Research Assistant 2 - (Part-Time 20 hours/week)

About the role

Working under general supervision, the Research Assistant 2 supports an NIH-funded randomized controlled trial testing a tablet-based emotion-regulation intervention to improve psychological outcomes among surrogate decision-makers for critically ill adults in the intensive care unit. This position is responsible for screening and recruiting eligible participants, obtaining informed consent, delivering the study's tablet-based intervention and comparison content, and collecting longitudinal study data through direct interaction with surrogate decision-maker participants in the adult ICUs at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center. This role collaborates closely with the research team to screen electronic medical records, ensure human subjects' compliance, communicate with clinical staff, and address data-collection issues that arise in the clinical setting. Through accurate, protocol-faithful execution of study procedures, the research assistant supports the successful and complete conduct of this NIH-funded clinical trial.

Responsibilities

• Recruit, screen, and enroll study participants. Screen the electronic medical record, including Epic, and coordinate with ICU clinical staff to identify eligible surrogate decision-makers for critically ill older adults. Approach families, explain the study, obtain informed consent, and enroll participants in accordance with the IRB-approved protocol. (35%)
• Conduct study procedures and collect participant data. Facilitate delivery of the randomized, tablet-based study content, including the REFRAME emotion-regulation modules or the information-support comparison condition, with fidelity to the study protocol. Collect participant-reported measures using study tablets and REDCap at baseline and each scheduled follow-up. (30%)
• Manage longitudinal follow-up and data quality. Track participant follow-up data collection points, schedule, complete follow-up assessments, and maintain participant engagement to minimize attrition. Verify that REDCap data are complete, accurate, and secure. Prepare basic enrollment, retention, and data-quality summaries for the study team and Data and Safety Monitoring reporting. (15%)
• Train and oversee student workers. In collaboration with the project manager, train and oversee student research workers in screening, recruitment, informed consent, intervention delivery, and data collection procedures. (10%)
• Contribute to study procedures and quality improvement. Participate in study team meetings, identify barriers encountered in ICU-based recruitment and data collection, and assist in refining recruitment, intervention delivery, and data collection workflows. (6%)

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a health, behavioral, biological, social science, or related field and 1 to 3 years of research-related experience involving human subjects; or Associate's degree in an approved biotechnology program and 2 to 4 years of research-related experience required.
• Must complete certification for the protection of human subjects through the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) program within 30 days of hire.

Skills

• Knowledge and understanding of commonly used practices, terminology, and procedures within medicine, nursing, clinical research, and/or human subjects research.
• Relies on instructions and established guidelines to perform job functions.
• Ability to follow pre-established study protocols, IRB-approved procedures, and specific research instructions to perform the functions of the job.
• Ability to interact professionally and sensitively with colleagues, supervisors, hospital staff, patients, and patients' families face-to-face, including families of critically ill patients.
• Ability to meet consistent attendance.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail and accuracy, time-management skills, and ability to follow through on assigned duties.
• Professional and effective verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to communicate with individuals within and external to Case Western Reserve University.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and collaboratively within a team; must be highly motivated, responsible, dependable, and able to take initiative.
• Ability to work with sensitive health information and maintain confidentiality in accordance with applicable university, hospital, IRB, and HIPAA requirements.
• Ability to operate study-related equipment, including iPads or tablets, and willingness to learn and use research and clinical data systems such as REDCap and Epic.
• Ability to demonstrate successful support, education, and advocacy for all students, aligned with the values, mission, and messaging of the university, while adhering to the staff policy on conflict of commitment and interest.
• Willingness to learn and work with Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools and technologies as directed, to supplement work activities in accordance with university policy.

Benefits

Employees receive more than just a paycheck. University employees enjoy a comprehensive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare, retirement plans, tuition assistance, paid time off, and a winter recess.

Pay

The starting wage rate is $19.41 per hour, depending on qualifications, experience, department budgets, and industry data.

Schedule

This is a part-time position (0.50 FTE; 20 hours per week). The general work schedule is Monday through Friday, approximately 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with flexibility to accommodate participant recruitment, enrollment, and data collection schedules.