Research Assistant 2

Salary Grade

Case Western Reserve University is committed to providing a transparent estimate of the salary for this position at the time of its posting. The starting wage rate is $19.41 per hour, depending on qualifications, experience, department budgets, and industry data.

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.

Job Description

POSITION OBJECTIVE

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 studys 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.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• 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%)

NONESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Maintain study equipment. Track and maintain study-assigned iPads, confirm functionality before use, and coordinate troubleshooting or replacement as needed. (2%)
• Perform other duties as assigned. (2%)

CONTACTS

Department: Frequent contact with the principal investigator, project manager, co-investigators, and other research team members to conduct and coordinate study-related procedures.

University: Infrequent contact with other departments to share information about study or complete other administrative requirements.

External: Frequent contact with clinical staff, patients, and family members at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center to coordinate and conduct study-related procedures.

Students: Occasional contact with student employees to coordinate and conduct training or other study-related activities.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY

This position has no direct supervision of staff employees. Train new staff; direct the work of students.

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelors degree in a health, behavioral, biological, social science, or related field and 1 to 3 years of research-related experience involving human subjects; or Associates 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.

REQUIRED 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.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Work is based in the principal investigators research offices in the Dental Research Building at 2124 Cornell Road and in the adult intensive care units at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, approximately 0.1 miles away. The role involves regular activity in the ICU, including screening, enrollment, informed consent, tablet-based study procedures, and interviews with surrogate decision-makers for critically ill patients. The employee must adhere to the University, hospital, IRB, HIPAA, and infection-control policies and procedures.

The position requires regular on-site presence and is not eligible for remote work. The employee should expect to stand, walk, and move between the research office and ICUs for portions of the workday. 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.

No laboratory hazardous-material exposure is anticipated. Work in the hospital and ICU environment may involve exposure to infectious diseases or other clinical-environment risks, which are mitigated through standard hospital infection-control procedures. May be required to use personal protective equipment, including standard lab coat, gloves and safety glasses when appropriate.

EEO Statement

Case Western Reserve University is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants are protected under federal and state laws and university policy from discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national or ethnic origin, protected veteran status, disability, age and genetic information.

Reasonable Accommodations

Case Western Reserve University complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act regarding reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the CWRU Office of Equity at 216-368-3066 to request a reasonable accommodation. Determinations as to granting reasonable accommodations for any applicants will be made on a case-by-case basis.

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