Research Area Specialist-Associate
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 part of a federally funded clinical and translational research laboratory conducting studies across immune resilience, biological aging, military performance, infection, asthma, exercise physiology, heat stress, and trauma. The role carries broad, cross-study responsibility within a defined scientific or operational area. Depending on the appointment and the candidate’s expertise, the work may focus on clinical research operations, wet-laboratory biology, bioinformatics and computational biology, biospecimen science, physiological monitoring and exercise science, or other specialized research methodology relevant to the laboratory’s portfolio. Reporting to the Principal Investigator, the specialist is responsible for the operational and technical conduct of research activities in their area and across multiple studies as needed. Responsibilities may include carrying out complex protocols; performing specialized laboratory, computational, or clinical procedures; obtaining informed consent under IRB-approved procedures for clinical research roles; conducting computational analyses; managing biospecimen workflows and tracking; developing or refining protocols, pipelines, or procedural documentation; training and supervising less-senior staff and trainees; and working with investigators, biostatisticians, and clinical collaborators. The role requires independence, familiarity with the laboratory’s scientific aims and operational standards, and sound scientific or operational judgment.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in an educational or social science field 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 and maintain research information and literature; keep 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 appointment, lead or co-lead complex research protocols and perform specialized laboratory, computational, or clinical research procedures.
- For clinical research operations roles, obtain informed consent in accordance with IRB-approved procedures.
- For computational roles, design, execute, and interpret bioinformatics or computational analyses.
- Manage biospecimen workflows and specimen tracking where relevant to the appointment.
- Develop and refine protocols, computational pipelines, or procedural documentation as appropriate to the role.
- Train and supervise less-senior research staff and trainees.
- Interface with investigators, biostatisticians, and clinical collaborators.
- Perform all other duties as assigned.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
