Research Assistant 1-Dermatology Clinical Trials

Vanderbilt University Medical Center•Nashville, TN

About The Position

The Research Assistant 1 supports specified research projects under direct supervision, collecting, assessing, and communicating data and results, and assisting with general laboratory operations and inventory. The role is with the Vanderbilt Dermatology Translational Research Clinic (VDTRC), supporting patient-oriented clinical studies and data management for skin imaging and artificial intelligence projects connected to multicenter trials in dermatology, oncology, and infectious disease. The work takes place in an interdisciplinary research environment involving collaborators from clinical, scientific, engineering, and statistical fields. The assistant helps manage clinical studies across their lifecycle, including recruitment strategies, IRB considerations, coordination of multiple clinical sites, patient consent, and clinical data collection and entry. Under supervision, the role also assists with database design and statistical analysis. The position is described as entry-level, with significant growth potential and an opportunity for people considering a career in medical technology research leadership. A personal statement of interest is required. It must specifically explain why spending two or more years in an entry-level Research Assistant I position at VDTRC would help the applicant reach their career goals. Examples of duties include coordinating collaborator correspondence, tracking NIH grant deliverables, maintaining organized research records, supporting data analysis with biostatisticians, developing data-management and quality-assurance practices, creating REDCap databases, and contributing to photography protocols, privacy and information-security protocols, project management, supervision of research assistants, and scientific publications as appropriate.

Requirements

Submit a personal statement of interest specifically identifying how two or more years in an entry-level RA I position at VDTRC would help achieve the applicant’s career goals.
Bachelor’s degree.
Less than one year of relevant work experience is the listed experience level.
Excellent organization and record-keeping skills.
Interest in clinical impact.
Attention to detail.
At least basic computing skills.
Concise written communication skills.

Nice To Haves

Scripting experience is preferred, as indicated by the posting’s reference to basic computing skills, ideally with scripting experience.

Responsibilities

Run experiments and assays under supervision and record results.
Read and follow experimental protocols, which may include animal handling and tissue culture.
Compile results and communicate them to a supervisor.
Follow University safety protocols, including those applicable to hazardous materials when relevant.
Perform calculations involving molarity, percentage solutions, and serial dilutions.
Prepare and operate equipment used in experimental procedures.
Maintain and repair equipment according to manufacturer and University guidelines.
Ensure the laboratory is prepared for experiments; maintain inventories and sterile conditions as required; prepare reagents; and clean equipment.
Support clinical study management, including recruitment strategies and implementation, IRB considerations, coordination of multiple clinical sites, patient consent, and clinical data collection and entry.
Assist with database design and statistical analysis under supervision.
Coordinate correspondence with collaborators across centers and track progress on NIH grant deliverables.
Organize research data and documentation, including IRB documents, consent forms, and clinical data.
Analyze research data in collaboration with biostatisticians.
Refine and enforce team data-management guidelines and data quality assurance.
Develop and perform clinical and smartphone photography protocols.
Create REDCap databases and investigate medical-center resources that support research.
Develop image privacy and information-security protocols with relevant medical-center offices.
Manage projects and supervise research assistants.
Prepare scientific publications depending on written communication aptitude and academic interest.