Clinical Research Assistant I

The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences conducts studies examining the effects of maternal and child environmental exposures (e.g., stress/trauma, chemicals/toxins, caregiving quality) on children's developmental outcomes (e.g., stress physiology, mental and physical health, neurodevelopment). Current projects involve follow-up of a cohort of mothers recruited in pregnancy and their children for assessments when the children are between 11 and 17 years of age. Assessments involve collection of a range of data, including maternal interviews, child behavioral tasks, neurodevelopmental measures, biospecimens, and anthropometry. Research activities include recruiting and consenting participants and scheduling study visits; executing study visits remotely, in the home, and in the laboratory, including administering and scoring behavioral and psychological assessments using standardized tests and questionnaires; collecting and managing biospecimens and physiological and behavioral data; data management; and preparing/updating documentation for ensuring study quality and dissemination of findings.

Responsibilities:

1. Recruits and consents participants for research studies through interviews and written communications. Provides detailed background information regarding studies to families, communicates all policies and procedures, and responds to all inquiries.
2. Executes study visits remotely, in the lab, and in the home, including performing data collection and handling biospecimens.
3. Serves as liaison to participants, guiding and advising them throughout the study. Coordinates follow-up visits. Acts as a resource to study participants, addressing any concerns they may have. Troubleshoots resolution of any issues that may arise throughout the study.
4. Monitors and reviews data collection and data entry and informed consent procedures, ensuring consistency of application.
5. Assists Principal Investigator in planning and implementing research studies and performs other miscellaneous administrative duties as assigned or required.
6. Participates in the training of newly hired research study assistants, as needed.
7. Creates and prepares data collection statistical reports and analytical summaries for distribution to study research team for review and analysis. Prepares/updates documentation for ensuring study quality (e.g., procedural manuals) and dissemination of findings (e.g., assistance with poster presentations, manuscripts) as necessary/requested.
8. Coordinates activities between the study team and participating collaborators within and outside the hospital.
9. Coordinates and prepares the necessary documentation for Institutional Review Board (IRB), Committee on Clinical Investigations (CCI) submissions, and NIH, together with the Principal Investigator of the study, as requested/needed.

Qualifications:

1. Bachelor's degree in an appropriately related discipline.
2. Flexible schedule, including some evenings and weekends. Hours will be adjusted to maximize recruitment and interviewing schedules.
3. Fluency in English and Spanish is preferred.
4. Sensitivity in working with multicultural populations, traumatized women, and children.
5. High attention to detail and organizational skills, ability to multi-task, analytical skills to gather and interpret data in which the information or problems are moderately complex to complex.
6. Well-developed communication skills in order to provide critical information to participants, work collaboratively on a team, effectively deal with conflicting views or issues, and mediate fair solutions.
7. Phlebotomy experience is a plus. Willingness to be trained if no prior training.
8. Knowledge of Excel is required. Knowledge of Word, PowerPoint, and SPSS or SAS is a plus.
9. Valid driver's license is a plus.

Boston Children's Hospital offers competitive compensation and unmatched benefits.