Research Study Coordinator

Department: MED-Medical Social Sciences
Salary/Grade: NEX/11

Job Summary:

Coordinates collection, analysis, processing & reporting of data & assists Principal Investigator (PI) in judging the validity of test data obtained in regard to biomedical &/or social-behavioral research study(ies) of limited complexity involving co-investigators, multiple campuses &/or universities. Completes all activities by strictly following Good Clinical Practices (GCP) & all relevant current local, state, & federal laws, regulations, guidance, policy & procedure developed by the NU Institutional Review Board (IRB), Food & Drug Administration (FDA) Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), & the International Conference on Harmonization (ICH).

Program Description

The Complex Systems and Health Disparities (CONNECT) Research Program within the Institute for Sexual and Gender Minority Health and Wellbeing is focused around elucidating the complex mechanisms driving the health disparities of stigmatized populations, in particular gender and sexual minorities (see https://isgmh.northwestern.edu/about/connect/). The program is directed by Dr. Michelle Birkett and Dr. Patrick Janulis (Associate Director) and houses several NIH-funded studies that seek to further understanding on how contextual and multilevel factors influence health outcomes through the use of complex modeling - including network analysis and simulation - as well as by building tools to improve the collection and measurement of complex data for social and behavioral health research.

The Center for Computational and Social Sciences in Health (COMPASS) within the Institute of Artificial Intelligence in Medicine (I.AIM) is a newly established center that seeks to foster connection between data science, social science and population health to increase the capacity for cutting-edge research that uses social and behavioral science and computational methodology to understand and enable the health of populations (https://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/sites/compass/). COMPASS is directed by Dr. Birkett and Dr. Janulis (Associate Director) building upon the scientific program of CONNECT and extends this work through three interrelated priorities: building transdisciplinary collaborations; training the next generation of population health scholars; and conducting cutting-edge research on the social and structural drivers of population health.

Project Description

The SILOS (Structural Inequalities across Layers of Social-Context as Drivers of HIV and Substance Use) project, directed by PI Dr. Birkett, will conduct innovative observational research across five US cities in order to better understand the social contexts which drive HIV and substance use. Through in-depth remote network surveys of 2,700 racially diverse young men who have sex with men and transgender women (YMSM-TW), the Northwestern team will examine how an individual's social position determines the people and the places they have access to, how supportive or risky these social and contextual environments are, and how these connections might pool risk and provide fewer resources to those with marginalized and multiple marginalized identities. Within each of the five target cities, the team will establish local Community Advisory Boards of racially diverse YMSM-TW to help guide the development of recruitment outreach plans shaped by the consideration of key venues, locations, and apps important within the community context as well as provide lived experience input on model development and data interpretation activities. The project's unique emphasis on both sophisticated computational approaches and the integration of community voices will help produce tangible targets for public health intervention as well as transform the scientific understanding of the social and structural drivers of health.

NOTE: This is a hybrid position only with the expectation of a minimum 3 days a week in the office in downtown Chicago.

Specific Responsibilities:

Technical

• Participates in the planning & conduct of research study including participant recruitment and retention.
• Obtains informed consent
• Administers tests &/or questionnaires following protocols.
• Collects, compiles, tabulates & processes responses.
• Gathers information.
• Extracts & analyzes data from medical charts.

Administration

• Collects, records, reviews & summarizes research data.
• Collates relevant mathematical results & prepares tables, charts & graphs reflecting relationships of multiple tests.
• Prepares reports for investigators and sponsors on recruitment status and other pertinent study data.
• Completes documents associated with current local, state, & federal regulatory guidelines, requirements, laws & research protocols.

Finance

• May process payments for research participants per study protocol.
• Coordinates reimbursements for expert panel travel, consultant pay, additional gift card orders, etc. & ensure costs remain within allotted grant budget.

Supervision

• May provide work direction &/or train other research staff to interview/test participants.

Miscellaneous

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications: (Education, experience, and any other certifications or clearances)

• Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree in a major such as social or health science or related; OR appropriate combination of education and experience and 2 years' research study or other relevant experience required; OR
• Successful completion of a full course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a master's or higher degree in a major such as social or health science or related; OR appropriate combination of education and experience.
• Must complete NU's IRB CITI training before interacting with any participants & must re-certify every 3 years.

Minimum Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities.)

• Strong organizational, written, verbal, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Effective time management skills.
• Excellent attention to detail.

Preferred Qualifications: (Education and experience)

• Experience working with and interest in the LGBTQ+ population.
• Experience working in and knowledge of public health.
• Experience working within a research or healthcare environment.

Preferred Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities)

• Working knowledge of REDCap.
• Knowledge of responsible research conduct.

Benefits:
At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts and more! Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness:
Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life's challenges and opportunities and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.
We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html to learn more.

Professional Growth & Development:
Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you're interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more.

Benefits:
At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts and more! Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness:
Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life's challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.
We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html to learn more.

Professional Growth & Development:
Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you're interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more.

Northwestern strongly recommends COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters for people who can obtain them as a critical tool for minimizing severe illness. More information can be found on the COVID-19 and Campus Updates webpage.

The Northwestern campus sits on the traditional homelands of the people of the Council of Three Fires, the Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Odawa as well as the Menominee, Miami and Ho-Chunk nations. We acknowledge and honor the original people of the land upon which Northwestern University stands, and the Native people who remain on this land today.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Click for information on EEO is the Law.

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