Clinical Research Assistant; Clinical Research Technician

PSYCHIATRY (IN-PSYC-IUINA)

The BRANCH Lab, led by Dr. Rachel Gunn, conducts clinical research focused broadly on substance use, mental health, and behavioral outcomes. The lab has 2 ongoing clinical research studies: the National Evaluation of Substance Use in Transition to Pregnancy (NEST) study and the Longitudinal Investigation of Clinical Outcomes (LINC) study. Project NEST is a National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) funded longitudinal project focused on substance use and health during the perinatal period.

Project LINC, is a National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) funded longitudinal study investigating the impact of cannabis use on alcohol treatment outcomes.

The Clinical Research Assistant contributes to the implementation of study protocols, participant-facing research procedures, data collection (both in-person and virtually), and study management. This position works closely with the Principal Investigator (PI) and under the training and supervision of the Clinical Research Coordinator, the Clinical Research Assistant assists with multiple phases of clinical research.

• Supports 2 ongoing clinical research studies examining substance use and health outcomes
• Works flexibly between studies in the lab
• Virtually recruits and screens potential participants according to study eligibility criteria and approved recruitment procedures
• Conducts participant outreach and follow-up through phone, email, and other approved methods
• Assists with enrollment and informed consent procedures following Institutional Review Board (IRB) approved protocols
• Conducts and supports study visits, both in-person and virtually, and other participant-facing research procedures
• Administers research questionnaires, assessments, and other study measures following standardized protocols
• Maintains accurate and timely study documentation and enters research data into study databases
• Assists with participant tracking, scheduling, retention, and follow-up throughout the longitudinal study
• Monitors study materials and maintains organized research records
• Follows all study protocols, institutional policies, and human subjects' research requirements
• Communicates regularly with study team members regarding recruitment, participant follow-up, data collection, and study progress
• Assists with data quality checks, preparation of study materials, and other research-related tasks
• Contributes to the overall functioning of the lab and supports other research activities as needed
• Directs clinic recruitment, including partnering with alcohol treatment centers, conducting on-site recruitment, liaising with clinical staff, and confirming eligibility criteria
• Facilitates the collection and secure transmission of Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) forms to treatment centers to verify treatment status
• Works within a collaborative environment alongside clinical research coordinators, students, and other researchers

• Assists in the conduct of clinical research studies or trials following established protocols and standard operating procedures
• Assists with identifying and recruiting subjects for clinical research studies or trials; calls/schedules subjects for appointments per protocol; performs screening, consenting and interviewing/data collection in adherence with the assigned study protocol and in accordance with good clinical principals; collects patient consent and authorization for treatment intervention documents and performs those interventions as needed
• Conducts routine experiments and/or coordinates research study procedures in accordance with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs); receives, collects, and records study data in database; communicates and keeps researchers and/or PI up-to-date on any problems or concerns related to the research study or trial; may be responsible for collecting clinical samples (such as blood, sample tissue, etc.) for research including any storage measures
• Assists with advertising and other information for participant recruitment; assists in developing and sharing educational and informational resources with subjects and families
• Ensures proper documentation of Case Report Forms, regulatory documents, PI notes, and any other mandatory study-related documents and ensures quality and accuracy; archives documents for study per sponsor, government and institutional requirements; keeps accurate records and provides necessary documents for regulatory…