Clinical Research Assistant, SOM/Pediatrics

Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine; Richmond (VA); Hybrid; USD 50,000 - 61,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Paid annual leave

Tuition benefits

Retirement plan

Cash match program

Employee discounts

Well-being resources

Career development opportunities

Job summary

Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine invites applications for a Research Assistant in the Department of Pediatrics. The role supports data collection, recruitment, and consent for bio-behavioral and brain imaging studies in a clinical research setting.

Responsibilities include coordinating visits, administering questionnaires, handling biological samples, and ensuring secure data storage. Most work is on-site with potential remote components; salary up to $55,000 with full

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in science or psychology required.
• Proficient in word processing, data entry, spreadsheets, database management, and basic statistics/programming.
• Strong interpersonal and teamwork abilities with professional conduct.

Responsibilities

• Recruit participants and coordinate scheduling for study visits.
• Obtain informed consent and assent from volunteers.
• Collect biological data and assist with neuro-imaging data collection.
• Administer psychometric questionnaires and record results.
• Maintain secure data handling and study records.
• Coordinate complex participant visits and ensure accurate compensation.
• Assist Lead Coordinator and PI with additional duties; most work on-site, some remote.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Computer skills

HIPAA knowledge

Multidisciplinary teamwork

Education

Bachelor's degree in science or psychology

Job description

Advertising Summary

Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Medicine is a premier academic medical center located in the heart of Richmond. Accounting for almost half of VCU’s sponsored research, the School of Medicine is internationally recognized for patient care and education.

Unit

School Of Medicine MBU

Department

Pediatrics

Duties & Responsibilities

VCU's Department of Pediatrics invites all interested candidates to apply for our exciting Research Assistant position! At VCU, we Make it Real through learning, research, creativity, service and discovery - the hallmarks of the VCU experience. A premier, urban, public research university nationally recognized as one of the best employers, VCU is a great place to work. It's a place of opportunity, where your success is supported, and your career can thrive.

All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave granted up front, generous tuition benefits, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more.

Position Primary Purpose And General Responsibilities

VCU's Department of Pediatrics invites all interested candidates to apply for our exciting Research Assistant position. Research Assistants perform a variety of routine, non-technical duties in assisting technical and professional personnel in a research clinical setting. This position will support the Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, as a member of the Pediatric Research Office.

Responsibilities

The Research Assistant will be expected to perform most components of data collection from human-subject volunteers required for multiple bio-behavioral and brain imaging research studies. The current position is to help us with data analysis on completed studies and subject recruitment and scheduling for active studies. The general responsibilities of this role are as follows:

Subject Recruitment

Participant/research subject recruitment, including placement of IRB-approved materials and media advertisements about research studies being conducted in the department, as well as collection and computer entry of responses and information furnished by potential research volunteers contacting the lab by phone, web or other means to identify possible participants. Scheduling of participants within protocol specific time frames.

Participant Consenting

Collection of informed consent and/or assent and permission from research volunteers, including describing the study to research participant candidates in simple language, and overseeing the signing of consent and assent forms.

Data Collection

Biological data collection, including collection and testing of urine and blood, saliva, and hair samples. Data collection from neuro-imaging studies will also be required, as well as vagal stimulation studies both from stimulating and recording devices for heart rate variability analysis.

Psychometric data collection

Psychometric data collection, including administration, collection and scoring of paper-and-pencil or computer-driven questionnaires, as well as administration and recording of computer-driven cognitive performance tasks.

Maintain Study Data

Accurate and secure transmission and storage of study data, including to centralized databases or to physically secured case report forms for industry-sponsored clinical trials.

Participant Management

Accurate calculation of subject compensation. As part of the assessment, the employee will be expected to coordinate a busy study visit for the subjects, including escorting research volunteers to and from the different tasks and testing rooms and waiting rooms of the research facility

Other duties assigned by Lead Clinical Research Coordinator or Principal Investigator. Most work is done on-site with potentially some work done remotely.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's of Science degree or equivalent in any of the science subspecialties or psychology.
• Proficient in computer skills including word processing, data entry, spreadsheet, database management, and entry level statistical/programming skills required.
• Strong interpersonal skills such as establishing rapport, maintaining participant motivation, empathic responding, ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team, and ability to use clinical judgment in (rare) emergency situations.
• Strong organizational skills, including understanding of HIPAA regulations.
• Demonstrated experience working in and fostering an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from various backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience conducting research in pediatric or adolescent populations.
• Experience recruiting, consenting, and carrying out study procedures with adult and youth participants
• Qualitative research experience, including data collection, coding, analysis
• Experience administering surveys in REDCap
• Experience in conducting mental health surveys with adults and youth
• Experience collecting biospecimens from research participants, including hair, saliva, blood, and urine
• Experience in mentoring and training student research trainees, incorporating them into research teams

Salary Range

Commensurate with Experience (up to $55,000)

Benefits

All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave, generous tuition benefits, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more.

FLSA Exemption Status

Non-Exempt

Hours per Week

40

Restricted Position

Yes

ORP Eligible

No

Flexible Work Arrangement

Hybrid

University Job Title

Clinical Research Assistant 2, 34002N

Contact Name

Jewel Jefferson

Contact Email

[e-mail]