ECHO Research Associate 2

University of Miami; Coral Gables, Northern (FL, KY); Hybrid; USD 58,000 - 78,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Miami is seeking a Research Associate for the ECHO Program within the School of Nursing and Health Studies. The role involves performing complex experiments, data collection, and contributing to publications while advancing expertise through ongoing education and training.

Responsibilities include coordinating with the Program Director, participating in recruitment activities across study sites, and ensuring compliance with university policies in a team-driven environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Minimum 2 years of relevant experience.
• Certification requirements per department description.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; ability to learn new procedures and adapt to changing priorities.

Responsibilities

• Perform specialized and complex experiments.
• Participate in publication of significant research results.
• Advance expertise through education, training, and research.
• Write extramural proposals to gain support when appropriate.
• Collect, prepare, analyze, and evaluate specimens and tissue cultures.

Skills

Learning Agility

Teamwork

Technical Proficiency

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in relevant field

Tools

Office software

Job description

CORE JOB SUMMARY

The University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies is seeking qualified candidates for the Research Associate position within the ECHO Program.

CORE JOB FUNCTIONS

1. Performs specialized and complex experiments.
2. Participates in the publication of significant research results.
3. Advances expertise through education, training, and research.
4. Writes extramural proposals to gain support when appropriate.
5. Collects, prepares, analyzes, dissects, and evaluates specimens and tissue cultures.
6. Weighs and anesthetizes laboratory animals for experiments.
7. Operates sensitive and highly complex laboratory equipment.
8. Performs calculations to complete research test results.
9. Performs photography and dark room processing.
10. Participates in training sessions and workshops.
11. Adheres to University and unit-level policies and procedures and safeguards University assets.

This list of duties and responsibilities is not intended to be all-inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties or responsibilities as necessary.

CORE QUALIFICATIONS

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in relevant field required.
• Experience: Minimum 2 years of relevant experience required.
• Certification and Licensing: Refer to department description for applicable certification requirements.
• Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Learning Agility: Ability to learn new procedures, technologies, and protocols, and adapt to changing priorities and work demands.
• Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Teamwork: Ability to work collaboratively with others and contribute to a team environment.
• Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Technical Proficiency: Skilled in using office software, technology, and relevant computer applications.
• Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Communication: Strong and clear written and verbal communication skills for interacting with colleagues and stakeholders.

This is a core job profile description and is not reflective of all duties that may be assigned to a specific position in each individual department. The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and primary responsibilities of this core job profile. Specific duties and tasks may vary based upon departmental needs. Other duties may be assigned to the above consistent with the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for the job.

Department Specific Functions

Participates in recruitment of participants at various study sites including UHealth clinics, JHS clinics, and established community partners. Attends all weekly and monthly required Miami ECHO meetings with the Program Director and research team, and reports to the Program Director in a timely manner. Conducts participant data collection appointments via home-visits or online. Some interviews may involve the collection of biospecimen including but not limited to saliva and blood. Incumbent must have reliable transportation as recruitment involves traveling to the various study sites – School of Nursing and Health Studies, Miller School of Medicine, collaborating Miami‑Dade County organizations, and study participants’ homes. Bilingual proficiency in either English/Spanish or English/Creole required due to large volume of Spanish/Creole speaking patients.

Responsible for training of new Research Associate I roles in participant recruitment and enrollment, laboratory sample processing (if applicable) data collection and entry, survey completion tracking, use of ECHO REDCap Central and local REDCap, and onboarding to ECHO systems. Works closely with program director on launching new recruitment sites as needed. If working in the lab, works closely with laboratory manager to monitor inventory, order supplies, track daily shipment of samples, and attends all meetings with the ECHO Lab Core to stay abreast of changes to sample collection protocols.

Leads Research Associate I’s in clinic activities and participant follow‑up activities (survey tracking, scheduling visits, sending payments) and assures smooth operation of study in clinic and in ECHO study visit spaces. Maintains relationship between study team and clinic staff by updating clinic staff with new procedures, hosting quarterly clinic staff meetings, and working with the nurse managers to schedule quarterly lunch or breakfast in clinic. Independently problem solve day‑to‑day situations as they arise and communicate to program director as needed. Responsible for study administrative tasks such as reconciliation of study bank account, accounting for participant payments, assisting the program director with new protocol implementation, and assisting with team scheduling.

Department Specific Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree required.
• Certification and Licensing: Phlebotomy preferred.
• Experience: Minimum 2 years of relevant experience.
• Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes: Ability to maintain effective interpersonal relationships.
• Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes: Ability to uphold university values by treating study participants with the utmost respect.
• Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes: Ability to process and handle confidential information with discretion, reliability, and integrity.
• Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes: Ability to work successfully both independently and on a team of fellow research associates.
• Must be bilingual in either English/Spanish or English/Creole.

The University of Miami is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Applicants and employees are protected from discrimination based on certain categories protected by Federal law.

The University of Miami is recognized as one of the nation’s premier research institutions and academic health systems and is among the largest employers in South Florida. With more than 20,000 faculty and staff, the University is committed to excellence and guided by a mission to positively impact the lives of students, patients, and communities locally and globally. We are dedicated to fostering a culture where every individual feels valued and empowered to contribute meaningfully. United by shared values, the University community works together to build an environment defined by purpose, collaboration, and service.

Job Status: Full time Employee Type: Staff

The mission of the University of Miami is to transform lives through education, research, innovation, and service. A vibrant and diverse academic and healthcare community, the University of Miami and the University of Miami Health System (“UHealth”) have rapidly progressed to become one of the nation’s top research universities and academic medical centers in the nation. The University comprises 12 schools and colleges serving undergraduate and graduate students in more than 350 majors and programs. Visit welcome.miami.edu/about-um to learn more about our points of pride. The University ranks No. 55 on U.S. News & World Report’s 2022 Best Colleges list and ranked No. 49 in the 2022 Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education College Rankings. Bascom Palmer Eye Institute is ranked the #1 eye hospital in the USA and offers some of the nation's premiere eye doctors to treat every eye condition for adults. Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer, part of the Miller School of Medicine, received the prestigious National Cancer Institute designation in 2019. The University of Miami and UHealth have also ranked among the Forbes Best Employers and Best Employers for Women on several occasions, most recently in 2022. With more than 17,000 faculty and staff, the University strives for excellence, and is driven by a powerful mission to transform and impact the lives of its students, patients, members of the community, and people across the globe.

The University of Miami is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Applicants and employees are protected from discrimination based on certain categories protected by Federal law.