Research Assistant - Department of Oncology

Wayne State University•Detroit, MI

About The Position

Wayne State University is searching for an experienced Research Assistant - Department of Oncology at its Detroit campus location. Wayne State is a premier, public, urban research university located in the heart of Detroit, Michigan where students from all backgrounds are offered a rich, high-quality education. Our deep-rooted commitment to excellence, collaboration, integrity, diversity and inclusion creates exceptional educational opportunities which prepare students for success in a global society. Essential functions (job duties): Perform laboratory based scientific techniques or clinical/population science (human subjects) research. Design and perform experiments, recruit participants for studies by developing surveys and interviewing candidates. Participate in implementing research objectives, ensuring compliance with all legal, regulatory and protocol guidelines. Assist staff with experiments/research protocols as required. Communicate with principal investigator and Postdoctoral scholars/fellows on the status of research. Collect and log laboratory results, clinical outcomes and/or survey data. Evaluate and perform data analysis using graphs, charts or tables to highlight the key points of the research results collected in accordance with the research protocols as stipulated. Proofread and edit research data and documents to ensure accuracy. Assist principal investigator with writing methods and summarizing/organizing data to be used in preparing and presenting presentations for professional, scientific and academic conferences and submittal to academic and scholarly peer-reviewed journals. Maintain the laboratory work areas including routine maintenance on laboratory equipment as required. Order and organize required research supplies and records. Maintain cleanliness and organization of work station. Perform other duties as assigned. Unique duties: Provide scientific and technical support for clinical and population science research focused on improving care and resources for cancer survivors and their loved ones. - Participate in pilot testing and preparation for a larger trial of FOCUS On Us, an adapted psychoeducational intervention designed to support LGBTQ+ cancer survivors and their caregivers. - Participant recruitment and tracking, managing regulatory and IRB processes, coordinating study activities, assisting with data analysis, and contributing to the communication of research findings. - focuses on adapting educational resources from the MI-COST website (mi-cost.org) into an interactive online digital curriculum. - Participant recruitment and tracking as well as assisting with drafting and revising curriculum content in collaboration with the research team, helping develop and manage website content, coordinating and facilitating qualitative focus groups to test adapted materials, and supporting study communications such as newsletters. - Coordinate community advisory board meetings, maintain communication with community partners and participants, and support the broader research mission of the team. - Additional responsibilities may include literature reviews, protocol development, data management, manuscript preparation, and assistance with the development of new research initiatives. This position offers opportunities to gain experience in community-engaged research, mixed-methods data collection and analysis, and scientific writing. - managing day-to-day operations of human subjects research studies. Responsibilities include recruiting and consenting participants; scheduling interviews and focus groups; tracking participation; maintaining study correspondence; coordinating community advisory board meetings; managing participant and community advisory board compensation; developing and maintaining study instruments and research materials; assisting with regulatory documentation and IRB submissions; and communicating regularly with the principal investigator, lab manager, and other team members regarding study progress and issues that arise.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree
Bachelor’s degree in a related field of study, preferred. Requires advanced knowledge predominantly intellectual in character in a field of science or learning acquired by a prolonged course of specialized intellectual instruction.
Experience: Entry level (less that a year of job-related experience)
Experience performing basic research techniques or interacting with human subjects, preferred.
Ability to work independently.
Ability to analyze, summarize and interpret research findings and data in reports and spreadsheets and communicate results.
Knowledge of scientific integrity principles.
Excellent time management and organization skills.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and demonstrated ability to work with others in a collaborative environment.
Microsoft office software skills.

Nice To Haves

Applicable experience in the conduct of public health, behavioral, or medical research is preferred.
Relevant experience may include some combination of Participant recruitment and data collection in human subjects research; Managing or supporting IRB and regulatory compliance; Literature reviews, including searching, organizing, and synthesizing research evidence; Qualitative and/or quantitative data analysis; Developing and testing research hypotheses; Communicating research findings through peer-reviewed manuscripts, writing for a general audience, and/or conference or other presentations.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and email.
Experience using internet search engines and citation/reference management software (e.g., Zotero).
Experience with survey and data collection programs (e.g., REDCap, Qualtrics) preferred.
Experience with OnCore preferred.
Experience with qualitative analysis software (e.g., Dedoose) and/or statistical software (e.g., Stata, R, SAS) desirable.
Familiarity with website management (e.g. WordPress) and email newsletter platforms (e.g. MailChimp) desirable.

Responsibilities

Perform laboratory based scientific techniques or clinical/population science (human subjects) research.
Design and perform experiments, recruit participants for studies by developing surveys and interviewing candidates.
Participate in implementing research objectives, ensuring compliance with all legal, regulatory and protocol guidelines.
Assist staff with experiments/research protocols as required.
Communicate with principal investigator and Postdoctoral scholars/fellows on the status of research.
Collect and log laboratory results, clinical outcomes and/or survey data.
Evaluate and perform data analysis using graphs, charts or tables to highlight the key points of the research results collected in accordance with the research protocols as stipulated.
Proofread and edit research data and documents to ensure accuracy.
Assist principal investigator with writing methods and summarizing/organizing data to be used in preparing and presenting presentations for professional, scientific and academic conferences and submittal to academic and scholarly peer-reviewed journals.
Maintain the laboratory work areas including routine maintenance on laboratory equipment as required.
Order and organize required research supplies and records.
Maintain cleanliness and organization of work station.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Provide scientific and technical support for clinical and population science research focused on improving care and resources for cancer survivors and their loved ones.
Participate in pilot testing and preparation for a larger trial of FOCUS On Us, an adapted psychoeducational intervention designed to support LGBTQ+ cancer survivors and their caregivers.
Participant recruitment and tracking, managing regulatory and IRB processes, coordinating study activities, assisting with data analysis, and contributing to the communication of research findings.
focuses on adapting educational resources from the MI-COST website (mi-cost.org) into an interactive online digital curriculum.
Participant recruitment and tracking as well as assisting with drafting and revising curriculum content in collaboration with the research team, helping develop and manage website content, coordinating and facilitating qualitative focus groups to test adapted materials, and supporting study communications such as newsletters.
Coordinate community advisory board meetings, maintain communication with community partners and participants, and support the broader research mission of the team.
Additional responsibilities may include literature reviews, protocol development, data management, manuscript preparation, and assistance with the development of new research initiatives.
managing day-to-day operations of human subjects research studies.
Responsibilities include recruiting and consenting participants; scheduling interviews and focus groups; tracking participation; maintaining study correspondence; coordinating community advisory board meetings; managing participant and community advisory board compensation; developing and maintaining study instruments and research materials; assisting with regulatory documentation and IRB submissions; and communicating regularly with the principal investigator, lab manager, and other team members regarding study progress and issues that arise.