Research Assistant

Employment Type

Full-time

Weekly Scheduled Hours

40 hours/week

Compensation

$19.23/hour

Summary

The Research Assistant supports the John F. Butzer Center for Research & Innovation (JFB-R&I) mission in the conduct, analysis, communication, and translation of research and innovation that demonstrates the value of Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital's processes, devices, technologies, and services in support of the optimal care of patients.

The Research Assistant is responsible for conducting literature searches, data management, recruiting participants, obtaining consents, maintaining files, scheduling, and conducting interviews and focus groups of patients and family members, building and maintaining data collection files, assisting with data analysis, and generating correspondence, reports and graphics.

The Research Assistant (RA) works effectively in a team structure to assure efficiency of workflow, consistently demonstrating support of the JFB R&Imission of striving for excellence, contributing to the team efforts, and showing respect and compassion for patients and their families, fellow employees, and all others with whom there is contact at or in the interest of the hospital and research enterprise.

The RA demonstrates strong aptitude in the following attributes: Communication, Accountability, Flexibility / Adaptability, Judgment / Problem Solving, and Customer Service.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Subject Recruitment

• Contacts hospital-site staff to identify potential participants; reviews medical records to determine appropriateness of patients for study.
• Explains study to patients and family members, requests participation and obtains informed consent
• Schedules and confirms participants for hospital and/or home interviews or focus groups

Data Collection

• Conducts on and offsite interviews using a variety of structured and non-structured questionnaires
• Retrieves and records data from medical records and records data from interviews on appropriate forms
• Maintains interim contact with study participants to maintain current address and telephone information

Dissemination

• Assists in development of data tables, graphs and charts and preparation of material for presentation

Data Management

• Assists in the collection of new data; codes, cleans, transcribes, records, enters and stores all data collected; coordinates data collection with other research staff as appropriate
• Generates reports detailing data collected
• Conducts literature searches, copying and distributing articles as appropriate
• Transcribes and codes taped interviews
• Maintains an inventory of data collection forms to ensure ease of data retrieval
• Assists in analysis of qualitative and quantitative data by coding verbatim interviews
• Performs various record-keeping tasks such as filing consent forms and other data collection forms on all eligible participants to ensure ease of data retrieval and tracking of participants

Supports Scholarly Activities

• Attends meetings; takes minutes as assigned

Perform all other duties that may be assigned in the best interest of the JFB Center for Research & Innovation.

Customer Service Responsibilities

Demonstrate excellent customer service and standards of behaviors as well as encourages, coaches, and monitors the same in team members. This individual should consistently promote teamwork and direct communication with co-workers and deal discretely and sensitively with confidential information.

Responsibilities in Quality Improvement

Contribute by identifying problems and seeking solutions. Promote patient/family satisfaction where possible; participates in departmental efforts to monitor and report customer service.

Essential Job Qualifications

• Associates degree in a science related field or equivalent.
• Three to six months of related work experience.
• Knowledge of basic computer hardware in addition to software such as Microsoft Office, REDCap, statistical programs such as Stata or SPSS, and/or relevant engineering or mathematical programs such as Matlab, as appropriate.
• Familiarity with medical, engineering or health services research terminology and basic research/statistical methodology is required, as appropriate to the position.
• Ability to accurately review and enter project data
• Analytical ability is required to prepare reports, maintain data inventory, code, transcribe interviews, develop graphs, perform literature searches, negotiate systems in several hospitals and/or human service organizations, and identify concerns/responses of participants that require termination of interview or possible intervention.
• Strong interpersonal skills are needed to interact effectively with patients/family member dyads, physicians, other human service professionals and a variety of supervisors for various research projects.
• Flexibility to coordinate scheduling with other project staff as needed.
• Proficient typing and administrative skills to transcribe data, prepare correspondence, and maintain files.
• Exercises independent judgment in assigned area of responsibility. May be expected to take leadership on certain project tasks.
• Normal office/hospital/research laboratory environment with little or no exposure to dust or extreme temperature.
• May involve travel to other hospital/research sites and possibly to participants' homes. Interviews/experiments may require flexible day, evening and/or weekend hours.

Preferred Job Qualifications

• College coursework in neurosciences, nursing, psychology, engineering, social work, public health, or related field.

Physical Requirements for Essential Job Qualification

Levels:

None (No specific requirements)

Occasionally (Less than 1/3)

Frequently (1/3 to 2/3)

Majority (More than 2/3)

Remain in a stationary position: Majority

Traverse or move around work location: None

Use keyboard: Frequently

Operate or use department specific equipment: None

Ascend/Descend equipment or ladder: None

Position self to accomplish the Essential Functions of the role: None

Receive and communicate information and ideas for understanding: None

Transport, position, and/or exert force:

• Up to 10 pounds: Occasionally
• Up to 25 pounds: _____
• Up to 50 pounds: _____
• Up to 75 pounds: _____
• More than 100 pounds: _____
• Other weight: Up to___ pounds _____
• Other: None