Research Assistant

Texas A&M University System•College Station, TX

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Research Assistant provides technical support for data science and computational toxicology/risk projects in the Chiu Lab, with a special emphasis on data related to the Dog Aging Project (DAP). The role focuses on data extraction, cleaning, analysis, and documentation. This is a wage position established to accommodate a temporary organizational need, and Texas A&M University does not guarantee any set number of hours or length of employment in this role. The Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (VMBS) is an institution that represents 100 years of growth, from a small school of veterinary medicine in 1916 to its present role as a major veterinary educational, medical, and research center. Today, it is one of the largest schools of veterinary medicine in the United States, training nearly 600 Doctor of Veterinary Medicine students each year. The VMBS supports collaboration and teamwork that turns today's discoveries into proactive solutions for animals, humans, and the environment, striving to support the goals of the faculty, staff, and students in teaching, research, and outreach programs.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Veterinary Science, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Nice To Haves

Experience working in a veterinary clinical setting.
Strong familiarity with veterinary terminology and electronic medical records (VEMRs).
Strong attention to detail, organizational skills, and ability to follow standard operating procedures.
Proficiency with data management software and spreadsheets (e.g., Microsoft Excel).
Experience with geospatial software (e.g., ArcGIS).
Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
Bilingual skills (English/Spanish).

Responsibilities

Assists in the large-scale collection, cleaning, and geocoding of residential addresses for DAP participants to support exposome research.
Assists in linking geocoded addresses to various secondary environmental datasets, such as air and water quality, weather, walkability, and socio-demographic factors.
Assists in maintaining up-to-date geocodes for all primary and secondary residences, performing regular data linkages as new information is released or participant addresses change.
Assists with the creation of reports, data summaries, and cataloging records related to environmental data.
Processes and analyzes acquired data using appropriate software tools.
Maintains accurate records of procedures and results.
Serves as a “VEMR Concierge,” providing direct support to DAP participants and veterinary clinics to facilitate the acquisition and submission of VEMRs.
Communicates clearly with participants to guide them through the VEMR submission process, troubleshooting issues as they arise.
Performs detailed, manual data extraction from VEMRs to create high-quality training and verification datasets for AI-based data extraction models.
Leverages knowledge of clinical records to ensure accuracy and consistency in extracted data.
Collaborates with DAP researchers and technical teams to refine and assess the accuracy of AI prompts and data extraction workflows.
Assists graduate students and other project staff in Chiu lab or involved in DAP research.
Attends all relevant project and team meetings to coordinate tasks and report on progress.
Supports communication with study participants as needed.
Maintains clear and organized records of all participant interactions and data management activities.