Professional research assistant job description

Professional Research Assistant (PRA)
Classification :
Full time/Hourly
Salary Range: $22.00 to $29.00

Based on qualifications and experience
Reports to:
Principal Investigator in the Division of Infectious Disease, and the investigator’s collaborators.

Job Summary:
Located principally at the Rocky Mountain Regional Denver VAMC campus in Aurora, with some time potentially spent at the VA Community Based Outpatient Clinics in Colorado Springs and Pueblo. Our primary interest is in multicenter randomized controlled trials investigating treatments and vaccinations for SARS-CoV-2, with potential involvement with other protocols within the Infectious Disease Division.
Duties and Responsibilities may include some, but are not limited to the following:
· Perform study related activities: recruit, consent, and enroll study participants; scheduling; track patient participation; administer patient interviews and preparing assessments, interview human subjects participating in studies.
· Perform study related clinical tasks such as vital signs, phlebotomy, vaccination, collection of specimens such as oropharyngeal, nasopharyngeal or nasal mid-turbinate swabs. Coordinate diagnostic and non-diagnostic procedures.
· Monitor in-hospital study medication administration. Collaborate with inpatient Medicine and Specialty teams, as well as nursing staff for monitoring of study patients.
· Collaborate with investigational pharmacy staff and clinical pharmacy staff to ensure protocol adherence with study medication administration.
· Perform research lab activities: transport, handling and processing of infectious biospecimens, centrifuge and aliquot specimens. Monitor lab equipment to ensure protocol-dictated lab environment requirements are met.
· Organization and tracking of a large biorepository, including distribution of collection kits, logging of samples and distributions of samples. IATA compliant shipping of biospecimens.
· Meticulously adhere to all Infection Control and Biosafety guidelines when working with study patients, handling and processing samples, and working within the research clinical setting. Operate safely in a BSL-2 environment.
· Monitor protocol adherence in all study activities and report any deviations
· Diagnose and solve system/software problems, install applications software as related to research needs, provide computational research support, construction and population of databases, ad-hoc programming, as needed
· Abstract data from patient charts, tabulate research data, and validate quality of data elements/data editing.
· Collaboration with PI; diagnose and problem solve as it relates to the research project.
· Complete regulatory reports for a multi-center trial.
· Data entry into various electronic case reporting programs.

Other Duties as required.


Competencies include but are not limited to:

· Detail oriented
· Self-motivated
· Superior time management skills
· Organizational skills
· Excellent customer service skills
· Excellent written and verbal communication skills
· Coaching and influencing skills.
· Ability to problem solve, manage multiple tasks and work independently with minimal supervision
· Ability to work in PPE that may include, but is not limited to: surgical mask, N-95 mask, PAPR (powered air- purifying respirator) or CAPR (controlled air-purifying respirator), face shield, protective gown or lab coat, and gloves.


Required Education and Experience:



BA or BS in health related fields or equivalent. Computer skills are critical, including proficiency in Microsoft Word/Outlook/Teams/Excel/Powerpoint. Must be able to work with minimal supervision Must be able to work on several projects simultaneously Must have excellent written and verbal communication skills Must be patient and persistent Must be willing and able to acquire new skills as needed · Must be able to work well in a high stress, rapid paced, team environment

Preferred:

· Prior experience with biospecimens in a lab environment. Prior experience in areas of IT, data entry, management, and data analysis. Experience working with veterans and non-veterans in a health care setting.
Work Environment:


This job operates in a hospital-based, medical clinic-based, research lab and office-based environment. This role routinely uses medical, lab and standard office equipment.


Physical Demands:


The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, sit, use hands and fingers to handle or feel objects, tools or controls. Reach with hands and arms, climb stairs, talk or hear. The employee must occasionally lift or move office products and supplies up to 20 pounds.


Travel:


Possible travel to community based outpatient clinics.

