Research Coordinator

About the role

The Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics is seeking a Research Coordinator to serve as project manager for research focused on birth outcomes and neighborhood environment specific to Black families. This role involves overseeing the LIFE-2 study, a multi-site research project examining how maternal social environments across the life course impact preterm birth risk and the epigenome. The study follows women from delivery through the postpartum year to identify potential risk factors.

The Research Coordinator will work closely with field staff and study site PIs to manage daily research activities, supervise staff and students across Wayne State University, University of North Carolina, and the University of Michigan, and ensure compliance with research protocols.

Responsibilities

• Manage all Institutional Review Board (IRB) applications and amendments for a multi-site research project.
• Oversee and train research staff and students at multiple sites (Wayne State University, University of North Carolina, and University of Michigan).
• Ensure the quality of data collected by field staff and implement protocols virtually and in clinics.
• Prepare and execute data use agreements and material transfer agreements.
• Develop, create, and maintain complex surveys in Qualtrics, including medical record abstraction instruments.
• Track expenses, develop recruitment materials, and lead study meetings.
• Retrieve biospecimens and vital statistics data through linkage of informed consent information with the state of Michigan.
• Supervise and assist in recruitment and medical record abstraction at hospital partners in metro Detroit.
• Coordinate and manage daily research activities, including protocol development, dissemination, and compliance across all study sites.

Requirements

• Knowledge equivalent to that acquired through completion of one or two years of post-bachelor degree work, such as a Master's in Perinatal Health Studies.
• One to three years of related and progressively responsible work experience in research methodologies, report writing, supervision, software, data interpretation, and handling.
• Experience working on-site in metro Detroit at hospital partners for recruitment and medical record abstraction.

Qualifications

• Work experience on perinatal health studies.
• Experience supervising staff and managing a team of staff and students.
• Experience working with large datasets and recruiting vulnerable populations for research studies.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Pro, SPSS, and Qualtrics.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Self-starter with strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to learn quickly.

Schedule

Standard 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM.

Additional Information

This is a limited-term position funded for 9 months from the date of hire, with possible extension contingent upon funding renewal.

Study participants self-collect a blood spot that is dried and sealed prior to staff collection.