Research Assistant - Multi-Site Study Operations

The Human Performance Laboratory and CLEAR at RFUMS is seeking a full-time Research Assistant to serve as the primary study-operations RA for a Department of Defense-funded project to identify urinary proteomic biomarkers of bone adaptation and injury in military recruits. Under the direct supervision of Dr. Shawn Flanagan and in collaboration with the study team, this position will support all aspects of the study.

Job Description

$23.08 per hour

The Human Performance Laboratory and CLEAR at RFUMS is seeking a full-time Research Assistant to serve as the primary study-operations RA for a Department of Defense-funded project to identify urinary proteomic biomarkers of bone adaptation and injury in military recruits. Under the direct supervision of Dr. Shawn Flanagan and in collaboration with the study team, this position will support all aspects of the study.

The position is responsible for participant logistics, field-based data collection, biospecimen handling, study documentation and data quality, protocol and IRB compliance, scheduling, and equipment readiness across study sites. Local travel to field and partner locations is expected. Military and VA clearance are required for base and hospital access.

Our generous benefits package includes medical, dental, and vision plans; paid parental leave; short term and long term disability plans; life insurance; flexible spending accounts; and a 403(b) retirement plan which includes a 8% employer contribution after 2 years of service. RFUMS is committed to employee wellbeing and work-life balance. Full time staff are eligible for 3 weeks of vacation/ personal leave, 15 sick days, and 9 paid holidays, paid winter break, plus two floating holidays.

Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science (RFUMS), located in North Chicago, Illinois, is a graduate health sciences university comprising six schools and colleges. The Center for Lower Extremity Ambulatory Research (CLEAR), housed within the Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine, uses multidisciplinary approaches to improve lower-extremity health and function. CLEAR's Human Performance Laboratory supports federally funded research in biomechanics, injury prevention, human performance, neuroscience, and physiology.

The project brings together RFUMS, FHCC, Naval Station Great Lakes, and other clinical and research partners to identify and validate urinary biomarkers of healthy bone adaptation and bone stress injury in military recruits. Study visits integrate repeated urine collection, high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT), dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), anthropometric measurements, BSI risk factor assessments, and longitudinal data tracking.

• Coordinate participant logistics across study time points and sites, including scheduling, communication, visit preparation, and participant flow.
• Support IRB-approved recruitment, study briefings, consent, screening, and participant relations after completing required training and as delegated by authorized study personnel.
• Perform and document field-based data collection in accordance with the approved protocol and SOPs, including urine biospecimen collection and handling, anthropometric measurements, BSI risk factor assessments, and support for HR-pQCT and DXA imaging visits.
• Label, aliquot, store, transport, and track biospecimens; maintain chain-of-custody and required temperature and storage records according to study SOPs.
• Enter, verify, and track study data and source documentation across time points; perform data-quality checks and promptly resolve or elevate discrepancies.
• Maintain accurate participant, regulatory, equipment, and study records; protect confidentiality and comply with IRB, Department of Defense, institutional, data security, and safety requirements.
• Prepare, calibrate, clean, and maintain study equipment and supplies; document quality-control and maintenance activities and manage inventory control.
• Manage administrative, logistical, and scheduling needs across sites, including testing-space preparation, supply coordination, biospecimen transport, and shared study calendars.
• Complete required training and demonstrate proficiency before independently performing assigned procedures; participate in team meetings and ongoing SOP training.
• Support data and sample organization, progress reporting, and dissemination…