Student Research Specialist

Seeking to hire an undergraduate or graduate student to work 15-28 hours per week as a Student Research Specialist for a clinical research group. The SURE Center is a large multi-disciplinary effort led by PI, Dr. Bakhireva, with collaborators across UNM-HSC and beyond. Due to the nature of the research being conducted, a high level of confidentiality and discretion is required. Clinical studies are conducted among Spanish- and English-speaking pregnant women and their newborns. This position will require the incumbent to be proficient in Spanish, and comfortable working with vulnerable populations, including patients with a history of substance use. The Research Specialist will work closely with UNM affiliated providers to administer structured interviews in English and Spanish for participants enrolled in the study. This position will also coordinate study-related procedures, including data entry and data management, and collection of biological specimens including blood, urine, and saliva. He/she/they will work closely with the study consultants and co-investigators, laboratory personnel, and hospital/clinic personnel. This position will require rotating weekend and evening coverage of research activities. May travel to various sites within a specified geographical area, as appropriate to the objectives of the study.

Primary duties will include:

• Administer structured participant interviews in English and Spanish with pregnant and postpartum women at UNMH prenatal care clinics and other research locations
• Assist with data entry of study documents and data management.
• Abstract study specific information from patient's electronic medical records.
• Collect, process, ship, and bank or catalog biological specimens according to established protocol as appropriate to the specific objectives of the research study.
• Plan and organize day-to-day on-site research activities, and resolve procedural and logistical problems as appropriate to the timely completion of research activities.
• Assist with the administration and collection of neurobehavioral, MRI, EEG, and research activities.
• Means to travel to off-site clinics in the greater Albuquerque area will be required.
• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required: Fluency in Spanish including outstanding communication skills in both English and Spanish, ability to conduct structured patient interviews.
• Knowledge of laboratory safety procedures and standards for the handling and processing of biological specimens.
• Ability to collect and process research data and accurately record findings.
• Must possess a current valid driver’s license.

Summer 2024 Student Employee Work Hours
Students can work up to 40 hours per week during summer term (May 13th – Aug 16th) when they are not in class. If the student is attending classes at any point during the summer, then during that time the student’s will work their normal hours (28 hours for domestic students and 20 hours for international students) while they are in class just like in the Fall and Spring. Once the class comes to an end, then the students can work up to 40 hours for the duration of the summer. This applies to domestic and international students.

Enrolled in a degree seeking program at UNM, Enrolled at least half-time (6 hours) at UNM for fall and spring semesters (Audit hours do not count), and if Work Study, you must meet Satisfactory Academic Progress.

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Bilingual, Spanish proficient.
• Prior experience working with vulnerable populations, including pregnant women and newborns.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality of subjects.
• Prior research experience, especially with multi-faceted clinical studies.
• Prior experience with collecting, processing, and analyzing human biological specimens.
• Prior experience working with UNM clinical- and laboratory personnel.
• Prior experience with data entry and data management.
• Prior experience with electronic medical record review and abstractions.
• Ability to work in a multi-disciplinary and deadline-oriented environment.

Only applications submitted through the official UNMJobs site will be accepted. If you are viewing this job advertisement on a 3rd party site, please visit UNMJobs to submit an application.

The University of New Mexico is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class.