Research Coordinator III - Ophthalmology & Visual Science

UTHealth Houston; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 60,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

100% paid medical premiums

Generous time off

Longevity pay

Job summary

UTHealth Houston’s Ophthalmology Department is seeking a Research Coordinator III to join their team. You will support human subjects research, IRB submissions, budgeting, data management, and coordination across multiple projects.

The role requires strong organizational skills, 4 years of research experience, and ability to train staff in IRB processes. You will partner with collaborators from Retina Consultants of Texas, Baylor, and Methodist Hospital to advance clinical studies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in a related field is required; Master's Degree preferred.
• Minimum 4 years of relevant research experience.
• Experience with IRB processes and regulatory submissions is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Assists with human subjects research activities including participant recruitment and data collection.
• Maintains confidential data records ensuring integrity and compliance.
• Prepares budgets, reports and grant proposals; coordinates with funded projects.
• Provides regulatory support for IRB submissions and study protocols.
• Trains staff in IRB processes and submission preparation.

Skills

Excellent communication skills

Detailed oriented

Data management

Education

Bachelor's Degree in a related field

Master's Degree preferred

Job description

UTHealth Houston’s Ophthalmology Department is hiring for a Research Coordinator III to join their team of professionals. We are seeking someone who is flexible and comfortable contributing across a broad range of activities, from navigating the Institutional Review Board process to providing clinical trial support. Current research volume is limited to smaller clinical projects that primarily require IRB support.

Responsibilities may include:

Research Administration & Coordination

• Devise, compile, and manage budgets for multiple research projects.
• Maintain a comprehensive database of ongoing research initiatives across departments.
• Oversee procurement of equipment and supplies to ensure timely support for active and upcoming studies.
• Assist with credentialing of project staff, students, residents, and external collaborators.
• Coordinate and support Resident Research Day, including project identification, monitoring, and progress tracking.

Clinical Trials & Regulatory Support

• Serve as Clinical Trials Coordinator, ensuring regulatory compliance and protocol adherence.
• Facilitate Institutional Review Board (IRB) submissions and ongoing compliance for all studies.
• Guide and train research technicians and trainees in IRB processes and submission preparation.
• Oversee continuity of prospective studies despite scheduling limitations of rotating personnel.

Sponsored & Funded Projects

• Manage up to four industry-sponsored research projects annually, from initiation to payment collection.
• Support grant writing and submission processes for foundation-funded projects, enabling clinicians to meet deadlines and quality standards.
• Oversee complex documentation and IRB coordination for investigator-initiated, multi-site studies involving external institutions such as Retina Consultants of Texas, Baylor, and Methodist Hospital.

Data Management & Quality Control

• Conduct data extraction and feasibility analyses for retrospective studies.
• Clean and validate clinical data to ensure accuracy and integrity of research outputs.
• Monitor ongoing data collection for prospective studies and ensure quality standards are maintained.

What we do here changes the world. UTHealth Houston is Texas’ resource for healthcare education, innovation, scientific discovery, and excellence in patient care. That’s where you come in.

Once you join us you won't want to leave.

It’s because we reward our team for the excellent service they provide. Our total rewards package includes the benefits you’d expect from a top healthcare organization (benefits, insurance, etc.), plus:

• 100% paid medical premiums for our full-time employees
• Generous time off (holidays, preventative leave day, both vacation and sick time – all of which equates to around 37-38 days per year)
• The longer you stay, the more vacation you’ll accrue!
• Longevity Pay (Monthly payments after two years of service)
• Build your future with our awesome retirement/pension plan!

We take care of our employees!

As a world-renowned institution, our employees’ wellbeing is important to us. We offer work/life services such as ...

• Free financial and legal counseling
• Free mental health counseling services
• Gym membership discounts and access to wellness programs
• Other employee discounts including entertainment, car rentals, cell phones, etc.
• Resources for child and elder care
• Plus many more!

Position Summary:

The Research Coordinator III, under minimal supervision, assists with human subject research project conduct and management, including participant recruitment and data collection, entry, management, and analysis. Assists with research project logistics, maintaining records, preparing reports, and meeting research milestones and deadlines.

Position Key Accountabilities:

• Assists with human subjects research activities, including participant recruitment, informed consent, data collection through surveys, interviews, and observations, and ensuring that all activities are conducted according to study protocols.
• Maintains confidential records of collected data, ensures accuracy, compliance and integrity of data. Data may include human subject data and departmental programmatic data. Supports Data Management Sharing (DMS) plan.
• Finalizes annual progress reports and applications for various committees and ensures that all staff have received the proper training/attended the appropriate training courses.
• Assists in the preparation of progress and annual reports, contracts and grant proposals to various funding agencies; works closely with the Office of Sponsored Projects on the submission of grants.
• May assist with regulatory submissions (i.e. Institutional Review Board(s), FDA, etc).
• Assists investigator with quantitative and qualitative data analysis, including statistical tests and the creation of figures, tables, and graphs. Helps prepare research papers, presentations, and reports including manuscripts for publications and conferences.
• Prepares or assists in the preparation of budgets, initiates re-budgeting requests based on the needs of research staff, and authorizes expenditures for multiple projects. Attends research planning meetings to prepare budget drafts for departmental leadership approval. Reconcile and monitor invoices.
• Responsible for coordinating and responding to site monitoring visits, audits, and inspections.
• May be responsible for maintaining study materials (i.e. test kits, investigational drugs and devices).
• May provide administrative direction training and guidance to study personnel within department.
• May provide recommendations by identifying opportunities to enhance, re-terminate, or re-direct resources across various research projects to ensure timely completion of project guidelines.
• Supports complex scheduling and logistical needs to meet projects' expectations.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Certification/Skills:

• Completion of Human Research Subjects training.
• Demonstrated data management skills.
• Excellent communication skills both written and verbal.
• Detailed oriented.
• Work may involve handling biohazardous, chemical, and radiological materials, as well as operating associated equipment. Required safety training and appropriate engineering and administrative controls including the use of personal protective equipment must be followed.
• Health Services\Certified Clinical Research Professional (CCRP) by Society of Clinical Research Associates (SOCRA) preferred

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's Degree in a related field required Master's Degree preferred May substitute required education with equivalent years of experience beyond the minimum experience requirement.

Minimum Experience:

4 years of relevant experience required May substitute required experience with equivalent years of education beyond the minimum education requirement.

Physical Requirements:

Exerts up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 10 pounds frequently and/or a negligible amount constantly to move objects.

Security Sensitive:

• 51.215 and Texas Government Code
• 411.094. To the extent that a position requires the holder to research, work on, or have access to critical infrastructure as defined in Texas Business and Commerce Code
• 117.001(2), the ability to maintain the security or integrity of the infrastructure is a minimum qualification to be hired for and to continue to be employed in that position. Personnel in such positions, and similarly situated state contractors, will be routinely reviewed to determine whether things such as criminal history or continuous connections to the government or political apparatus of a foreign adversary might prevent the applicant, employee, or contractor from being able to maintain the security or integrity of the infrastructure. A foreign adversary is a nation listed in 15 C.F.R.
• 791.4. Residency Requirement
• Employees must permanently reside and work in the State of Texas.