Behavioral Research Scientist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

This position is for a Research Scientist 2 with the UNM Comprehensive Cancer Center Clinical Research Office.  This position is responsible for working with providers in the coordination of patient participation on oncology clinical trials. This position plays a key role in patient safety and monitoring of protocol compliance. The Research Scientist 2 is responsible for informed consent of the patient, scheduling of protocol required appointments, documentation of side effects and medications. This role works directly with study team and PI to assure the trial activity is per protocol expectations and regulations.

Duties and Responsibilities

1.     Demonstrates and applies thorough understanding of Good Clinical Practice (GCP), research protocols, and assessment instruments.

2.     Responsible for the daily conduct of assigned clinical trials by adhering to research protocols, planning/scheduling/coordinating logistical arrangements for research subject participation, and monitoring subject adherence to the protocol calendar of events and regulatory requirements.

3.     Independently screens, recruits, and enrolls cancer patients to non-therapeutic oncology clinical trials (non-therapeutic interventional, behavioral, bio-repository, and quality of life).

4.     Responsible for providing informed consent and interacting with patients and/or caregivers to clearly explain protocol expectations. Able to provide clear and concise instruction to research participants and/or caregivers.

5.     Independently gathers all supporting documentation to assess subject eligibility with the Principal Investigator.

6.     Generates data and performs and/or oversees data collection to ensure data integrity, quality control, and protocol compliance. Prepares narrative or graphical reports as appropriate. Able to complete patient contact documentation at each visit/contact to ensure all required data points are collected in the patient record.

7.     Able to perform vital sign monitoring, electrocardiograms (EKG), and other study-specific procedures, including point of care testing.

8.     Responsible for grading adverse events and toxicities per standardized criteria and communicating clearly with the trial Research Nurse or Principal Investigator regarding dose modifications or medication holds.

9.     Able to follow billing guidelines and complete orders for each patient in accordance with the study budget.

10.  Performs miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned.

The University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center is the Official Cancer Center of New Mexico and the only National Cancer Institute-designated Cancer Center in a 500-mile radius. Its 136 board-certified oncology specialty physicians include cancer surgeons in every specialty (abdominal, thoracic, bone and soft tissue, neurosurgery, genitourinary, gynecology, and head and neck cancers), adult and pediatric hematologists/medical oncologists, gynecologic oncologists, and radiation oncologists. They, along with more than 600 other cancer healthcare professionals (nurses, pharmacists, nutritionists, navigators, psychologists and social workers), provide treatment to 65% of New Mexico's cancer patients from all across the state. And they partner with community health systems statewide to provide cancer care closer to home. In 2024 they treated more than 15,000 patients in almost 105,000 ambulatory clinic visits in addition to in-patient hospitalizations at UNM Hospital. A total of 2,075 patients participated in cancer clinical trials to study new cancer treatments that include tests of novel cancer prevention strategies and cancer genome sequencing. The more than 123 cancer research scientists affiliated with the UNM Cancer Center were awarded 38.3 million in federal and private grants and contracts for cancer research projects. Since 2015, the physicians, scientists and staff have provided education and training experiences to more than 750 high school, undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral fellowship students in cancer research and cancer health care delivery.

Website: unmhealth.org/cancer