Research Assistant 3 (One-Year Term

Position: Research Assistant 3 (One-Year Term)

Case Western Reserve University is committed to providing a transparent estimate of the salary range available for this position at the time of its posting. The salary range is between $46,035 and $58,234, depending on qualifications, experience, department budgets, and industry data.
Employees receive more than just a paycheck. University employees enjoy a comprehensive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare, retirement plans, tuition assistance, paid time off, and a winter recess.
POSITION OBJECTIVE
Working under limited supervision, the Research Assistant 3 supports a large, IRB-approved research study focused on patients with advanced cancer and their informal caregivers conducted at University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center and affiliated community location. This position is responsible for administering and coordinating study protocols, collecting longitudinal study data through direct interaction with patient and caregiver subjects, assure human subjects  compliance, supervise students, and performing data cleaning protocols.

This position supports a federally funded research study and directly contributes to the successful execution and oversight of accurate data collection and data management related to patients with advanced cancer and their informal caregivers. This is a 1-year term position.
Essential Functions

• Carry out complex research assignments of a non-routine nature. Plan (with limited oversight) research activities in accordance with established research and IRB-approved protocols to ensure accurate and timely data collection. Review electronic medical records to determine subject eligibility, subject clinical status, outpatient clinic scheduling, and conduct highly sensitive patient and caregiver interviews focused on end-of-life decision making. Data collection occurs at regular intervals over a 12-month period and requires ongoing monitoring of upcoming data collection milestones, ongoing assessment of subject eligibility, as well as ensuring reliability and functionality of all research equipment (iPads) used for data capture, under limited supervision.
  
  (30%)
• Work closely with the principal investigator to assist with complex data management, data cleaning, and data collection activities. Coordinate research activities related to chart abstraction and subject and caregiver interviews. (25%)
• Provide ongoing reports to the principal investigator regarding the status of all data management and cleaning activities. Using a high degree of skill and training, identify data entry and/or data management issues and devise new protocols and techniques, if needed, for data collection, entry, and management by employing new and innovative research techniques such as evaluating accuracy of data entry and inter-rater reliability.
  
  May co-author research projects. (10%)
• Evaluate adequacy of techniques; study and test new procedures and analyzes data. Analyze study data to assess accuracy of data input, identify outlier outputs, and use a high degree of skill and training to evaluate data processes that contribute to data entry errors or inconsistencies. (10%)
• Provide day-to-day direction, training and oversight to student employees and research assistants assigned to the study. May assist with onboarding, assigning work, monitoring performance and ensuring adherence to research protocols. (10%)
• May monitor the study budget and assist in budget-related activities. Will assist the project manager in monthly monitoring of the study budget and work with the principal investigator and project manager in budget reconciliation activities. Will also assist the project manager in maintaining all records related to distribution of gift cards given to study participants who participate in providing study data.
  
  (10%)

Nonessential Functions

• Must maintain required certifications for protection of human subjects. Complete yearly research credentialing (Case Western Reserve University and University Hospitals). (2%)
• Oversee inventory which includes ensuring the availability and reliability of research data collection equipment by tracking, maintaining, and monitoring study-assigned iPads used for participant interviews, confirming equipment functionality prior to use and coordinating replacements or troubleshooting issues as needed to support accurate data collection. (2%)
• Perform other duties as assigned. (1%)

CONTACTS

Department:
Continuous contact with principal investigator, co-investigators, project managers, research staff and other research team members to coordinate daily research operations, discuss participant recruitment and enrollment, review study progress, resolve operational issues, assign research activities, ensure protocol compliance and maintain workflow.
University:
Occasional contact with Institutional Review Board (IRB), Office of Research Administration, School of Nursing faculty and Staff, School of Medicine departments and other university offices as needed to coordinate protocol approvals…