
• Strong organizational and communication skills; able to work with multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience with database management on REDCap and Excel preferred.

Responsibilities

• Consent and enroll patients for research by providing detailed information to patients and families, in-person and virtually.
• Schedule study visits and liaise with families during each phase of the study; assist with MRI scans and sample handling.
• Coordinate follow-up visits; address participant concerns and act as a resource.
• Assist in IRB submissions and prepare study documentation.
• Develop informed consent forms, monitoring templates, tracking tools, and training materials as required.
• Coordinate multi-site activities across BCH, MIT, MGH, BI, and BWH; organize weekly/monthly progress meetings.
• Assist in preliminary data analyses and manuscript preparation as needed.
• Ensure accurate data collection and data entry; monitor consent procedures across studies.

Skills

Organizational skills

Multidisciplinary teamwork

Communication skills

Data handling

REDCap

Excel

Education

Bachelor's degree in STEM or Psychology

Tools

REDCap

Excel

Job description

Position Summary

The Fetal-Neonatal Neuroimaging and Developmental Science Center (FNNDSC) at Boston Children's Hospital is seeking a full-time Clinical Research Assistant for projects related to development and implementation of novel in‑vivo imaging techniques of the placenta and the developing fetus using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The Clinical Research Assistant will work on NIH‑funded projects focused on placental and fetal brain imaging with a multidisciplinary team across several departments and institutions. Additionally, they may assist with non‑NIH funded research projects investigating a variety of developmental disorders of the heart and brain.

Flexible working hours are necessary to accommodate early morning clinical MRI scans (7 AM) and evening research MRI scans (5–8:30 PM).

Key Responsibilities

• Consents and enrolls patients for research studies by providing detailed information on the Research Study to patients and families, both in-person and virtually. Reviews clinical information to identify patients meeting study inclusion criteria.
  • Is responsible for understanding and adhering to all policies and procedures and responds to all inquiries.
  • Tracks and compiles enrollment information.
• Schedules study visits in coordination with research team. Serves as liaison to the families/patients in the research studies conducted on‑site, guiding and advising them throughout each phase of the study. Helps conduct MRI scans and/or biological sample handling.
• Coordinates follow‑up visits as necessary. Acts as a resource to study participants, addressing any concerns they may have.
• Troubleshoots resolution of any issues that may arise throughout the study. Coordinates and prepares documentation needed for Institutional Review Board (IRB) on submissions, for PI approval.
• Assist in developing supportive study documents such as informed consent forms, monitoring templates, study subject tracking tools, monitoring forms, study manuals, and training materials, as required for a study.
• Coordinates tasks among investigators from all institutions involved in multi‑site projects (i.e., BCH, MIT, MGH, BI, and BWH). Helps organize weekly, monthly, and quarterly progress report meetings.
• May conduct preliminary data analyses and contribute to conference abstract submissions and/or manuscript preparation.
• Coordinates activities with various departments to ensure correct testing/processing and sends clear instructions to each study.
• Responsible for data collection (e.g., clinical reports, DICOMS, and other files), data entry, and monitoring informed consent procedures ensuring consistency of application for each study.

Minimum Qualifications

Education

• A bachelor’s degree is required in STEM or Psychology.

Experience

• At least one year of relevant research experience preferred.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage several projects at once is preferred.
• Clear written and verbal communication with families, clinicians, and research staff is preferred.
• Works well with multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience with database management on REDCap and Excel preferred.