Sleep Tech Researcher

Vanderbilt University Medical Center•Nashville, TN

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Research Coordinator/Sleep Technology Coordinator independently supports a broad portfolio of head and neck research studies, including clinical trials and investigator-initiated studies. This role is responsible for coordinating study activities, ensuring regulatory compliance, maintaining quality assurance standards, and managing study documentation and data collection. The coordinator also serves as the primary sleep study technologist for research protocols, conducting overnight sleep studies up to 4 times per month and ensuring accurate collection of sleep-related data. The position requires strong organizational skills, attention to detail, independent decision-making, and the ability to collaborate with multidisciplinary teams while managing multiple research projects simultaneously.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent experience)
1 year of clinical research experience preferred
RPSGT (Registered Polysomnographic Technologist) certification - a MUST
Experience with Epic or other EHR
Relevant Work Experience
High School Diploma or GED

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of medical terminology and clinical documentation
Experience with data management and study documentation
Strong organizational and independent work skills
Effective communication and cross-functional collaboration

Responsibilities

Coordinate and manage clinical research studies across a diverse portfolio of head and neck research, including clinical trials, investigator-initiated studies, and quality improvement initiatives.
Conduct overnight polysomnography (PSG) studies up 4 nights/per month, including setup, monitoring, data collection, and documentation.
Perform all activities necessary to maintain a fully functioning sleep research program in accordance with departmental, institutional, and regulatory requirements.
Collect, manage, and maintain accurate research data, source documentation, case report forms, and study records in compliance with protocol and regulatory standards.
Coordinate participant recruitment, screening, enrollment, scheduling, follow-up visits, and study-related procedures.
Ensure adherence to study protocols, Good Clinical Practice (GCP), IRB requirements, and sponsor expectations.
Perform quality assurance and quality control activities, including data review, protocol compliance monitoring, audit preparation, and process improvement efforts.
Prepare and maintain regulatory documentation, study files, and required reports for ongoing research activities.
Collaborate with investigators, clinical staff, sponsors, and multidisciplinary teams to support the successful execution of research studies.
Conduct patient evaluations and assess participant eligibility, needs, and study requirements.
Maintain, troubleshoot, and ensure proper operation of sleep study and research equipment; monitor inventory and supplies as needed.
Support scoring, analysis, and interpretation workflows related to sleep study data as applicable.
Exercise independent judgment and prioritize multiple projects, deadlines, and competing demands in a fast-paced research environment.
Provide education and serve as a resource for study participants and research team members regarding study procedures and protocol requirements.
Perform additional duties and special projects as assigned in support of research, sleep medicine, and programmatic objectives.
Proficiently prepares and processes new IRB research proposals, amendments, continuing review applications and adverse event reports according to institutional and departmental policies and procedures and federal regulations.
Accurately and compliantly prepares and maintains documents required to be maintained internally and available for regulatory authorities and/or the sponsor prior to, during and after the conduct of a clinical/translational trial. Participates in periodic site visits from sponsor, regulatory authorities and others to review research, source documentation and research procedures.
Identifies and procures equipment and supplies needed to fulfill project requirements (locally and across multiple sites, if required).
Participates in the determination of eligible candidates for study participation, assuring participants fulfill eligibility requirements. Strives to ensure studies are completed in a timely manner through implementing effective screening and recruitment strategies and completing required documentation. Assesses and evaluates potential participants pertinent medical and historical information to ensure only appropriate subjects are enrolled in clinical/translational trials and remain eligible for continued participation.
Records data from source documentation and/or participant interaction onto case report forms (either paper or electronic) with awareness and attention to the requirements for accuracy, completeness and timeliness. Attends to query resolution in a timely manner. Assures research information is collected and stored in a manner that is compliant with regulations/policies and good clinical practice. Participates in site visits from sponsor, regulatory authorities and others to review research, source documentation, critical documents and research procedures.
Performs packaging and ships study specimens (blood, urine, etc.) to the sponsor or laboratory in accordance with sponsor and shipping guidelines and regulations, maintaining appropriate documentation.
With direction, develops and manages study budgets, monitoring efficient invoicing and taking appropriate action to maintain clinical trial billing compliance, providing reports investigators, department administration and funding agencies.
Serves as an advocate for human subjects by establishing and maintaining communication with Investigators, research staff, Sponsors, participants and representatives of professional organizations, participant advocates, and the public responsible for, or concerned about, protections for human participants of research and through ongoing monitoring of trial processes and participants.
Participates in the ongoing informed consent process, ensuring that human subjects, their families, and other health care providers clearly understand what is expected of and from them in the course of participating in a clinical/translational trial.
Participates in research related programs, such as the Clinical/translational Research Staff Council and its activities by submitting issues or suggesting solutions, and reviewing Council information, by attending meetings open to research staff and by sharing information with other research personnel.