Research Assistant - Otolaryngology

SUMMARY:

The Department of Otolaryngology - Carver College of Medicine seeks to hire a Research Assistant to join an interdisciplinary team of clinician-researchers conducting projects in the area of cochlear implant electrophysiology. Our work focuses on characterizing the role that the peripheral auditory system plays in determining outcomes for human cochlear implant users and evaluating strategies designed to improve preservation of structure and function during and following implantation. The Research Assistant will work as a part of a team with investigators from otolaryngology, neurobiology, genetics, and communication science, in addition to collaborators at other institutions. Responsibilities will include recruiting and scheduling participants, conducting visits with participants to complete electrophysiological and hearing assessments, scoring, entering, and managing data, maintaining highly organized and detailed research records, overseeing regulatory paperwork, and working with the study team on other research related tasks as needed.

BASIC POSITION DESCRIPTION:

Perform research activities based upon protocols developed by other research staff or principal investigator of the research project. Provide support for researchers by addressing administrative, management and maintenance tasks. Specifically, these responsibilities will apply within the setting of a hearing research laboratory.

KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

Research:

• Demonstrate excellent interpersonal sensitivity and communication skills by developing and maintaining a positive working relationship with the interdisciplinary research team including study investigators, clinical audiologists, clerks, staff, students, and fellow research personnel.

• Coordinate participant recruitment and scheduling efforts. This includes recruiting and interviewing prospective participants for studies, obtaining informed consent, completing questionnaires, and reviewing data with study investigators or a member of the management team.

• Maintain telephone or email contact with research participants, review compliance with the protocol, organize and maintain study records and files in conjunction with other research staff.

• Administer and score research measures based upon protocols developed by other research staff or principal investigators of the research project.

• Demonstrate strong communication skills including rapidly developing rapport and speaking clearly and effectively. Able to describe basic study purpose and procedures to participants.

• Conduct literature searches to collect relevant prior background information on relevant research topics as directed by study investigators and assist in the preparation of bibliographies.

• May contribute to the technical writing of papers, manuscripts, and published materials.

• Prepare basic data reports for discussion with study investigators.

• As individual skills develop, analyze literature to develop hypotheses for discussion with other researchers or principal investigator.

Administrative:

• Facilitate completion of all paperwork associated with visits (e.g. payments, travel arrangements, parking).

• Prepare reports of data to track progress toward completing project goals.

• Assist in the design of manuals, questionnaires, and forms.

• Present updates at team and departmental meetings; may present at local and national meetings as skills develop.

• Demonstrate ability to successfully multitask by effectively allocating time. 

Data Management:

• Demonstrate accuracy in all details including collecting, recording, and entering data.

• Manage existing databases and when relevant create new databases for lab studies using Excel, Access, or RedCap data software.

• Monitor data quality.

• Assure fidelity to protocols.

• Adhere to safety and compliance guidelines.

• Make recommendations regarding the validity of research data.

• As skills develop, analyze data.

Facilities and Equipment Management:

• Assist in the design and development of questionnaires, manuals and forms.

• Assist in the management and maintenance of lab equipment including software updates and simple calibration checks.

• Set up and operate research materials and equipment.

• Assist with the procurement of supplies and materials.

• As skills develop, learn to troubleshoot.

• Create and maintain logs of laboratory owned and manufacturer loaned equipment.