Research Assistant I

Hospital for Special Surgery•New York, NY

5d•$23 - $36•Onsite

About The Position

The Clinical Imaging Research Assistant provides foundational operational support for the imaging data and protocol infrastructure that underlies clinical research activity across Hospital for Special Surgery. Reporting to the Radiology Director of Clinical Research Operations, this position focuses exclusively on the imaging-specific infrastructure components of research, which includes executing data extraction and delivery workflows, tracking and resolving open imaging protocol questions, and maintaining the organizational systems that enable the Department to fulfill its imaging research obligations at scale. This role does not serve as a member of individual study teams. Instead, it functions as an infrastructure resource that supports the imaging operations layer on which multiple studies depend. The Clinical Imaging Research Assistant is well-suited to a motivated early-career candidate seeking to develop deep familiarity with clinical imaging environments, clinical research data workflows, and the operational environment of an academic medical center.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a health sciences, natural sciences, biomedical, or related field.
Strong organizational skills with demonstrated ability to manage multiple concurrent tasks and maintain accurate records.
Effective written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to follow up persistently and professionally with clinical and technical staff.
Comfort working within structured workflows and data management systems in a regulated environment.
Proficiency with standard productivity and data organization tools (Microsoft Office suite, spreadsheet tracking, file management).

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with DICOM imaging concepts, PACS systems, or clinical imaging environments gained through coursework, research experience, or clinical exposure.
Prior experience in a clinical, laboratory, or academic research setting, including gap-year, post-baccalaureate, or research assistant roles.
Basic understanding of HIPAA requirements and research regulatory frameworks.
Experience with research data management platforms or medical imaging repositories (e.g., XNAT, REDCap, or similar).

Responsibilities

Execute DICOM image extraction requests from institutional imaging data archives in response to formally submitted research data requests.
Apply de-identification workflows in compliance with IRB protocols, HIPAA requirements, and institutional data governance standards prior to any data transfer.
Organize extracted image sets according to study-specific naming conventions and folder structures and deliver to designated research repositories or secure transfer destinations.
Maintain accurate records of all extraction and delivery transactions, including request source, data scope, de-identification method, and delivery confirmation.
Maintain a live, organized tracker of open imaging protocol questions submitted by study teams or raised during study onboarding, including sequence parameters, acquisition settings, and modality-specific requirements.
Persistently follow up with the appropriate departmental experts, including MRI technologists, radiologists, and imaging physicists, under the direction of the Director of Radiology Clinical Research Operations to drive resolution of open protocol questions within expected turnaround windows.
Document resolved protocol decisions in a format suitable for incorporation into study records and escalate unresolved or complex questions to the Director as needed.
Serve as the operational first point of contact for incoming imaging data requests and protocol support inquiries, ensuring all requests are logged, acknowledged, and triaged in a timely manner.
Maintain the departmental request tracking system, keeping status fields current and flagging requests that are approaching or exceeding expected timelines.
Route requests requiring senior judgment or cross-departmental coordination to the Director of Clinical Research Operations.
Perform structured quality checks on extracted and prepared image sets prior to delivery, confirming that expected imaging series are present, de-identification has been correctly applied, and output formats conform to study specifications.
Document QC findings and flag discrepancies for review before data handoff is completed.
Support the ongoing organization and upkeep of departmental imaging research storage infrastructure, including XNAT or equivalent systems.
Enforce consistent folder structures, file naming conventions, and access documentation standards across active and archived research data holdings.
Assist the Director in identifying and addressing gaps or inconsistencies in repository organization.
Coordinate scheduling and communication with imaging technologists and operations staff for research imaging sessions that require special setup or fall outside routine clinical scan workflows.
Serve as an operational liaison between study teams and technical imaging staff for session logistics, without assuming clinical study coordination or regulatory responsibilities.
Provide flexible day-to-day operational support to the Director of Clinical Research Operations across active imaging infrastructure needs.
Assist with maintaining departmental standard operating procedures related to imaging research data handling and protocol documentation.