Job Description

Position: Research Assistant III, Immigrant and Refugee Health Center      

Location: Boston, MA

Schedule: 40 hours per week

ABOUT BMC:

At Boston Medical Center (BMC), our diverse staff works together for one goal — to provide exceptional and equitable care to improve the health of the people of Boston. Our bold vision to transform health care is powered by our respect for our patients and our commitment to ensure everyone who comes through our doors has a positive experience.

You’ll find a supportive work environment at BMC, with rich opportunities throughout your career for training, development, and growth and where you’ll have the tools you need to take charge of your own practice environment.  

POSITION SUMMARY :

For 25 years, the mission of the Boston Center for Refugee Health and Human Rights (BCRHHR) has been to provide holistic health care coordinated with social services and legal aid for asylum seekers, refugees, survivors of torture, and their families. BCRHHR is part of the Boston Medical Center (BMC) Immigrant and Refugee Health Center (IRHC), which extends this mission of offering a comprehensive medical home to immigrant and refugee patients at BMC.

The Research Assistant III (RA3) will participate in multiple clinical studies as approved by the grant(s).  The RA3 will oversee the administrative aspects of the grant and interact with study subjects, clinical research coordinators, study investigators, work study students and other research staff.  Duties include but are not limited to, assisting with patient recruitment, scheduling study visits, administering questionnaires, creating and filing case report forms, entering and updating data, maintaining databases, running reports, storing samples, and performing other administrative tasks in support of the clinical studies. Maintains contact with the participating sites to insure complete and timely data collection, maintains patient profiles, documents financial and budgetary needs of the grant and monitors the overall budget.

Expected to supervise and direct the daily activities of research assistants, including training, orientation and evaluation.  Uses statistical analysis to develop and implements patient recruitment strategies and designs research protocols.  Implements and maintains quality assurance procedures, and coordinates the lab activities.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Assists in data collection and provides feedback on study’s progress.
• Recruits subjects to participate in the study by using approved methodologies, such as, reaching to healthcare providers for referrals, visiting clinics, sending mailouts, using approved advertisements, etc. Develops and implements patent recruitment strategies. Makes independent judgements of suitability of potential participants for clinical trials.
• Conducts the enrollment of study participants, including explaining research procedures, and obtaining informed consent of subjects and/or their families.
• Schedules appointments of study participants; conducts reminder phone calls and/or sends mailouts.

• Reviews the data collection forms for each enrollee for completion and quality; checks work of junior staff performing data entry to ensure timely and accurate entry.  Provides technical guidance to junior staff.
• Conducts literature searches. Assists Investigators with manuscript and presentation preparation and research.
• Participates in staff meetings/initiatives including appropriate quality improvement and education activities, or if unable to attend non-mandatory activities, accepts responsibility to review meeting minutes and becomes knowledgeable of issues discussed.
• Designs research protocols in conjunction with the PI, Implements and maintains quality assurance procedures and plans, designs, performs statistical analysis

ADMINISTRATIVE

• Responsible for the administrative aspects of the research study, including: managing program records and handling communication needs of the program. Provides assistance in the development of reports, presentations, and data analysis.
• Obtains and distributes payment vouchers for participant reimbursements/participation. 
• Perform administrative duties associated with the study’s Data Monitoring and Safety Board, tracking and reporting adverse events and collecting data specified by the DSMB. Responsible for all other administrative duties related to research activities.
• Prepares and maintains Institutional Review Board (IRB) approvals and correspondence, including amendments and renewals as necessary.

SUPERVISION/TRAINING:

• Training and orienting new research assistants and other staff, plus functions as lead in research setting

• Supervises and directs daily activities of research assistants

  Evaluates RAs performance – hires, fires, and disciplines staff

• Coordinates staffing and schedules

​(The above statements in this job description are intended to depict the general nature and level of work assigned to the employee(s) in this job.  The above is not intended to represent an exhaustive list of accountable duties and responsibilities required).

JOB REQUIREMENTS

EDUCATION:

• Bachelor’s degree is required. Major in a field related to the research highly preferred.
• Master’s Degree is preferred (in lieu of 2 years of experience.)

EXPERIENCE:

• 7+ years of directly related, progressively responsible experience and have demonstrated sound independent judgement and competencies in research methodologies (5+ years with a Master’s Degree)
• Experience with recruiting subjects, with an understanding of the ethical and technical conduct of research.
• Supervisory experience preferred

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

• Excellent English communication skills (oral and written).
• Bilingual or multi-lingual skills (beyond that of English) appropriate to the patient population served is a plus.
• Must have sound interpersonal skills and the ability to supervise others
• Cultural sensitivity and comfort with a wide range of social, racial and ethnic populations
• Works very independently with little guidance from supervisors and displays initiative to introduce innovations to research study and conceptual thinking
• Organizational ability to perform multiple tasks efficiently and to prioritize duties.
• Analytical skill and ability to resolve technical problems and interpret acceptability of data results
• Knowledge of management programs.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications including Word, Excel, and Access and PowerPoint. Experience with statistical analysis tools a plus. Ability to perform basic data management tasks (coding, data entry, data cleaning, retrieval).
• Ability to perform complex data analysis and reporting (in words, numbers and graphics).
• High degree of computer literacy; experience using quantitative data analysis software helpful (e.g., SPSS, SAS, Minitab).
• Ability to prepare and monitor budgets
• Must be able to maintain strict protocols of all confidential or sensitive information
• Ability to prioritize tasks and set deadlines

JOB BENEFITS:

• Competitive pay
• Tuition reimbursement and tuition remission programs
• Highly subsidized medical, dental, and vision insurance options
• Career Advancement/Professional Development: Access a wealth of ongoing training and development opportunities that will not only enhance your skills but also expand your knowledge base especially for individuals pursuing careers in medicine or biomedical research.
• Pioneering Research: Engage in groundbreaking research projects that are driving the forefront of biomedical science.

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT:

As the primary teaching hospital for Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine and BU schools of public health and dentistry, intellectual rigor shapes our inquiries. Our research is led by a belief that skin color, zip code, and financial circumstances shouldn’t dictate health.

Boston Medical Center is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. If you need accommodation for any part of the application process because of a medical condition or disability, please send an e-mail to  Talentacquisition@bmc.org or call 617-638-8582 to let us know the nature of your request.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Disabled/Veterans

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