Visiting Senior Research Specialist - DOM, Division of Pulmonary, Breathe Chicago Center
Hiring Department: Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep and Allergy
Location: Chicago, IL
Requisition ID:1025847
Posting Close Date: June 25, 2024
About the University of Illinois Chicago
UIC is among the nation’s preeminent urban public research universities, a Carnegie RU/VH research institution, and the largest university in Chicago. UIC serves over 34,000 students, comprising one of the most diverse student bodies in the nation and is designated as a Minority Serving Institution (MSI), an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPSI) and a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). Through its 16 colleges, UIC produces nationally and internationally recognized multidisciplinary academic programs in concert with civic, corporate and community partners worldwide, including a full complement of health sciences colleges. By emphasizing cutting-edge and transformational research along with a commitment to the success of all students, UIC embodies the dynamic, vibrant and engaged urban university. Recent “Best Colleges” rankings published by U.S. News & World Report, found UIC climbed up in its rankings among top public schools in the nation and among all national universities. UIC has over 300,000 alumni, and is one of the largest employers in the city of Chicago.
Description:
Who We Are: The Breathe Chicago Center (BCC) in the Department of Medicine at the University of Illinois Chicago conducts research to identify new tests and treatments for people with chronic lung disease, COVID-19, Long COVID, and other conditions. We also use healthcare delivery science to increase access to high-quality healthcare. Studies are conducted in collaboration with academic health centers, community-based organizations, and faith-based organizations in Chicago and other cities across the nation.
General Job Summary: The Visiting Senior Research Specialist (Research Communications Center, Recruitment & Retention Manager) oversees and supervises the timely handling of recruitment and retention activities for clinical research protocols related to COVID-19, asthma, and COPD in the Breathe Chicago Center (BCC) within the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep & Allergy in the Department of Medicine. This position does not require living in Chicago, IL, and may be undertaken remotely.
Job Responsibilities (Essential Duties):
Research
- Develop objectives and design of research and data collection procedures. Conceptualize, initiate and execute research goals for project.
- Conduct and coordinate advanced research studies. Analyze and interpret data and results and refine study design.
- Develop and write advanced study protocols. Thoroughly evaluate research protocols with study team to lead assessment of target population and recruitment goals.
- Evaluate current developments and research findings to determine their potential applicability to research projects.
- Provide guidance on best practices and lessons learned from recruitment efforts across protocols to investigators at UIC and collaborators across the U.S.
- Provide leadership in the development of plans for engaging target population in clinical research, and for identifying and screening potential participants for studies.
- Oversee the review of recruitment and retention procedures and evaluations regularly to ensure protocol compliance.
- Oversee the maintenance of accurate records of all recruitment and engagement activities and provide detailed reports to the study team at regular intervals.
- Ensure that all recruitment and retention activities are in compliance with research protocols, as well as federal, state, institutional and sponsor-specific regulations.
- Assist investigators in organizing data for grant progress reports, meetings, publications, and presentations.
Communications
- Act as lead liaison between research participants, study staff, physicians and study sponsors to ensure that patient safety and satisfaction is prioritized and communicated.
- Provide leadership in developing and providing relevant feedback to community and stakeholders at all levels to improve interest in research and community engagement with UIC.
- Monitor project developments on an ongoing basis and implement changes as needed.
- Prepare, organize and communicate research results. Write papers, grants, and other documents for publication based on research findings.
- Author and co-author articles for publication and present at scientific symposia and conferences.
Staff Management
- Directs and coordinates the work of lower level staff. Guide, train and advise lower level researchers and students on techniques, methods and procedures.
- Plan, assign and review work of staff to ensure that group objectives are met. Hire, train, develop and manage staff to ensure that a qualified staff exists to meet group objectives.
- Provide staff with onboarding and ongoing training to meet the needs of their position, troubleshoot real-time issues with a sense of urgency, analyze recruitment and retention data, and focus on improving performance and processes in an effort to better support study objectives.
- Develop objectives for staff’s day-to-day activities and maximize the productivity of resources (people, technology, etc).
- Evaluate performance of staff with key metrics (recruitment and retention rates, accuracy, timeliness, etc)
- Ensure that staff represent the program in a positive, professional manner at all times while serving as the face of BCC to research participants, families, community members and external partners.
- Perform other related duties and participate in special projects as assigned.
Qualifications:
Minimum Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree in social science or related field required. Master’s degree in social science preferred.
- A minimum of 5 years related research experience.
- Possesses and applies advanced knowledge of research principles, concepts, practices and methods.
Preferred Qualifications (Job, Knowledge & Skills, Education, Experience):
- Bachelor’s degree in public health, clinical research methods, mental health, psychology, pharmaceutical sciences, social sciences, or a related field preferred; Master’s degree preferred
- Five years of experience in a position involving work with research, demonstrated growth in position, supervisory experience preferred
- Strong attention to detail
The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify.
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