Research Data Specialist

University of Rochester•City of Rochester, NY

About The Position

As a community, the University of Rochester is defined by a deep commitment to Meliora - Ever Better. Embedded in that ideal are the values we share: equity, leadership, integrity, openness, respect, and accountability. Together, we will set the highest standards for how we treat each other to ensure our community is welcoming to all and is a place where all can thrive. Under limited supervision and with considerable independence, the Clinical Research Data Spec II (CRDS II) will work closely with the Principal Investigator and Hoekelman Center team to implement and evaluate a community-based early literacy intervention (www.joli.urmc.edu). The Center’s mission is to promote evidence-based community health. We want to see if our projects improve relevant outcomes. The CRDS II is a member of a cross-functional team where teamwork, collaboration, challenges and continuous learning are the standard. The CRDS II will gather information, analyze and interpret data, and report findings. The CRDS II will perform data review/audit, and statistical analysis of the research data, and assist with formulating goals, protocols and information gathering methods. The CRDS II will assist with developing and maintaining necessary research documents, including IRB applications and memoranda of understanding with key stakeholders. The position requires knowledge of the organization’s policies, procedures, and research operations. This is a part-time position with potential for expansion to full-time later, depending on funding.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree and 1 year of relevant experience or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
Demonstrate excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both verbally and in writing in interactions with participants, extramural agencies, officials and physicians.
Must be flexible, empathetic, and able to engage effectively with diverse populations.
Demonstrate efficiency in prioritizing assignments, as well as skill in proactively and independently resolving problems in the field, and recommending/implementing continuous quality improvements.
Possess good knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook.
Must have reliable/efficient transportation to travel to schools and other local sites.
Some evenings and weekends are required.

Nice To Haves

Masters Degree preferred
Spanish Speaking is a plus.
Experience with Microsoft Access, REDCap, database development or SPSS.

Responsibilities

Oversee the primary outcome data collection for research protocols.
Collect quarterly assessments of emergent literacy skills.
Proactively facilitate and track administration of assessments.
Determine next steps for difficult-to-reach participants using independent judgment.
Ensure data integrity through validity checks and requesting clarification when needed.
Organize and clean study data prior to analysis.
Compile monthly, annual, and regulatory reports (Funder, RSRB/IRB) and provide weekly updates to PI and project team regarding progress.
Assist as needed with follow-up data collection from interviews (of teachers), surveys (of families), and other sources.
Contact preschools to obtain information as needed, visiting schools to collect deidentified assessment data.
Coordination of research staff.
Interface with experts and volunteers assisting with various aspects of the evaluation.
Meet with research team individuals at least monthly.
Support team in staff hiring and training.
Compile and disseminate information learned from research studies, and provide professional direction within the projects:
Meet with PI to formulate project goals and analysis needs.
Perform data analyses based on information needs using SPSS, Excel, or similar software and present findings to PI, study team, and stakeholders.
Develop effective visualizations of data for internal use and presentations at local and national meetings, synthesizing information into a simplified format for ease of audience understanding.
Attend weekly study meetings and discuss study related issues and provide insightful suggestions for improvement.
Conduct literature reviews as needed on related topics, and attend pertinent meetings, seminars and classes to stay up-to-date in the field.
Develop and maintain multiple research databases, run data reports, conduct analyses:
Meet with PI and project team to formulate information gathering methods and develop databases.
Independently create and maintain several databases for data collection as well as tables and coding schematic for the databases.
Troubleshoot problems and resolve database issues promptly.
Perform validation of all data that is obtained to ensure integrity.
Assist in validating data quality and identifying anomalies and errors.
Advise, assist, and train research team on using the databases appropriately and correcting data inaccuracies.
Routinely extract data and run reports from databases, and present finding to PI.
General study-related needs:
Communication with study participants, stakeholders, and other study-related personnel.
Organize participant honoraria and mail gift cards.
Create study reports for internal and external sharing.
Attend weekly project meetings and discuss study related issues and provide insightful suggestions for improvement.
Perform additional research duties as assigned by Center Director:
Provide research data support for other community health studies