Bilingual Research Assistant 2

Located in Nashville, Tennessee, Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) operates at a global crossroads of teaching, discovery, and patient care. It is a community where expertise is valued, knowledge is expanded, and abilities are challenged. Vanderbilt Health is committed to an environment where everyone has the chance to thrive and uniqueness is celebrated.

About the Role

Our research team is conducting multiple ongoing community-based randomized trials for childhood obesity prevention and treatment among low-income and minority populations. The Research Assistant II will support these studies by collecting data from patient-families, clinic partners, interventionists, and medical records. Responsibilities include participant recruitment, retention, and obtaining informed consent/assent. Data collection may occur in clinics, via phone interviews, or in community settings. This dynamic role may also involve assisting with other laboratory and research functions as needed. A background or interest in community-based and behavioral research is essential, along with strong teamwork and flexibility.

This is a 40-hour/week hybrid role (part remote, part on-site) with no overtime. While daytime hours (Monday–Friday) are predominant, flexibility is required for occasional evenings and weekends. Reliable transportation is necessary for travel within Middle Tennessee (mileage reimbursed). Bilingual proficiency or native fluency in Spanish is required.

Responsibilities

• Data Collection and Participant Engagement
  • Independently conduct high-quality qualitative and quantitative data collection across active studies.
  • Lead participant recruitment, consent, and follow-up activities with minimal supervision.
  • Build rapport with participants to support retention, engagement, and completion of study visits.
  • Ensure accurate and complete documentation of study activities per protocol requirements.
  • Identify and resolve routine participant and workflow challenges in real time.
• Data Collection Team Leadership and Coordination
  • Serve as a lead member of the data collection team, supporting day-to-day coordination of study activities.
  • Assist with scheduling data collection and adjusting plans to meet enrollment and staffing needs.
  • Provide guidance to other research assistants during data collection, troubleshoot issues, and maintain consistency.
  • Act as a point of support for problem-solving related to participant availability, protocol, and fieldwork challenges.
  • Elevate issues appropriately while independently implementing practical solutions.
• Operational Ownership and Independent Study Support
  • Demonstrate strong ownership of assigned study tasks with minimal supervision.
  • Anticipate study needs and proactively communicate challenges or solutions to the project team.
  • Ensure readiness for data collection by confirming materials, schedules, and participant communication in advance.
  • Support smooth protocol implementation through reliability and consistent follow-through.
  • Contribute to maintaining momentum during high-volume or time-sensitive data collection periods.
• Quality Assurance and Protocol Adherence
  • Maintain high standards of data quality through careful review of collected data and documentation.
  • Identify missing or inconsistent data and take corrective action or escalate concerns.
  • Ensure adherence to IRB-approved protocols, consent procedures, and study guidelines.
  • Model best practices in ethical research conduct and participant interaction for other team members.
• Team Communication and Study Support
  • Communicate clearly with supervisors and team members regarding study progress and challenges.
  • Share insights from fieldwork to support continuous improvement in recruitment and data collection.
  • Assist with onboarding or informal mentoring of newer research assistants as needed.
  • Contribute to a collaborative team environment for efficient and high-quality research execution.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent experience).
• 2 years of relevant experience.
• Bilingual proficiency or native fluency in Spanish.
• Reliable transportation for travel within Middle Tennessee (mileage reimbursed).
• Flexibility to work occasional evenings and weekends.

About the Department

The Department of Pediatrics at VUMC is one of the largest within the medical center, home to 460 primary faculty, 270 community-based volunteer faculty, 82 clinical fellows, 127 residents, and over 300 administrative and research staff. The department is committed to excellence in research, education, and patient care, advancing knowledge of conditions affecting vulnerable infants and children through world-class research. For more information, visit pediatrics.vumc.org.

Benefits

This role offers a comprehensive benefits package, which may include health, disability, retirement, and wellness offerings to support your well-being and professional growth.