Clinical Research Assistant

Benefits

Benefits
:
All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave granted up front, generous tuition benefits, retirement planning and savings options, tax‑deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well‑being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more.

Unit: VP Research MBU

Department: Inst for Drug Alcohol Stud

Duties & Responsibilities: The VCU Institute for Drug and Alcohol Studies (IDAS) advances multidisciplinary research and training on the neuroscience of addictions and related neurobehavioral disorders. Clinical Research Assistants (CRA) perform a variety of routine, non‑technical duties in assisting technical and professional personnel in a research laboratory setting.

The CRA will be expected to perform most components of data collection from human‑subject volunteers required for a biomedical behavioral research study.

• Subject Recruitment:
  • Participant/research subject recruitment, including placement of IRB‑approved materials and media advertisements about research studies being conducted at IDAS, as well as collection and computer entry of responses and information furnished by potential research volunteers contacting the lab by phone, web or other means in order to identify possible participants
• Participant Consenting:
  • Collection of informed consent from research volunteers, including describing the study to research participant candidates in simple language, and overseeing the signing of consent and assent forms
• Data Collection:
  • Biological data collection, including collection and testing of urine drug samples using test kits as well as administration of breathalyzer assessment of alcohol intoxication
• Maintain Study Data:
  • Accurate and secure transmission and storage of study data, including to centralized databases or to physically‑secured case report forms for industry‑sponsored clinical trials
• Participant Management:
  • Accurate calculation of subject compensation;
    Coordinating study visit for the subjects, including escorting research volunteers to and from the different tasks and testing rooms and waiting rooms of the research facility
• Other Duties:
  • Other duties assigned by supervisor or Principal Investigator such as managing and supporting the PI’s student researchers

Minimum Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to work in and foster an environment of respect, professionalism, and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from all backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU.
• Bachelor’s of Science degree or equivalent in Psychology, Neuroscience or related field.
• Proficient in computer skills, including word processing, data entry, spreadsheet, database management, and entry‑level statistical/programming skills required.
• Strong clinical skills, including fundamental clinical skills such as establishing rapport, maintaining participant motivation, empathic responding, ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team, and ability to use clinical judgment in (rare) emergencies.
• Strong organizational skills, including an understanding of HIPAA regulations.
• Ability to organize meetings and present reports

Only candidates who do not require current or future sponsorship for employment will be considered.

• Master’s degree or equivalent in Psychology, Neuroscience or related field
• Writing experience with first author and co‑author peer‑reviewed manuscripts
• Knowledge of statistical analysis and software applications
• Experience recruiting, consenting, and carrying out study procedures with opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment participants, including during pregnancy and postpartum
• Qualitative research experience, including data collection, coding, and analysis
• Ability to set up projects and surveys in REDCap, perform sample size calculations using GPower 3.1, analyze qualitative data (such as with ATLAS.ti.8), and perform quantitative statistical analysis (such as with SAS 9.4 and Graph Pad Prism).
• Experience with preparing and maintaining Institutional Review Board (IRB) and regulatory paperwork to comply with institutional regulatory requirements
• Experience in mentoring and training student research trainees, incorporating them into research teams

Salary Range: 40000 - 45000

FLSA Exemption Status: Non‑Exempt

Hours per Week: 40

Restricted Position: Yes

ORP Eligible: No

Flexible Work Arrangement: onsite