Research Coordinator I

UMass Chan Medical School; Shrewsbury (MA); On-site; USD 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

UMass Chan Medical School is seeking a Research Coordinator I to support various research protocols at the Lifeline for Families Center. The ideal candidate will participate in data collection, assist with project activities, and maintain communication with collaborators.

Qualified applicants should possess a bachelor's degree in the sciences or health care and have at least one year of related experience. Proficiency in tools like Microsoft Office and strong communication skills are essential.

Qualifications

• 1 year of related experience required.
• Experience in using computer-based tools.
• Ability to travel to off-site locations.

Responsibilities

• Participate in qualitative and quantitative data collection.
• Assist with development and dissemination of materials for meetings.
• Monitor selection and randomization of study participants.
• Conduct literature searches and write summaries.

Skills

Oral and written communication skills

Organization skills

Analytical skills

Interpersonal skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in the sciences or health care

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

REDCap databases

Job description

Under the direction of the Principal Investigator or designee, the Research Coordinator I is responsible for carrying out multiple complex research protocols.

At the Lifeline for Families Center, we develop and scale practical approaches to integrating mental healthcare into perinatal, infant, and child healthcare. We develop, implement, and test scalable models of care, trainings, and tools that support families, regardless of what professional or setting they present to. Lifeline for Families is a mission‑based, women‑led organization which supports parents (all child caregivers) and their children in their relationship with one another in traditionally adult‑or‑child‑centric settings. We promote mental health for parents and/or children through social connections, trust, and nurturing. Lifeline for Families has two programs: Lifeline for Moms, which drives innovative solutions to addressing multi‑level barriers (patient, clinician, practice, population, and policy levels) to perinatal mental health care, and Lifeline for Kids, which addresses the impact of trauma on children and families while simultaneously promoting protective factors, operating under the principle of “you don’t have to be a therapist to be therapeutic.” These programs are synergistic with each other; together, we work to create a holistic landscape of trauma‑informed family care with an equity lens.

The Research Coordinator I will work primarily on a project funded by the Patient‑Centered Outcomes (PCORI). This project, Pathways for Perinatal Mental Health Equity (Pathways), is a clinical trial that is being conducted at Lifeline for Families. The Research Coordinator may also work on an innovative research program focused on improving perinatal mental health beginning in the preconception period by developing and evaluating a novel Community Health Worker‑facilitated digital intervention that integrates preventative mental health support into primary care settings before pregnancy. By combining scalable digital health technology with community‑informed expertise, this work seeks to improve engagement, accessibility, and early intervention for women at risk of perinatal mental health conditions.

For These Projects, The Research Coordinator Will

• Participate in qualitative and quantitative data collection and storage.
• Assist the study team with the creation and dissemination of materials for project team meetings and activities.
• Work closely with investigators to coordinate project activities and adhere to project work plans.
• Coordinate communication with all collaborators on the project, including participants, research staff, and project personnel, and support these relationships via active communication.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with investigators in the design, development, and documentation of data forms, questionnaires, and other survey materials.
• Responsible for aspects of the development of research recommendations and the design of research projects.
• Participate in the grant, manuscript, and Institutional Review Board process.
• Develop overall research plan for conducting surveys in the community.
• Conduct in‑person or telephonic field research.
• Monitor selection and randomization process of study participants.
• Coordinate data collection of study participants, complete case report forms, and develop and maintain spreadsheets.
• Collect and maintain questionnaires and other data forms from study participants.
• Perform literature searches and write detailed written summaries of the findings.
• Collaborate with other project leaders on data presentation, interpretation and writing of scientific reports.
• Develop and maintain computerized data files for all data to be collected.
• May assist with budget/operational aspect of grant and contract proposals.
• Prepare summary reports and ongoing project evaluations for investigators.
• May help recruit, select, supervise and direct the activities of data collection employees and Research Technicians.
• Conduct quality control check on field data collection system.
• Collaborate with other research sites to ensure consistency between research sites and accuracy of documentation.
• Perform other duties as required.

Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in the sciences, health care, or equivalent experience.
• 1 year of related experience.
• Experience in using computer‑based tools (Word, Excel, Access, Outlook, PowerPoint, etc.).
• Oral and written communication skills.
• Excellent organization, analytical, and interpersonal skills required.
• Ability to travel to off‑site locations.

Additional Responsibilities

• Collect and disseminate questions from the data collection teams for discussion to ensure consistent data collection practices.
• Create and maintain standard operating procedure (SOP) documents for quantitative and qualitative data collection.
• Assist with running analytics, compiling data, and drafting reports.
• Assist with drafting content, formatting and releasing e‑newsletters.
• Request and collect data required for reports to funders.
• Attend local and/or national conference.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience with REDCap databases.
• An interest in healthcare research.
• Previous experience with qualitative research.
• An interest in digital health interventions.

The University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School welcomes all qualified applicants and complies with all state and federal anti‑discrimination laws.