Clinical Research Assistant – Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center (ADRC) (Morris Lab)

University of Kansas Medical Center • Kansas City, MO

2d • $23 - $33 • Onsite

About The Position

The clinical research assistant will join the Morris laboratory team and assist with biospecimen processing, general laboratory testing, and quantitative biomarker analyses. The position will also assist with recruitment, evaluation, scheduling, retention, and education of participants for metabolism-related clinical studies and trials. Duties will focus on evaluating physiological and cognitive outcomes of metabolic interventions in older adult populations with and without Alzheimer’s Disease.

Requirements

• Two (2) years of experience with clinical or laboratory research.
• Relevant education may be substituted for experience on a year for year basis.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree in neuroscience, biology, chemistry, biomedical engineering, or related.
• Experience with general laboratory testing.
• Experience with quantitative biomarker analyses.
• Prior experience working directly with human participants (clinical or research setting).
• Prior experience with metabolic outcomes in a clinical research setting.
• Experience working with statistics.

Responsibilities

• Perform basic biological specimen processing/sample handling, including centrifugation protocols, pipetting, and tracking sample storage.
• Perform basic operations of analysis machines, such as a glucose analyzer, HbA1c analyzer, and lipid analyzer.
• Perform more complex fluid biomarker analyses of biospecimens (primarily but not limited to plasma and cerebrospinal fluid) using machines such as the Simoa HD-x analyzer and Lumipulse G1200.
• Perform daily maintenance on machines and oversee biospecimen storage and organization.
• Assist in maintaining CAP CLIA laboratory documentation and perform analyses using CAP CLIA Laboratory Standards.
• Pre-screen potential participants’ eligibility for currently enrolling trials by working with the recruitment division, educating participants about trial expectations and requirements, and reviewing medical history.
• Assist the study team with scheduling of study visits, including study clinical evaluation visits, cognitive testing, intervention visits, and neuroimaging scans.
• Communicate with all parties involved including the participant and caregiver (when applicable) as well as the entire study team.
• Work directly with research participants to execute study visits, including basic data collection (demographic information, health history) and assisting with heat therapy studies, human infusion trials, and physical performance testing.
• Collect and enter data into electronic databases, and analyze data for contribution to manuscript development and submission.
• Use brain imaging related programs to perform basic neuroimage archiving, processing, and analyses.
• Assist in drafting study-related manuals of procedures regarding Morris Lab processes.
• Work with a team to conduct study activities, including supporting other tasks as needed and within capability.

Benefits

• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Health expense accounts with generous employer contributions
• Employer-paid life insurance
• Long-term disability insurance
• Various additional voluntary insurance plans
• Paid time off (vacation and sick)
• Ten paid holidays
• One paid discretionary day after six months of employment
• Paid time off for bereavement
• Paid time off for jury duty
• Paid time off for military service
• Parental leave
• Retirement program with a generous employer contribution
• Additional voluntary retirement programs (457 or 403b)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level