Healthy Lifestyles Center Research Assistant (Hourly) - SOM/Pediatrics

Advertising Summary: Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Medicine is a premier academic medical center located in the heart of Richmond. Accounting for almost half of VCU’s sponsored research, the School of Medicine is internationally recognized for patient care and education.

Unit: School Of Medicine MBU

Department: Pediatrics

Department Summary:

Duties & Responsibilities:

This purpose of this position is to provide support for research and other community-engaged activities conducted within the multidisciplinary pediatric obesity treatment and research center in the Department of Pediatrics at the Healthy Lifestyle Center at Children’s Hospital of Richmond at Virginia Commonwealth University (CHoR).

Qualified candidates will serve as a community-engaged research and program assistant for Center-related programmatic efforts and grant-funded research protocols examining pediatric obesity prevention and treatment conducted in the Healthy Lifestyles Center at Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU. They will be responsible for assisting in recruitment and retention for community-engaged research; providing background on research and literature related to pediatric obesity and health, data collection; and data analysis. This position will also include assisting in translating community needs into programmatic efforts and grant deliverables. In these roles, the research assistant will collaborate with other research staff in the center. This position will report to the Research Manage and Center Co-Directors and will work closely with other research assistants within the Center. This position is contingent on grant-funding.

Research Project Assistance

• Maintain active Collaborative IRB Training Initiative (CITI) certification or other requirements for the ethical conduct of research and adheres to these standards re: participant confidentiality and safety.
• Understand and adhere to all human subject protection and IRB regulations required for clinical research.  Understand duty to report obligations related to research conduct, and the appropriate university channels for reporting concerns.
• Communicate closely with the PI and Senior Research Coordinator
• Attend regular research meetings
• Support the PI and other senior study staff in following study participants through all study activities to ensure that the study is conducted in compliance with all requirements
• Assist the PI with the development and preparation of research needs (grants, presentations, literature reviews)
• Administer assessments, implement retention protocols, and other tasks as needed (could facilitate groups based on qualifications)
• Assist with the coordination and/or preparation and collect all necessary study documentation
• Follow all university and School of Medicine procedures for activation and management of clinical research.

Data Collection & Management

• Evaluates, uses and refines systems for data collection and collaborates with research team members to ensure data accuracy and integrity.
• Participates in community-based data collection activities
• Maintain integrity of data and maintain research study records according to IRB and sponsor requirements.
• Maintain study files according to GCP guidelines and in audit ready condition.
• For assigned studies, ensure subject data is entered in a timely manner and in accordance with sponsor and university/school –level requirements.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications 

• Strong organizational and communication skills
• Strong knowledge of pediatric obesity and fundamental research principles
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Strong leadership skills
• Demonstrated ability to work successfully with families across a broad cultural and socioeconomic spectrum
• Ability to interface effectively with external organizations, such as schools and community organizations.
• Ability to read, interpret, and apply complex regulations, policies, and requirements for each study assigned.
• Excellent organization, time management and critical thinking skills. 
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively
• Flexibility with work hours to include evenings, weekends and early mornings as needed
• Demonstrated ability to work in and foster an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from all backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU.

Preferred Qualifications

• B.A./B.S., with degree in health-related science preferred.
• Collaborative IRB Training Initiative (CITI) certification
• Experience conducting family-based research
• Experience with pediatric obesity (clinical and/or research)
• Experience using Excel, SPSS and REDCap

Salary Range: $20 per hour

FLSA Exemption Status: Non-Exempt

Hours per Week: up to 29 hours per week

Restricted Position: Yes

ORP Eligible: No

Flexible Work Arrangement: Fully Onsite

Contact Name: Jewel Jefferson

Contact Email: jewel.jefferson@vcuhealth.org