CRC Asst

University of California, Irvine•Orange, CA

11d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Clinical Research Coordinator (CRC) will coordinate and manage human clinical research studies under the general direction of the Principal Investigator(s). These studies broadly examine the effects of maternal stress and stress-related biobehavioral processes during pregnancy on maternal, fetal, infant, and child health outcomes. While all studies are human subjects/clinical research, research activities involve wet-lab work and skills with human primary stem cell culture. The CRC is responsible for the day-to-day implementation, coordination, and oversight of human subjects study activities, including participant screening, recruitment and retention, informed consent, study visits, data management, regulatory compliance, and study logistics. Additionally, the role involves laboratory management, including biospecimen collection and processing, and laboratory supply and equipment management. This position requires strong organizational and methodological skills, with the incumbent exercising judgment in planning and prioritizing study activities, identifying operational challenges, developing solutions, and ensuring compliance with study protocols and regulatory requirements. Experience in aseptic technique and cell culture is an asset. The position is primarily based out of the UCI Medical Center in Orange, CA, but may require travel between UCI affiliated medical clinics and the UCI main campus in Irvine, CA. Fluency in spoken and written Spanish is strongly preferred.

Requirements

Ability to communicate effectively with study participants (adults, infants and children) and staff.
Demonstrated organizational skills, and ability to manage competing priorities.
Ability to write clearly and succinctly.
Able to assess problems and make sound/ ethical decisions.
Knowledge of and experience with the clinical research process, including recruitment, biospecimen collection and processing, and data management.
Ability to write protocols, manage their implementation, and develop strategies for quality control.
Knowledge of computer applications; comfortable learning and working with new programs.
Bachelors or Masters degree from accredited college/university.
Must be able to provide proof of work authorization

Nice To Haves

Fluency in spoken and written Spanish is strongly desired.
Experience with primary tissue culture or molecular biology techniques.
Experience working with pregnant women, newborns, infants, and children.
Experience with handling biological specimens and laboratory processing procedures.
Experience with collection of anthropometric measures (weight, height, circumference measures, skinfold thicknesses).
Training in effective handling practices of infants who are undergoing MRI/DTI/DXA scans.
Current phlebotomy license or willingness to obtain license.
Experience working in a clinical research setting and in human subjects recruitments.

Responsibilities

Screening, recruitment, scheduling and retention of study participants
Collection of psychological, behavioral, biological and clinical data at study visits
Abstraction of data from medical records
Management of research databases
Isolation and culture of stem cells from newborn blood and tissues
Processing and storage of biospecimens (e.g., blood, saliva, urine)
Conducting infant non-invasive scans/phenotyping (e.g., skinfold, anthropometric measurements, PeaPod, magnetic resonance imaging scans (MRI))
Management and ordering of research supplies for the clinical and laboratory spaces
Coordination and attendance of weekly research team meetings
Supervision of junior staff and students
Oversight of research protocols/ procedures
Preparation of regulatory documentation for IRB
Acting as the primary liaison between collaborating departments/ institutions (ICTS, CCR, UCI Labor & Delivery unit, off-site research partners)