**School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States**

Research

Post Date Jul 07, 2022

Requisition # 94804

Stanford University is seeking aLife Science Research Professional 2toperform more complex functions and activities involved in defined research projects, and independently conduct a portion of the research project(s).

**Duties include:**

+ Independently maintain iPSC-cell culture and differentiation into different somatic cell lines.

+ Independently conduct a portion of the research project(s). Make recommendations on experimental design and/or research direction to principal investigator.

+ Experience in culture and maintenance of rodent colonies. Administration of drugs via osmotic minipumps or regular ip injection. Isolating of tissues and preparation of single cell suspensions.

+ Independently conduct complex (lab and/or field) experiments to gather data for a portion of a major research project.

+ Interpret and analyze results, often where few guidelines exist, and make modifications to existing procedures and protocols.

+ Develop new research protocols where appropriate protocols are not described in the literature or where modification or adaptation of standard procedures and protocols is required.

+ Participate in multidisciplinary teams across different faculties or schools.

+ Perform ongoing literature review to remain current with new procedures and related research; apply to ongoing research and development of new protocols.

+ Contribute substantively to the preparation of papers for publication, especially in the results section, and to publication of findings. Present ongoing work to colleagues and/or academic conferences.

+ Oversee supply and equipment budget under supervision of principal investigator or business manager.

+ Work with health and safety department to ensure lab complies with regulations and all required trainings.

+ Supervise (either formally or informally) staff or students as needed, including oversight and direction on techniques, as well as consultation on project work. Serve as a technical resource for other research staff.

+ Oversee the daily activities of the laboratory including lab maintenance; maintain lab stock, manage chemical inventory and safety records, and provide general lab support as needed. May assist with purchasing laboratory equipment.

_*- Other duties may also be assigned_

**EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE (REQUIRED):** Bachelor's degree in related scientific field and two years of relevant work experience; or Master's degree in a related scientific field. Solid experience with iPSC-cell culture work for at least 2 years. Experience in cardiomyocyte differentiation techniques would be a plus.

**KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (REQUIRED):**

+ Experience in iPSC cell culture maintenance is required.

+ Comprehensive understanding of scientific principles.

+ General computer skills and ability to quickly learn and master computer programs, databases, and scientific applications.

+ Strong analytical skills and excellent judgment.

+ Ability to maintain detailed records of experiments and outcomes.

+ Ability to work under deadlines with general guidance is essential.

+ Excellent organizational skills and demonstrated ability to accurately complete detailed work.

**PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS*:**

+ Frequently stand, walk, twist, bend, stoop, squat, grasp lightly, use fine manipulation, grasp forcefully, perform desk-based computer tasks, use telephone, write by hand, lift, carry, push and pull objects weighing over 40 pounds.

+ Occasionally sit, kneel, crawl, reach and work above shoulders, sort and file paperwork or parts.

+ Rarely climb, scrub, sweep, mop, chop and mix or operate hand and foot controls.

+ Must have correctible vision to perform duties of the job.

+ Ability to bend, squat, kneel, stand, reach above shoulder level, and move on hard surfaces for up to eight hours.

+ Ability to lift heavy objects weighing up to 50 pounds.

+ Ability to work in a dusty, dirty, and odorous environment.

+ Position may require repetitive motion.

*- _Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodation to any employee with a disability who requires accommodation to perform the essential functions of his or her job._

**WORKING CONDITIONS:**

+ May require working near blood borne pathogens.

+ May require work in an environment where animals are used for teaching and research.

+ Position may at times require the employee to work with or be in areas where hazardous materials and/or infectious diseases are present.

+ Employee must perform tasks that require the use of personal protective equipment, such as safety glasses and shoes, protective clothing and gloves, and possibly a respirator.

+ May require extended or unusual work hours based on research requirements and business needs.

Additional Information

+ **Schedule: Full-time**

+ **Job Code: 4952**

+ **Employee Status: Regular**

+ **Grade: G**