Research Assistant II, Immigrant and Refugee Health Center

Boston Medical Center•Boston, MA

23h•Onsite

About The Position

The Research Assistant II (RA2) will provide research support to multiple clinical studies undertaken by the Boston Center for Refugee Health and Human Rights (BCRHHR) and the Boston Medical Center (BMC) Immigrant and Refugee Health Center (IRHC). The RA2 will oversee the administrative aspects of a federal Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) grant and its data oversight management. This role involves interacting with study subjects, clinical research coordinators, study investigators, work study or MPH students, and other research and clinical staff. The position supports the mission of providing holistic health care coordinated with social services and legal aid for asylum seekers, refugees, survivors of torture, and their families, extending this mission to immigrant and refugee patients at BMC.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree is required.
2-5 years of experience.
Demonstrated sound independent judgment and competencies in research methodologies.
Experience with recruiting subjects, with an understanding of the ethical and technical conduct of research.
Excellent English communication (oral and written) and interpersonal skills.
Cultural sensitivity and comfort with a wide range of social, racial and ethnic populations.
Works very independently with limited supervision.
Knowledge of management programs.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications including Word, Excel, and Access and PowerPoint.
Ability to perform basic data management tasks (coding, data entry, data cleaning, retrieval).
Ability to perform basic data analysis and reporting (in words, numbers and graphics).
Able to resolve technical problems and interpret acceptability of data results.

Nice To Haves

Major in a field related to the research highly preferred.
Master’s Degree is preferred.
Bilingual or multi-lingual skills (beyond that of English) appropriate to the patient population served is a plus.
Experience with statistical analysis tools a plus.
Experience using quantitative data analysis software helpful (e.g., SPSS, SAS, Minitab).

Responsibilities

Oversee the administrative aspects of the grant and interact with study subjects, clinical research coordinators, study investigators, work study students and other research staff.
Assist with patient recruitment, scheduling study visits, administering questionnaires, creating and filing case report forms, entering and updating data, maintaining databases, running reports, and storing samples.
Maintain contact with participating sites to ensure complete and timely data collection.
Maintain patient profiles.
Assist with documenting financial and budgetary needs of the grant.
Support the research team with the preparation of data and other reports.
Oversee the work of Research Assistants, including training and orientation.
Develop and implement patient recruitment strategies and changes to study protocols.
Serve as primary contact between Principal Investigators, internal Boston Medical Center Departments, and external contacts including project sites, regulatory agencies, and project sponsors.
Prepare grant applications and contribute to writing reports to funders.
Perform literature searches.
Contribute to manuscript preparation and submission, as well as dissemination of research findings.
Assist Principal Investigator in the planning of study design and methods, teaching tools, enrollment guides, patient handbooks, case reports, summary reports, and prepares manuscripts and presentations.
Assist with training and provide guidance to research assistants, interns, students, and support staff.
Collaborate with the IRHC’s administrative/operational core team to support data and metric collection needs for operational decision-making, quality improvement (QI) initiatives, and ensure alignment with grant requirements.
Manage program records and handle communication needs of the program.
Provide assistance in the development of reports, presentations, and data analysis.
Assist in data collection and provide feedback on study’s progress.
Recruit subjects to participate in the study using approved methodologies.
Conduct the enrollment of study participants, including explaining research procedures, and obtaining informed consent of subjects and/or their families.
Schedule appointments of study participants; conduct reminder phone calls and/or send mailouts.
Review data collection forms for completion and quality; check work of junior staff performing data entry.
Provide technical guidance to junior staff.
Obtain and distribute payment vouchers for participant reimbursements/participation.
Perform administrative duties associated with the study’s Data Monitoring and Safety Board, tracking and reporting adverse events and collecting data specified by the DSMB.
Prepare and maintain Institutional Review Board (IRB) approvals and correspondence, including amendments and renewals.
Participate in staff meetings/initiatives including appropriate quality improvement and education activities.
Make independent judgments of suitability of potential participants for clinical trials.
Recommend changes to protocols and evaluate data.
Conform to hospital standards of performance and conduct.
Utilize hospital's behavioral standards as the basis for decision making.
Follow established hospital infection control and safety procedures.
Train and orient new research assistants and other staff.
May serve as team leader or supervisor in a smaller lab.
Perform other duties as needed.

Benefits

Competitive pay
Tuition reimbursement and tuition remission programs
Highly subsidized medical, dental, and vision insurance options
Access a wealth of ongoing training and development opportunities that will not only enhance your skills but also expand your knowledge base especially for individuals pursuing careers in medicine or biomedical research.
Engage in groundbreaking research projects that are driving the forefront of biomedical science.
Flexible Spending Accounts
403(b) savings matches
Paid time off
Career advancement opportunities
Resources to support employee and family well-being