Clinical Research Assistant

Department

BSD OBG - Lindau Lab - Research Support

About the Department

The Lindau Laboratory at The University of Chicago is an interdisciplinary, team-based laboratory performing human-level observational, interventional, and health services research motivated by a fundamental concern for the principle of justice in health and health care. The lab, funded predominantly by agencies of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for more than 15 years, employs about 20 full and part-time researchers and staff across disciplines including epidemiology, gerontology, anthropology, neurobiology, cancer biology, public health, and data science. The lab routinely collaborates across disciplines, departments, and with investigators at other institutions including experts in the fields of computer science, geriatrics, oncology, public health, social services administration, psychology, neuroscience, materials science, engineering and other medical and social science fields. The work of the lab focuses in two main areas: 1) preservation and treatment of female sexual function in the context of aging, cancer and other common diseases and 2) social determinants of health, with a particular concern for women and older adults living in socioeconomically marginalized communities. Our research and programmatic activities include Bionic Breast, WomanLab, Feed1st and CommunityRx. The Lab has spun out two companies: Now Pow, LLC (acquired by Unite USA, Inc. in 2021) and MAPSCorps, 501c3 (joined Northwestern University School of Education and Social Policy in 2023), both originally headquartered in Hyde Park, Chicago, IL.

Job Summary

The job provides technical support activities related to scientific research projects including planning, monitoring, and execution of investigator-initiated research and educational efforts to ensure timely progress toward scientific and educational milestones and deliverables. Ensures compliance of research activities with institutional, state, and federal regulatory policies, procedures, directives and mandates. Contributes to dissemination activities including presentations, reports, manuscripts, and other knowledge dissemination products on research findings and educational efforts.

This at-will position is wholly or partially funded by contractual grant funding which is renewed under provisions set by the grantor of the contract. Employment will be contingent upon the continued receipt of these grant funds and satisfactory job performance.

Responsibilities

• Supports all scientific elements of planning, monitoring, and execution of investigator-initiated research and educational efforts to ensure timely progress toward scientific and educational milestones and deliverables.

• Assists in the design, development and implementation of quantitative and qualitative research studies, scientific and educational presentations and publications, and community-oriented presentations and other knowledge dissemination products.

• Supports and contributes substantially to developing, writing and submitting research grant applications.

• Conducts rigorous literature search and synthesis to support all aspects of research.

• Supports and contributes to developing, writing and managing IRB protocols and collaborates with senior researchers to iterate protocols to comply with new IRB and HIPAA regulations or other guidance.

• Participates in recruitment, enrollment, and retention of research subjects, which includes obtaining informed consent and the scheduling of all related meetings. Participates in primary data collection and data entry, including building surveys and administering face-to-face, phone-based and/or other surveys.

• Ability to use various modes of communication to interact professionally with study participants per study protocols, with supervision from senior researchers.

• Conducts basic statistical analyses, including duplicate analyses as part of quality assurance protocols, with supervision from senior researchers.

• Supports all aspects of community engaged research processes, including development and support of research advisory boards.

• Trains and supports research trainees; interacts regularly and as needed with research trainees in the lab to support their scholarly activities.

• Supports development of presentations, manuscripts, and other knowledge dissemination materials for the purposes of presentation at scientific meetings, educational convenings and publication in peer-reviewed literature.

• Contributes original written content and performs editorial functions for WomanLab and other knowledge dissemination activities.

• Participates in study-related documentation, such as protocol worksheets, procedural manuals, adverse event reports, institutional review board documents, or progress reports.

• Shares in or leads responsibility for all administrative, operations, regulatory, compliance and logistics functions related to the Lab’s research, teaching, service and clinical missions and to foster a supportive, high functioning Lab work environment.

• Performs all tasks in basic clinical studies.

• Assists with and performs various administrative and operational tasks as assigned under direct supervision.

• Supports quality assurance reviews conducted by study sponsors, federal agencies, or specially designated review groups.

• Acquires and applies knowledge of clinical studies to collect analyzable clinical research data and/or samples.

• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

Minimum requirements include vocational training, apprenticeships or the equivalent experience in related field (not typically required to have a four-year degree).

Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through < 2 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in a field relevant to the research being conducted.

Experience:

• 1-2 years of experience in a field relevant to the research being conducted.

• Experience with REDCap a plus.

• Experience and demonstrated interest in medicine, women’s health, aging, epidemiology, health-related social sciences, populations health, health information technology, health services research, and/or community health and interest to work across these disciplines.

• Experience conducting literature review and synthesis a plus.

• Experience with statistical data analysis tools such as STATA, SPSS or similar, GIS and some programming knowledge is a plus.

• Experience with social media a plus (e.g. content creation and management).

Preferred Competencies

• Excellent oral and written communication skills with preference for bilingual communication skills.

• Knowledgeable about and capable of maintaining the highest standards of scientific integrity in all aspects of work.

• Track record of successful team and collaborative work.

• Demonstrated ability to prioritize and complete work on established timelines.

• Ability to produce high quality work/deliverables with a high degree of independence.

• Direct communicator.

• High energy and compatible with high volume, fast-paced work environment.

• Demonstrated critical thinking/problem solving skills.

• Demonstrated organizational skills.

• Experience and demonstrated interest in medicine, women’s health, aging, epidemiology, health-related social sciences, populations health, health information technology and/or community health and interest to work across these disciplines.

• Proven expert level proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, scientific search engines, reference/citation management systems.

• Experience with statistical data analysis tools such as STATA, SPSS or similar, GIS and some programming knowledge a plus.

• Demonstrated leadership, interpersonal and relationship building skills.

• Ability to work with sensitive subject matter and maintain strict confidentiality.

Working Conditions

• Office, lab and clinic environments.

• Occasional weekend/evening hours required.

Application Documents

• Resume (required)

• Cover letter (required)

Job Family

Research

Role Impact

Individual Contributor

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

Drug Test Required

Yes

Health Screen Required

Yes

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No

Pay Rate Type

Hourly

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FLSA Status

Non-Exempt

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Pay Range

$19.23 - $24.04

The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Benefits Eligible

Yes

The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

 

Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

 

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history.  A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment.  Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

 

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