Research Engineering/Scientist Associate III

University of Texas at Austin • Austin, TX

1d • $51,727 • Onsite

About The Position

The Research Associate III independently designs and conducts complex research projects, analyzes and presents data, supervises junior research staff, develops research protocols, performs literature searches, prepares grant applications, and contributes to research publications. The role also identifies and screens potential research participants, obtains consent, enrolls participants, schedules appointments, and conducts study procedures.

The position coordinates multiple clinical research studies and manages participant recruitment, study visits, regulatory activities, data and specimen handling, monitoring visits, and study documentation. It ensures that research activities comply with institutional policies, sponsor requirements, Good Clinical Practice, HIPAA, FDA regulations, and other applicable requirements. The associate independently manages research projects and timelines, improves workflows and procedures, collaborates with multidisciplinary teams, and mentors and trains research personnel.

The position is in the Department of Women's Health in Austin, Texas, with 40 scheduled hours per week. It is expected to continue, and the earliest start date is listed as immediately. The salary starts at $51,727 and depends on qualifications.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Biology, Chemistry, or Biochemistry; relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.
• Five years of relevant laboratory experience; relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Nice To Haves

• Master's degree.
• At least seven years of laboratory experience, including experience with techniques specific to the research area.
• Fluency in Spanish.
• Clinical Research Associate (CRA) certification from the Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP) or similar certification.

Responsibilities

• Identify, screen, recruit, and enroll eligible research participants in accordance with approved study protocols.
• Develop, implement, and evaluate participant recruitment and retention strategies to achieve enrollment goals.
• Obtain informed consent, schedule study visits, conduct participant visits, and administer study assessments and research procedures.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for participants, communicating professionally and compassionately in person, by telephone, virtually, and electronically.
• Coordinate human-subjects regulatory activities, including IRB submissions, amendments, continuing reviews, protocol deviations, biosafety documentation, and institutional compliance activities.
• Manage investigational medications and/or research devices in accordance with study protocols and regulatory requirements.
• Collect, process, store, and ship biological specimens, including blood collection when applicable, and perform protocol-specific laboratory procedures.
• Collect, verify, enter, maintain, and organize research data to ensure accuracy, completeness, and integrity.
• Prepare for and facilitate sponsor, regulatory, and internal monitoring visits; respond to findings and data queries; and implement corrective actions as needed.
• Identify, document, and report adverse events, protocol deviations, and other reportable events according to study, sponsor, and regulatory requirements.
• Coordinate day-to-day operations of multiple clinical research studies and ensure compliance with applicable institutional, sponsor, GCP, HIPAA, FDA, and other regulations.
• Assist with study design; develop research methods and data collection instruments; conduct surveys and chart abstraction; maintain participant tracking systems; and support regulatory compliance.
• Complete study start-up activities, obtain study materials, coordinate site initiation, and ensure required regulatory documentation is complete and approved before study activation.
• Maintain complete, accurate, audit-ready regulatory files, study documentation, source documents, and research records throughout the study lifecycle.
• Prepare, review, and coordinate research-related agreements and submissions, including NDAs, MTAs, IRB submissions, contracts, project summaries, and progress reports, on behalf of principal investigators.
• Coordinate study close-out activities, including regulatory closeout, record retention, and sponsor requirements.
• Independently develop, organize, prioritize, and manage multiple research projects, timelines, and deadlines to ensure successful study execution.
• Identify operational risks and project issues and implement appropriate solutions.
• Develop, implement, and evaluate study workflows, SOPs, and operational processes to improve research quality, efficiency, regulatory compliance, and participant experience.
• Coordinate research meetings, prepare agendas, document minutes, and monitor completion of action items.
• Collaborate with University departments, affiliated clinical sites, sponsors, external partners, principal investigators, research staff, clinical providers, regulatory agencies, and institutional partners.
• Establish productive working relationships with multidisciplinary teams across the University and affiliated clinical sites.
• Clearly communicate complex research procedures, timelines, study requirements, and regulatory expectations to participants, investigators, sponsors, and research personnel.
• Exercise independent judgment to resolve operational issues and escalate complex problems appropriately.
• Develop instructional materials, SOPs, and workflow documentation to support study implementation and regulatory compliance.
• Mentor, train, and guide research coordinators, research assistants, students, trainees, investigators, and other research personnel on study procedures, regulatory requirements, institutional policies, and research practices.
• Participate in departmental meetings, research initiatives, and institutional committees.
• Serve as a liaison with the Office of Research and other institutional offices and promote adherence to current policies, procedures, and research resources.
• Independently design and conduct complex research projects, analyze and present data, supervise junior research staff, develop protocols, conduct literature searches, prepare grant applications, and contribute to research publications.

Benefits

• Retirement plan eligibility through the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position meeting the stated hours-per-week and duration conditions.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior