Research Area Specialist-Associate

UT Health San Antonio•San Antonio, TX

11d

About The Position

Under general supervision, the Research Area Specialist is responsible for operating a specialized educational or social science research area within a recognized unit and assisting with research project tasks, including recruitment, data collection, and day-to-day project operations. The position is within a federally funded clinical and translational research laboratory whose portfolio includes immune resilience, biological aging, military performance, infection, asthma, exercise physiology, heat stress, and trauma. The laboratory’s work supports ongoing scientific investigation and published research in multispecialty journals. The role carries broad, cross-study responsibility within a defined scientific or operational area. It may be filled by candidates whose primary expertise is in areas such as clinical research operations, wet-laboratory biology, bioinformatics and computational biology, biospecimen science, physiological monitoring and exercise science, or specialized research methodology. The specific appointment is calibrated to the candidate’s expertise and training and the laboratory’s needs. Reporting to the Principal Investigator, the Research Area Specialist is responsible for the operational and technical conduct of research activities within their area of expertise and across studies as needed. Depending on the appointment, duties may include executing complex research protocols; performing specialized laboratory, computational, or clinical research procedures; obtaining informed consent under IRB-approved procedures for clinical research roles; designing, executing, and interpreting computational analyses; managing biospecimen workflows and tracking; developing protocols, pipelines, or procedural documentation; training and supervising less-senior staff and trainees; and working with investigators, biostatisticians, and clinical collaborators. The position requires independence and familiarity with the laboratory’s scientific aims and operational standards. The successful candidate will work with the Principal Investigator, co-investigators, postdoctoral fellows, research coordinators, and clinical and scientific collaborators across UT Health San Antonio and the South Texas Veterans Health Care System.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in an educational or social science is required.
Demonstrated ability to organize and coordinate work within schedule constraints and handle emergent requirements in a timely manner.
Demonstrated ability to monitor important and complex projects concurrently.
Knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Lotus Notes or other email software.
Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing, including preparing memorandums, letters, and other official correspondence.

Responsibilities

Assist in conducting research projects according to the research plan or project.
Support research projects by scheduling research subjects, obtaining and organizing data, researching records, and entering data into a research database.
Assist with literature reviews; maintain research information and literature; and stay current on relevant literature and developments.
Prepare materials for publication.
Train and guide lower-level research support personnel in techniques, including explaining and demonstrating instrument capabilities, operations, limitations, and outcomes.
Depending on the specific appointment, lead or co-lead complex research protocols and perform specialized laboratory, computational, or clinical research procedures.
Depending on the specific appointment, obtain informed consent in accordance with IRB-approved procedures; conduct bioinformatics or computational analyses; or manage biospecimen workflows and specimen tracking.
Develop or refine protocols, computational pipelines, or procedural documentation as appropriate to the role.
Train and supervise less-senior research staff and trainees, and interface with investigators, biostatisticians, and clinical collaborators.
Perform all other duties as assigned.