Study Coordinator

Position Summary

The Study Coordinator will assist in the coordination and execution of multiple elements in human subjects research within the VA Portland Health Care System (VAPORHCS), with primary emphasis on assisting the lead study coordinator and local Primary Investigator of the project: Development and Evaluation of a Care Pathway for Evaluation and Management of the Respiratory Syndromes of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) [CAPRESA]. The lead study coordinator is based at the central site for this study, Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center in Aurora, CO. Flexibility, time management, customer service, and a team-based aptitude are key.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Identify, communicate with, recruit, and enroll Veterans to participate in the study
• Conduct informed consent and administer surveys to patients
• Maintain a working knowledge of FDA and IRB guidelines that govern research
• Enter patient data into electronic database systems
• Clean, package, and ship diagnostic testing equipment to patients and be prepared to provide technical support for common issues using the equipment
• Modify or develop study training materials for equipment use
• Download data stored on testing devices returned by patients
• Assist qualitative research staff with qualitative data collection as needed, including reading prepared questions to patients and recording their verbal responses using automated transcription software
• Maintain organized and accurate study records
• Support coverage across the study team, stepping in when necessary to screen and enroll patients, request and review medical records, assist Principal Investigator with document preparation, including regulatory materials such as IRB forms, or manuscript writing, and other study related tasks, as needed
• Attend research coordinator educational opportunities at OHSU and the Portland VA
• Other duties as assigned by Principal Investigator and manager

Supervisory Responsibility

This position has no direct reports.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree or higher; preferably in a scientific or social science discipline
• Previous experience with human subjects' research
• Previous experience with veteran population preferred

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and meet critical deadlines
• Ability to clearly organize and/or adapt to multiple priorities at one time
• Ability to work well with other people as well as independently
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to communicate clearly in English with Veterans of all backgrounds
• Critical thinking skills to interpret, implement, and facilitate clinical research protocols
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications
• Able to use critical thinking skills to make decisions that are within scope, and to recognize when decisions are out of scope

Additional Information

Because this position is based in a VA facility, the Research Assistant must secure a VA Without Compensation Appointment (WOC) prior to starting work, and must maintain a WOC Appointment in order to continue employment. The VA's WOC process will be facilitated by the supervisor and processed through the VA Research and Development office. The screening process required to obtain a WOC may include a background check, a credit check, a physical, a drug test, and a TB test. After the WOC process has been completed, the VA also requires several trainings prior to employees starting work.