Clin/Tran Research Coord 1 - 100% On Site

Vanderbilt University Medical Center•Nashville, TN

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Behavioral and Cognitive Neurology division is a multidisciplinary team comprised of professionals dedicated to improving the lives of those with neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders and their families. This division focuses on diagnosis, treatment and scientific study of neurodevelopment and neurodegeneration, with a focus on cognitive, movement, and behavioral disorders. Our team integrates clinical neurology, neuropsychology, neuroscience, neuroimaging, and translational research to advance clinical care and treatment options for our patients and their families. The Behavioral and Cognitive Neurology division is seeking a highly motivated Clinical Translational Research Coordinator I (CTRC 1) to join Dr. Kelly Watson’s research team. Dr. Watson is a pediatric clinical psychologist whose research is devoted to identifying social and cognitive processes that place adolescents and families faced with chronic adversity at increased risk for maladjustment. Dr. Watson is looking to hire a research coordinator for projects that involve children, adolescents, adults, and families affected by Tourette syndrome and Huntington’s disease. The position manages day-to-day project activities, including recruitment and scheduling participants, conducting study visits, organizing participant reimbursement, entering data and managing databases, behaviorally coding observations of parent-child conversations, and assisting in maintaining regulatory documentation. The division is committed to training the next generation of clinicians, scientists, and research professionals. The division provides extensive education and professional development opportunities for research coordinators, neurology residents and fellows, graduate students, postdoctoral trainees, and students exploring careers in neuroscience, medicine, neuropsychology, nursing, and more. Team members participate in a variety of experiences including weekly meetings, seminars, protocol trainings, journal clubs, observe clinical evaluations, non-invasive procedures, neuroimaging, and cognitive assessments, and have opportunities to obtain hands-on experience and training in good clinical practice (GCP), human subjects protections, regulatory processes, biospecimen handling, cognitive testing, clinical data collection, and others. Additionally, there are mentorship opportunities from faculty, research managers, and other staff. This is an excellent opportunity for candidates interested in psychology, neurology, neuroscience, or medicine who want hands-on clinical research experience in a collaborative academic environment. Skills in organization, problem solving, effective communication, and motivation are highly desired. Strong interpersonal skills in empathy and comfort working with children, adolescents, and adults with cognitive and movement symptoms is required. Previous experience working with children and adolescent populations is preferred. This is a fully in-person job with potential occasional evening or weekend hours.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree
Highly motivated self-starter with strong verbal and written communication skills
Professional maturity with the ability to manage highly sensitive, confidential information
Ability to work well with others and take initiative when needed
Ability to excel in a fast-paced and deadline driven environment
Ability to independently identify impediments, problem-solve, and develop effective solutions
Possess exemplary organizational skills and attention to detail with the ability to track the workflow of projects and prioritize responsibilities

Nice To Haves

Previous experience working with children and adolescent populations is preferred.
Strong interpersonal skills in empathy and comfort working with children, adolescents, and adults with cognitive and movement symptoms is required.

Responsibilities

Understanding and capability to accurately and compliantly perform the procedures required of each study protocol, working collaboratively with study participants, other staff and departments, in safely and accurately performing study procedures such as assessing participant eligibility and recruitment, arranging necessary schedules and procedures, administering neuropsychological assessments, conducting interviews regarding mental health and quality of life, tracking medication usage, etc.
Basic knowledge and understanding of the implementation, coordination, management and reporting of clinical/translational research operations.
Ability to identify and troubleshoot problems.
Records data from participant interaction onto case report forms (either paper or electronic) with awareness and attention to the requirements for accuracy, completeness and timeliness. Attends to query resolution in a timely manner.
Assures research information is collected and stored in a manner that is compliant with regulations/policies and good clinical practice.
Participates in the ongoing informed consent process, ensuring that human participants, their families, and other health care providers clearly understand what is expected of and from them in the course of participating in research study.
Engages in open communication with participants by providing them with contact information and being available to answer, address or refer their calls.
Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of policies, procedures, and regulations governing human subject's research and incorporates them in the conduct of research.
Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of the Federal regulations and guidelines governing the protection of human subjects, e.g., FDA, OHRP, GCP/ICH, and HIPAA regulations.
Proficiently prepares and processes new IRB research proposals, amendments, continuing review applications and adverse event reports according to institutional and departmental policies and procedures and federal regulations.
Accurately and compliantly prepares and maintains documents required to be maintained internally and available for regulatory authorities and/or the sponsor prior to, during and after the conduct of a clinical/translational trial. Participates in periodic site visits from sponsor, regulatory authorities and others to review research, source documentation, and research procedures.
Participates in the determination of eligible candidates for study participation, assuring participants fulfill eligibility requirements. Strives to ensure studies are completed in a timely manner through implementing effective screening and recruitment strategies and completing required documentation.
Knowledgeable of the safety reporting requirements of the study protocol, IRB, FDA and other regulatory bodies. In a timely fashion, monitors, detects and reports adverse events meeting requirements of regulatory bodies. Coordinates activities and gathers information from a variety of sources to achieve stated outcomes.
Serves as an advocate for human participants by establishing and maintaining communication with Investigators, research staff, Sponsors, participants and representatives of professional organizations, participant advocates, and the public responsible for, or concerned about, protections for human participants of research and through ongoing monitoring of trial processes and participants.
Performs or instructs others in performing procedures for research as they are described in the protocol, deviating from the protocol only when a subject's safety is at risk and reporting as required by policy, regulations or protocol, to the sponsor and regulatory agencies.
Actively identifies and participates in training, education, and development activities to improve own knowledge and performance to sustain and enhance professional development. Pursues avenues to ensure awareness of the latest information available to coordinators conducting clinical/translational research (i.e., literature searchers, research seminars, in-services, etc.).
Demonstrates initiative for continuous learning, both self-directed and as evidenced by attendance of educational and professional development opportunities. Actively seeks new learning opportunities, seeing learning as part of work.
Participates in research related programs, such as the Clinical/translational Research Staff Council and its activities by submitting issues or suggesting solutions, and reviewing Council information, by attending meetings open to research staff and by sharing information with other research personnel.
Actively seeks new learning opportunities, seeing learning as a part of work. Develops and achieves personal and professional goals.
Attends and actively participates in weekly meetings. Attends meetings well prepared to give a summary of the operations of their ongoing studies.