Research Associate, Senior (Office of Research Integrity) (0079509T)

University of Hawaii•Honolulu, HI

9d•Onsite

About The Position

This position provides leadership, planning, direction, organization, and program evaluation for the Office of Research Integrity (ORC). The role involves preparing program strategic plans and budget justifications. The individual will serve as the institution’s Research Integrity Officer (RIO), supporting the University’s Ethics Committee, and managing allegations of research misconduct through inquiry and investigation processes in strict accordance with federal, state, and institutional regulations. Recommendations for findings and administrative actions will be made to the institutional Deciding Official (DO). The role also focuses on enhancing program activities, maintaining informative websites, developing promotional materials, and implementing creative strategies to promote ORC research integrity programs across the UH system. Ensuring compliance with all federal, state, and local regulations on research compliance, particularly the responsible conduct of research, is crucial. This includes evaluating and refining University research compliance policies and procedures, creating or revising university procedures and guidelines, and exercising expert judgment in developing policies related to the detection, investigation, and prevention of research misconduct. The position requires staying updated on regulatory changes and developing and utilizing educational resources for teaching the responsible conduct of research (RCR), promoting research integrity, preventing misconduct, and improving the handling of allegations. The role involves conducting interactive, technology-assisted educational programs, supporting the Ethics committee, and serving on other research compliance committees as needed. Collaboration with the University Office of General Counsel, the Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation, federal, state, and local agencies, and other academic institutions is expected to ensure the integrity of the research enterprise. The position will assist ORC programs and researchers in developing grant proposal components related to RCR education, and consult with ORC leadership to promote synergy and streamline processes. Responsibilities include meeting federal, state, and local reporting requirements, preparing administrative records, developing analytics, preparing annual program reports, and working with IT staff for database maintenance. The role involves representing the University at national, state, and local meetings and fostering relationships with federal research regulatory offices. Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Possession of a baccalaureate degree in biomedical sciences, ethics, philosophy or related field and 6 year(s) of progressively responsible professional experience with responsibilities for research, research administration, law; or any equivalent combination of education and/or professional work experience which provides the required education, knowledge, skills and abilities as indicated.
Advanced and comprehensive knowledge and understanding of a wide range of developing and emerging concepts, principles and methodologies of the assigned areas associated with research, research administration, law; or a combination of these experiences.
Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of a wide range of principles, theories, federal and state laws and systems associated with research, research administration, law; or a combination of these experiences.
Demonstrated ability to understand problems from a broad interactive perspective and use reasoning to discern underlying principles and issues when problem solving, and apply creative thinking to resolve problems in new and unprecedented approaches.
Demonstrated written and verbal competence in presenting ideas, concepts and models clearly using persuasion and negotiation to build consensus and cooperation.
Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external organizations, groups, team leaders and members, and individuals.
Demonstrated ability to operate a personal computer and apply word processing software.
For supervisory work, demonstrated ability to lead subordinates, manage work priorities and projects, and manage employee relations.
A current understanding of the regulatory environment governing the conduct of academic research.
Experience in a research environment such as in the conduct of research or in research administration.
Experience in convening and coordinating committees and working groups.
Ability to work with diverse constituents.
Knowledge of rules of evidence and due process.

Nice To Haves

Ph.D. in biosciences, ethics, or other related discipline, MD, or DVM.
Experience in a Research Integrity Office in a university setting.
Knowledge of federal regulations and federal granting agencies.
Knowledge, abilities, skills, or experience that would aid in ethical deliberations related to the biomedical sciences, including scientific integrity and research misconduct.
Experience in conducting legal proceedings or scientific misconduct inquiries and/or investigations.
Experience with related compliance areas such as conflicts of interest, use of animals, biosafety concerns, rights of research participants or subjects, privacy and confidentiality.
Excellent people skills to deal with the public, colleagues, subordinates, research and training faculty, government agency representatives, and superiors.
Experience with conflict management processes.

Responsibilities

Provide leadership, planning, direction, organization and program evaluation for the Office of Research Integrity.
Prepare program strategic plans and budget justifications.
Serve as the institution’s Research Integrity Officer (RIO), including supporting the University’s Ethics Committee.
Receive and assess allegations of research misconduct and manage the further inquiry and investigation into these allegations, as the specific case requires and strictly in accordance with applicable federal, state, and institutional regulations, policies, and procedures; referring as well to applicable guidance documents.
Recommend findings and administrative actions to the institutional Deciding Official (DO).
Engage with others to identify means to enhance program activities and accomplishments.
Provide timely and informative content to websites that promote research integrity and excellence.
Develop materials to promote programs to various audiences.
Identify and successfully implement creative means for promoting ORC research integrity programs across the entire UH system.
Ensure compliance with all federal, state and local regulations on research compliance especially pertaining to the responsible conduct of research.
Evaluate and refine current University research compliance policies and procedures to assure they comply with Federal and State regulations and also meet programmatic and University missions and goals.
Create or revise university procedures and guidelines that implement regulations, foster best practices, and improve operations of the program.
Exercise seasoned expert judgment in developing policies, procedures and regulations related to the detection, investigation, and prevention of research misconduct and the responsible conduct of research.
Keep abreast of changes in federal and state regulations, policies, procedures, and guidelines.
Develop and use educational resources including activities, curricula, multimedia to teach the responsible conduct of research (RCR), promote an environment of research integrity, prevent research misconduct, and improve the handling of allegations of research misconduct.
Conduct highly interactive, technology-assisted, general and custom educational programs for research investigators and staff.
Support the Ethics committee, advising that committee about all matters pertaining to federal, state, and institutional regulations, policies, and procedures.
Serves as ad hoc on other research compliance committees (e.g., IACUC, IRB) as required to assure committee actions conform to federal, state, and institutional regulations, policies, and procedures.
Serve occasionally on ad hoc and university standing committees.
Work closely with the University Office of General Counsel to resolve specific issues related to research compliance.
Work with the Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation, and federal, state and local agencies.
Collaborate with other administrative, academic and compliance leaders across UH, and from other academic institutions and outside agencies to ensure the integrity of the research enterprise.
Assist ORC programs and researchers in developing plans for researchers to include in their grant proposals that those supported by the grant will be educated in the responsible conduct of research.
Consult with other Office of Research Compliance leadership to promote synergy between programs and identify ways to streamline related processes.
Responsible for meeting all federal, state, local reporting requirements.
Prepare or direct preparation of administrative records to ensure institutional compliance; develop and update analytics to report program activities; prepare program annual report.
Work with IT staff to create and maintain databases of program and case records.
Represent University at national, state, and local meetings regarding research compliance and responsible conduct of research.
Foster a good working relationship with federal research regulatory offices.
Other duties as assigned.