Research Assistant - Full-Time - CBM

Shirley Ryan AbilityLab; United States; On-site; USD 28,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago seeks a Research Assistant to support literature searches, data management, and participant recruitment in clinical studies. You will obtain informed consent, schedule interviews, and help collect and organize data across hospital sites and participants and families.

The role emphasizes accuracy, collaboration, and core values as you assist with analysis, reporting, and presentation of findings, contributing to high-quality research that advances patient care.

Qualifications

• Work requires four years of college education plus 3–6 months of related work experience.
• Preferred graduate student in neurosciences, nursing, psychology, engineering, social work, public health, or related field.
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office and statistical software (Stata or SPSS) required.

Responsibilities

• Conduct literature searches and summarize findings.
• Recruit participants and obtain informed consent.
• Schedule interviews and manage data collection.
• Transcribe and code interviews and organize data.
• Assist in data analysis and prepare reports and graphics.

Skills

Communication skills

Mathematics skills

Stata/SPSS

Data entry

Literature review

Education

Four-year college degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Stata

SPSS

MATLAB

Job description

Company Overview

Shirley Ryan AbilityLab is the global leader in physical medicine and rehabilitation for adults and children with the most severe, complex conditions. By joining our team, you’ll be part of our life-changing mission and vision. You’ll contribute to an innovative, multifaceted culture that is second to none - one that embraces collaboration, excellence, discovery and compassion. You’ll play a role in something that’s never been done before as we integrate science and clinical care to help patients achieve better, faster outcomes - as we Advance Human Ability, together.

Job Description Summary

The Research Assistant will be responsible for conducting literature searches, data management, recruiting participants, obtaining consents, maintaining files, scheduling and conducting interviews of patients and family members, maintaining data collection files, assisting with data analysis and generating correspondence, reports and graphics. The Research Assistant will consistently demonstrate support of the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab statement of Vision, Mission and Core Values by striving for excellence, contributing to the team efforts and showing respect and compassion for patients and their families, fellow employees, and all others with whom there is contact at or in the interest of the institute. The Research Assistant will demonstrate Shirley Ryan AbilityLab Core Attributes: Communication, Accountability, Flexibility/Adaptability, Judgment/Problem Solving, Customer Service and Core Values (Hope, Compassion, Discovery, Collaboration, & Commitment to Excellence) while fulfilling job duties.

Responsibilities

• Subject Recruitment: Contacts hospital-site staff to identify potential participants; reviews medical records to determine appropriateness of patients for study.


• Explains study to patients and family members, requests participation and obtains informed consent.


• Schedules and confirms participants for hospital and/or home interviews.


• Data Collection: Conducts on and off site interviews using a variety of structured and non-structured questionnaires.


• Retrieves and records data from medical records and records data from interviews on appropriate forms.


• Uses clinical judgment to alert supervisor in a timely manner that participant responses may indicate need for professional intervention.


• Maintains interim contact with study participants to maintain current address and telephone information.


• Dissemination: Assists in development of data tables, graphs and charts and preparation of material for presentation.


• Data Management: Assists in the collection of new data; codes, cleans, transcribes, records, enters and stores all data collected; coordinates data collection with other research staff as appropriate.


• Generates reports detailing data collected.


• Conducts literature searches, copying and distributing articles as appropriate.


• Transcribes and codes taped interviews.


• Maintains an inventory of data collection forms to ensure ease of data retrieval.


• Assists in analysis of qualitative and quantitative data by coding verbatim interviews.


• Performs various record-keeping tasks such as filing consent forms and other data collection forms on all eligible participants to ensure ease of data retrieval and tracking of participants.


• Supports Scholarly Activities: Attends meetings; takes minutes as assigned.


• Perform all other duties that may be assigned in the best interest of the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required

Work requires communication and mathematics skills normally acquired in four years of college, plus three to six months of related work experience. Prefer graduate of or student in graduate program in neurosciences, nursing, psychology, engineering, social work, public health or related field. Knowledge of basic computer hardware in addition to software such as Microsoft Office, statistical programs such as Stata or SPSS, and/or relevant engineering or mathematical programs such as Matlab, as appropriate. Familiarity with medical, engineering or health services research terminology and basic research/statistical methodology is required, as appropriate to the position. Ability to accurately review and enter project data and to concentrate and pay close attention to detail for up to 75% of work time is required. Analytical ability is required to prepare reports, maintain data inventory, code, transcribe interviews, develop graphs, perform literature searches, negotiate systems in several hospitals and/or human service organizations, and identify concerns/responses of participants that require termination of interview or possible intervention. Strong interpersonal skills are needed to interact effectively with patients/family member dyads, physicians, other human service professionals and a variety of supervisors for various research projects. Flexibility to coordinate scheduling with other project staff is needed. Proficient typing and administrative skills to transcribe data, prepare correspondence, and maintain files. Exercises independent judgment in assigned area of responsibility. May be expected to take leadership on certain project tasks.

Working Conditions

Normal office/research laboratory environment with little or no exposure to dust or extreme temperature. May involve travel to other hospital/research sites and possibly to participants’ homes. Interviews/experiments may require flexible day, evening and/or weekend hours. The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified.

Pay and Benefits

• Pay Range: $19.52 - $33.46


• Benefits: Shirley Ryan AbilityLab offers a comprehensive benefits program that is competitive with our industry peers in our geographic locations: https://www.sralab.org/benefits


• *Benefits and benefits' eligibility can vary by position. Actual compensation will be determined by equity and qualifications of the role.

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

Shirley Ryan AbilityLab is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. All applicants will be afforded equal employment opportunity without discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, marital status, national origin or ancestry, citizenship status, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military status, order of protection status, unfavorable discharge from military service, or any other characteristics protected by law. EEO is the Law | EEO is the Law - Know Your Rights | View our Full Policy Shirley Ryan AbilityLab is an affirmative action employer as required by law.