Senior Research Assistant, Data Studies

Fenway Health•Boston, MA

3d•$26 - $27

About The Position

The Senior Research Assistant, Data Studies, reports to the Project Manager and supports the implementation and conduct of departmental studies and projects in collaboration with the Health Center and external co-investigators. The role conducts participant recruitment, informed consent, interviews, surveys, study visits, focus groups, and other protocol-defined activities while maintaining confidentiality and ethical standards. It supports study design and protocol development, data management and quality control, statistical summaries, participant follow-up, and coordination with providers, funders, project staff, laboratories, data centers, contractors, study monitors, and research partners. Senior-level duties include coordinating training for new study staff, assisting with research project development and publication, grant writing and progress reports, procurement, and regulatory oversight for the Data Team. Responsibilities include reviewing and preparing IRB materials, conducting regulatory file reviews and quarterly quality control, and coordinating regulatory communications. The role also supports laboratory operations, including collecting, processing, analyzing, storing, and shipping specimens; maintaining equipment and supplies; and entering and assessing laboratory data. In addition, the Senior Research Assistant coordinates study meetings, prepares agendas and materials, facilitates meetings, and distributes minutes. The position has no supervisory responsibility. The position requires a bachelor's degree and two years of experience working as a Research Assistant. Preferred qualifications include biological or health science experience, human-subjects experience, REDCap, laboratory techniques, familiarity with people living with or at risk for HIV, clinical research, and EMR/EHR experience. Physical requirements include extended periods at a computer and keyboard and conducting in-person physical assessments, with or without reasonable accommodations. This is a union position in a Fenway Health bargaining unit represented by 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree required.
Two years of experience working as a Research Assistant.
Experience with research concepts and techniques, including qualitative interviewing and basic quantitative analytical skills.
Ability to function autonomously within a collaborative interdisciplinary team involving research, medical, and behavioral health care.
Excellent written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills.
Strong administrative skills and attention to detail.
Strong computer skills and familiarity with data entry, data management, and analysis.
Ability to work respectfully and effectively with people from a wide range of backgrounds, perspectives, and life experiences, demonstrating professionalism, empathy, and cultural awareness without regard to protected characteristics.
Ability to meet physical requirements, with or without reasonable accommodations: sit at a computer station and keyboard for extended periods, and conduct in-person physical assessments with research participants.

Nice To Haves

Work experience in a biological or health science-related field.
One to two years of experience with human subjects.
Experience with REDCap.
Familiarity with laboratory techniques.
Familiarity working with individuals living with HIV or at risk for HIV infection.
Clinical research experience.
Experience with EMRs/EHRs.

Responsibilities

Conduct research interviews, surveys, and study visits according to study-specific protocols.
Contact potential participants, explain study requirements, obtain informed consent, and conduct behavioral interviews in a clear, open-minded, and non-judgmental manner.
Administer participant surveys according to protocol and maintain confidentiality and ethical accountability.
Assist with study design and protocol development in accordance with funder guidelines and federal HIPAA requirements; revise protocols and questionnaires/interview formats as needed.
Communicate lab results and other pertinent information to primary care providers when requested by participants and permitted by consent and department policy.
Coordinate and conduct qualitative behavioral interviews and focus groups.
Design and implement data management systems; supervise the quality of written and computerized statistical data; generate descriptive statistics, follow-up projections, and other requested analyses.
Maintain confidential records on potential participants and study participants, as well as complete and current demographic information on research clients.
Promote communication among coworkers about protocol changes and information relevant to department and study goals.
Develop standard operating procedures consistent with study protocols and laboratory safety regulations.
Coordinate site-monitor visits, support monitors during visits, and organize responses to site-visit reports.
Maintain contact with partner agencies, laboratories, data centers, contractors, funders, and project staff to support protocol- and timeline-compliant data collection.
Assist with data entry and quality checking, troubleshoot inconsistencies, and design file-management systems and structures.
Maintain relationships with medical providers and work with them to identify and recruit eligible patients for research studies.
Maintain current knowledge of HIV research through publications, conferences, seminars, forums, training, and other presentations.
Attend research meetings, trainings, forums, and relevant Fenway Community Health staff meetings; provide regular project-status updates to the Project Manager and Principal Investigator.
Coordinate and train new study staff, track their progress, and update the Project Manager on their preparedness for independent work.
Assist with purchase requisitions and orders, research project development, publication of findings, literature reviews, editing, writing, manuscript and conference-presentation preparation, journal submissions, grant writing, and study progress reports.
Maintain and assist with regulatory activities for the Data Team; review IRB documents for accuracy and completeness; assist with IRB protocol-change and annual-review submissions; conduct regular regulatory file reviews and quarterly quality control; and ensure team regulatory documents are current.
Serve as liaison for regulatory communications with the Fenway Institute Regulatory team and external research partners.
Maintain laboratory operations with research clinical staff in accordance with state guidelines and study protocols.
Collect and examine participant blood samples; process, catalogue, store, and deliver specimens; ensure timely receipt, calculation, and assessment of lab reports; and maintain laboratory and examination-room supplies.
Conduct blood analysis, including HIV-positive specimens; assess laboratory results for accuracy; and enter biomedical test and clinical-result data into a computer database.
Operate, calibrate, and maintain laboratory equipment, including a cellometer, lab safety cabinet, and liquid nitrogen tank; prepare biological samples for shipment according to IATA regulations; and provide research staff with clinical and technical information about test results.
Meet agency participatory expectations; follow agency, departmental, confidentiality, and safety policies; participate in quality assessment and improvement; attend required meetings and training; maintain professional competence and continuing-education records; and serve on committees or in professional organizations when requested.
Coordinate and facilitate study-specific meetings and assist the Project Manager with scheduling across studies; prepare agendas and supporting documents, facilitate meetings, and prepare and distribute minutes.
Perform related duties as assigned.