UNIV - Research Program Assistant - Psychiatry: Biobehavioral Medicine

About the role

The Full-time Program Assistant will support grant-funded research projects at the MUSC Hollings Cancer Center focused on patients with cancer. Ongoing trials include two pilot randomized controlled trials testing a telehealth-delivered adapted dialectical behavioral therapy skills training program to reduce distress and improve quality of life in people living with advanced cancer compared to usual care, and a project examining communication challenges and support preferences in patients with advanced cancer and their emerging and young adult child caregivers. The Program Assistant will work under the supervision of the Principal Investigator, Dr. Kelly Hyland, assisting with participant recruitment, data collection, regulatory tasks, and other research operations.

Responsibilities

• Research operations (35%)
  • Provide administrative support for recruitment strategies and prepare recruitment materials (e.g., flyers)
  • Screen participants independently for eligibility criteria
  • Conduct and/or document consent for participants in minimal risk studies; may conduct consent for greater than minimal risk studies under direct supervision
  • Schedule study visits and maintain subject-level documentation for minimal risk studies or for other studies under direct supervision
  • Circulate and review assessments for minimal risk studies or for greater than minimal risk studies under direct supervision
  • Collect data directly from participants or from the electronic medical record
  • Send participant reminders about upcoming study appointments and assessments
  • Collect, prepare, or process adverse events under supervision
  • Facilitate participant remuneration via ClinCard
  • Answer questions received via phone and email systems
  • Provide training to other Program Assistants as necessary
• Data and informatics (35%)
  • Complete case report forms and enter data into EDC system(s)
  • Resolve data queries
• Communication (10%)
  • Participate in study team meetings and provide study status updates (e.g., meeting minutes)
  • Communicate and coordinate with other study personnel as required for study implementation and routine problem resolution
• Ethics and participant safety (10%)
  • Understand the ethical conduct of research and safeguards needed when conducting human subjects research activities
• Regulatory (5%)
  • Assist with regulatory documentation for submissions (e.g., Institutional Review Board), continuing reviews, Research Performance Progress Reports (RPPR), Data and Safety Monitoring Board meetings, and other required reports
• Leadership and professionalism (5%)
  • Encourage and support colleagues in completing project work
  • Assist with identifying efficiencies and improving processes
  • Participate in research dissemination and publication (e.g., manuscript preparation and submission, conference abstract preparation and presentation)

Requirements

• A high school diploma and three years of relevant program experience
• A bachelor’s degree may substitute for the required program experience

Preferred Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree in psychology, premed, neuroscience, biology, nursing, or another life sciences or healthcare field
• Prior research experience in a lab
• Knowledge of REDCap data entry, management, and reporting tools
• Experience screening and consenting research participants
• Experience administering study assessments
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Experience working with individuals with cancer
• Excellent verbal communication and problem-solving skills
• Attention to detail and the ability to work independently while ensuring accuracy
• The ability to collect, organize, and analyze information in a clear and concise manner

Physical Requirements

• Position characteristics: Continuous (6–8 hours per shift), Frequent (2–6 hours per shift), Infrequent (0–2 hours per shift)
• Ability to perform job functions in an upright position (Frequent)
• Ability to perform job functions in a seated position (Frequent)
• Ability to perform job functions while walking/mobile (Frequent)
• Ability to work indoors (Continuous)
• Ability to work outdoors in all weather and temperature extremes (Infrequent)
• Ability to work in confined/cramped spaces (Infrequent)
• Ability to perform job functions from kneeling positions (Infrequent)
• Ability to squat and perform job functions (Infrequent)
• Ability to perform “pinching” operations (Infrequent)
• Ability to fully use both hands/arms (Continuous)
• Ability to perform repetitive motions with hands/wrists/elbows and shoulders (Frequent)
• Ability to reach in all directions (Frequent)
• Good finger dexterity (Continuous)
• Ability to maintain tactile sensory functions (Continuous)
• Ability to lift and carry 15 lbs., unassisted (Infrequent)
• Ability to lift objects up to 15 lbs. from floor level to a height of 36 inches, unassisted (Infrequent)
• Ability to lower objects up to 15 lbs. from a height of 36 inches to floor level, unassisted (Infrequent)
• Ability to push/pull objects up to 15 lbs., unassisted (Infrequent)
• Ability to maintain 20/40 vision, corrected, in one eye or with both eyes (Continuous)
• Ability to see and recognize objects close at hand (Frequent)
• Ability to see and recognize objects at a distance (Frequent)
• Ability to determine distance/relationship between objects; depth perception (Frequent)
• Good peripheral vision capabilities (Continuous)
• Ability to maintain hearing acuity, with correction (Continuous)
• Ability to hear and/or understand whispered conversations at a distance of 3 feet (Frequent)
• Ability to perform gross motor functions with frequent fine motor movements (Frequent)
• Ability to work in dusty areas (Infrequent)