Hourly Research Assistants

The Research Assistant supports the daily operation of clinical and community based research studies. This is a hands on role with a lot of direct participant contact. On a typical week the Research Assistant may screen a potential participant by phone, pull data from medical charts, drive to a partner site for an in person assessment, lead a study cycling class, and then enter and clean the data collected from all of it. The position works under the direction of the Principal Investigator and Research Coordinator and follows approved protocols, institutional policy, and federal regulations for human subjects research.

 Supervision
 This position works under the direct supervision of the Principal Investigator and Research Coordinator. The Research Assistant does not supervise other staff, but may orient and train student workers and volunteers on specific study procedures.

Preferences/Skills/Experience the ideal candidate should have:
 We are looking for someone who is comfortable being the face of the study to participants and just as comfortable being the person who catches a data entry error before it becomes a problem. The best fit for this role tends to be a person who likes variety in the workday, keeps their own systems organized without being told to, and gets satisfaction out of a participant finishing a 12 week program because someone remembered to call them.
 Specifically, we hope you bring:
 • Genuine comfort working with people. You can build rapport quickly with participants who may be nervous, deconditioned, older, or unfamiliar with research, and you can explain a consent form without rushing anyone through it.
 • Reliability and follow through. Study visits and classes happen on a schedule, at sites across the valley, and the team needs to know you will be there and prepared.
 • A high tolerance for detail. Protocol adherence, source documentation, and clean data are the actual product of this job, and you should find that satisfying rather than tedious.
 • Independent judgment in the field. You will often be the only study staff member at a site, so you need to solve small problems on the spot and recognize the ones that need to go up the chain immediately.
 • Confidence leading a room. Whether you have taught cycling before or you are willing to get certified, you should be willing to get on a bike, cue a class, and keep an eye on how each participant is responding.
 • Comfort with data tools. Experience with REDCap, Excel, and a statistical package is a real plus, and a willingness to learn them quickly is required.
 • Discretion. You will see medical records and personal health information every day, and you should treat that access as the responsibility it is.
 • Flexibility about hours and location. Participants have jobs and lives, so some sessions land early, late, or on a weekend.
 Prior research experience is helpful but not the deciding factor. We have trained excellent research assistants who came from clinical, fitness, or education backgrounds and brought strong people skills and good habits with them.