Pediatric Ophthalmic Research Technician

New England College of Optometry; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 63,000 - 77,000; Full time

Job description

Job Title: Ophthalmic Research Technician/Associate

Job Type: Full-time

An exciting opportunity for a motivated individual with experience in ophthalmic testing and/or clinical research to help us lead studies on myopia at NECO’s Children’s Vision Lab. The research technician/associate will work closely with the principal investigator and the interdisciplinary team in one or more NIH funded studies. The primary study is PICNIC, a longitudinal study in children that aims to understand the intrinsic mechanisms whereby some children develop myopia. This information will be critical for the design of effective myopia prevention and control treatments. The team involves experts in pediatric optometry, neuroscience, vision science and electrophysiology. We use a variety of clinical and laboratory research methodologies, including psychophysics, aberrometry, gaze-contingent eye-tracking and biometry.

Salary: $70,000 per year. This is a full-time position funded for a minimum of 1.5 years (funding is available for a minimum of 5 years). Schedule is somewhat flexible and requires regular in person work, some early evenings and occasional Saturdays. NECO is an independent institution renowned as a leading myopia research and clinical center.

The successful candidate will help the team perform the ophthalmic and vision science tests, analyze data, and participate in data dissemination, all in a collaborative environment. A successful candidate will be a self-starting who possesses keen attention to detail and an ability to learn complex techniques and protocols quickly. Excellent interpersonal skills are necessary.

Responsibilities

Perform or assist with ophthalmic and vision-related testing in children, including but not limited to:

• Conducting testing in pediatric participants following standardized study protocols.
• Operating ophthalmic instruments and research equipment after appropriate training.
• Performing refraction-related measurements, ocular biometry, and other vision assessments, as required by the study.
• Ensuring high-quality, repeatable measurements across study visits.
• Working effectively with children to obtain reliable data while maintaining participant comfort and cooperation.
• Preparing participants for testing and explaining procedures in an age-appropriate manner.
• Documenting testing outcomes accurately and promptly.
• Identifying and reporting testing issues, unreliable data, equipment problems, or protocol deviations to the study team.

Support Research Data Management And Processing

• Entering, checking, and organizing data. Reviewing datasets for completeness, accuracy, and consistency.
• Assisting with data formatting, and processing for analysis.
• Maintaining organized records of study visits, testing outcomes, and data files.
• Assisting with preparation of data summaries, tables, and figures as needed.
• Communicating with investigators and study staff regarding missing, questionable, or inconsistent data.
• Helping prepare materials for presentations, abstracts, reports, and manuscripts when appropriate.

Assist With Study Operations

• Scheduling or coordinating study visits as needed.
• Communicating professionally with children, parents, and study staff.
• Ensuring that participants complete testing in the appropriate order and within the expected timeframe.
• Supporting a child-friendly testing environment.
• Maintaining confidentiality of participant information.
• Following IRB-approved protocols and institutional research policies.
• Assisting with inventory, calibration, maintenance, and organization of study equipment and supplies.
• Recruitment activities, including organizing local school screenings and community outreach.

Requirements

• Minimum of bachelor’s degree in a relevant, vision or ophthalmic field.
• Previous experience in ophthalmic, optometric, or vision related testing.
• Experience working with pediatric patients or research participants.
• Ability to interact effectively and patiently with children.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to follow standardized protocols.
• Ability to collect accurate and reliable measurements, recognizing when data may be unreliable.
• Comfort learning new ophthalmic instruments and research procedures.
• Strong computer data entry skills, including Microsoft Excel. Experience with REDCap is a plus. Experience with statistical analyses is a plus.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple study-related tasks.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.
• Previous experience in clinical research is recommended but not required.
• Previous experience in patient care or recruitment of research participants are a plus.
• Ability to work independently while also collaborating with investigators and research staff.
• Commitment to maintaining participant confidentiality and following research compliance requirements.
• Bilingual proficiency (English/Spanish or English/Mandarin) is preferred but not required.

Equal Opportunity: NECO is an Equal Opportunity employer and encourages all qualified candidates to apply.

Benefits

• 3 plan options for BCBS medical coverage (employer subsidized at 75% or greater)
• Mental Health and Wellness benefits
• BCBS Dental
• Discounted vision services
• 13 paid holidays and generous paid time off for sick, vacation, and personal days
• Employer-paid life insurance, and short-term and long-term disability
• Voluntary Insurance: life, critical illness, hospital indemnity, accident
• Voluntary Benefits: employee discounts and pet insurance
• 9% employer contribution to a 403(b) retirement plan after 1 year of service with no vesting schedule or match requirement
• Qualified Public Service Loan Forgiveness Employer