Research Assistant

Department
 

BSD OBG - Lindau Lab - Research Support

About the Department
 

The Lindau Laboratory at The University of Chicago is an interdisciplinary, team-based laboratory performing human-level observational, interventional, and health services research motivated by a fundamental concern for the principle of justice in health and health care. The lab, funded predominantly by agencies of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for more than 15 years, employs about 20 full and part-time researchers and staff across disciplines including epidemiology, gerontology, anthropology, neurobiology, cancer biology, public health, and data science. The lab routinely collaborates across disciplines, departments, and with investigators at other institutions including experts in the fields of computer science, geriatrics, oncology, public health, social services administration, psychology, neuroscience, materials science, engineering and other medical and social science fields. The work of the lab focuses in two main areas: 1) preservation and treatment of female sexual function in the context of aging, cancer and other common diseases and 2) social determinants of health, with a particular concern for women and older adults living in socioeconomically marginalized communities. Our research and programmatic activities include Bionic Breast, WomanLab, Feed1st and CommunityRx. The Lab has spun out two companies: Now Pow, LLC (acquired by Unite Us, LLC in 2021) and MAPS Corps, 501c3, both based in Hyde Park, Chicago, IL.
This at-will position is wholly or partially funded by contractual grant funding which is renewed under provisions set by the grantor of the contract. Employment will be contingent upon the continued receipt of these grant funds and satisfactory job performance.

Job Summary
 

The job provides technical support activities related to scientific research projects. Ensures compliance of research activities with institutional, state, and federal regulatory policies, procedures, directives and mandates. Assists in drafting presentations on research findings.

Responsibilities

• Participate in and support Community Rx intervention delivery and primary data collection, including: study recruitment and enrollment, administering surveys in-person and over the phone, and facilitation of survey reminders and follow-up.

• Assist in the design, development and implementation of quantitative and qualitative research studies.

• Support aspects of community engaged research processes, including development and support of research advisory boards.

• Conduct rigorous literature search and synthesis to support all aspects of research.

• Support and contribute to development, writing and management of IRB protocols and collaborate with senior  researchers to iterate protocols to comply with new IRB and HIPAA regulations or other guidance.

• Support development of presentations, manuscripts, and other knowledge dissemination materials for the purposes of presentation at scientific meetings, educational convenings and publication in peer-reviewed literature.

• Support and contribute substantively to developing, writing and submitting grant applications.

• Support all scientific elements of planning, monitoring, and execution of investigator-initiated research and educational efforts to ensure timely progress toward scientific and educational milestones and deliverables.

• Train and support other research trainees: interact regularly and as needed with research trainees in the lab to support their scholarly activities.

• Contribute to recruitment and evaluation of trainees.

• Support trainees to meet project milestones, including research and other learning objectives.

• Support trainee orientation, advise trainees on laboratory procedures and protocols.

• Share in or lead responsibility for all administrative, operations, regulatory, compliance and logistics functions related to research, teaching, service and clinical missions and to foster a supportive, high functioning work environment.

• Ability to work both in-person at the office and remotely (hybrid /teleworking) as required by the needs of the project and the research team.

• Provides technical and administrative support for a research project.

• Collects and enters data. Assists in analyzing data. Assists with preparation of reports, manuscripts and other documents.

• May assist recruiting and scheduling research subjects; assisting with developing or amending study protocols; assisting with developing data collection tools; assisting with building databases; and providing general administrative support. Is developing skills in research techniques or methods, regulatory policies and procedures, and relevant scientific field.

• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications
 

Education:

Minimum requirements include vocational training, apprenticeships or the equivalent experience in related field (not typically required to have a four-year degree).

---
Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

---
Certifications:

---

Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in a field relevant to the research being conducted.

Experience:

• Experience in a field relevant to the research being conducted.

• Experience working in a hospital or medical setting a plus.

• Experience and demonstrated interest in medicine, women’s health, aging, epidemiology, health-related social sciences, populations health, health information technology, health services research, and/or community health and interest to work across these disciplines.

• Fluency in the Spanish language is strongly preferred.

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

• Experience with EPIC or an electronic medical record system a plus.

• Experience with statistical data analysis tools such as STATA, SPSS or similar, GIS and some programming knowledge is a plus.

• Experience with REDCap a plus.

• Proven expert level proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, scientific search engines, reference/citation management systems.

Preferred Competencies

• Excellent oral and written communication skills with preference for bilingual communication skills.

• Knowledgeable about and capable of maintaining the highest standards of scientific integrity in all aspects of work.

• Track record of successful team and collaborative work.

• Demonstrated ability to prioritize and complete work on established timeline; excellent time management skills.

• Ability to produce high quality work product with a high degree of independence.

• Direct communicator.

• High energy compatible with high volume work environment.

• Demonstrated critical thinking/problem solving skills.

• Demonstrated organizational skills.

• Demonstrated leadership, interpersonal and relationship building skills.

• Ability to work with sensitive subject matter and maintain strict confidentiality regarding research participants, and patients.

Application Documents

• Resume (required)

• Cover Letter (preferred)

When applying, the document(s) MUST  be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family
 

Research

Role Impact
 

Individual Contributor

FLSA Status
 

Non-Exempt

Pay Frequency
 

Biweekly

Scheduled Weekly Hours
 

40

Benefits Eligible
 

Yes

Drug Test Required
 

No

Health Screen Required
 

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required
 

No

Posting Statement
 

Employees must comply with the University’s COVID-19 vaccination requirements. More information about the requirements can be found on the University of Chicago Vaccination GoForward .
The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/ Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

 

Staff Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

 

We seek a diverse pool of applicants who wish to join an academic community that places the highest value on rigorous inquiry and encourages a diversity of perspectives, experiences, groups of individuals, and ideas to inform and stimulate intellectual challenge, engagement, and exchange.

 

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history.  A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment.  Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

 

The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu . Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.