Clinical Research Assistant (Clinical Research Technician)

About the role

The BRANCH Lab, led by Dr. Rachel Gunn, conducts clinical research on substance use, mental health, and behavioral outcomes, overseeing two ongoing studies: the National Evaluation of Substance Use in Transition to Pregnancy (NEST) study, a NIDA‑funded longitudinal project on substance use and health during the perinatal period, and the Longitudinal Investigation of Clinical Outcomes (LINC) study, a NIAAA‑funded longitudinal study examining the impact of cannabis use on alcohol treatment outcomes. The Clinical Research Assistant supports protocol implementation, participant recruitment and screening, informed consent, in‑person and virtual study visits, administration of questionnaires and assessments, data entry and documentation, participant tracking and retention, study material management, and coordination with treatment centers for HIPAA forms, while contributing to lab operations and other research activities as needed.

Responsibilities

• Supports two 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 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 HIPAA forms to treatment centers to verify treatment status
• Works within a collaborative environment alongside clinical research coordinators, students, and other researchers
• Travels within 40 miles to meet participants for the drop off and pick up of study materials

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent (such as HSED or GED) plus 5 years patient‑related or research experience that includes 2 years of experience with clinical studies
• Associate's degree in allied health profession plus 1 year of patient‑related or research experience
• Bachelor's degree in any field or 3 years of college‑level science plus 2 years of patient‑related or research experience
• Bachelor's degree in science or health‑related field

Qualifications

• Comfortable working with research participants and discussing substance use and mental health
• Attention to detail
• Dependable
• Ability to manage responsibilities across multiple projects
• Ability to work collaboratively and communicate effectively with participants and research team members
• Ability to work and track hours

Skills

• Proficient communication skills
• Maintains a high degree of professionalism
• Demonstrates time management and priority setting skills
• Demonstrates a high commitment to quality
• Possesses flexibility to work in a fast‑paced, dynamic environment
• Highly thorough and dependable

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical and dental insurance
• Health savings account with generous IU contributions
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• Basic group life insurance paid by IU
• Voluntary supplemental life, long‑term disability, critical illness, and supplemental accidental death & dismemberment insurance
• Base retirement plan with generous IU contributions, subject to vesting
• Voluntary supplemental retirement plan options
• Tuition subsidy for employees and family members taking IU courses
• 10 paid holidays plus a paid winter break each year
• Generous paid time off plans
• Paid leave for new parents and IU‑sponsored volunteer events
• Employee assistance program (EAP)

Schedule

Flexible hours, including weekends and evenings, as needed for study procedures.