Research Trainee Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

Department

BSD OBG - Lindau Lab - Special Projects

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 USA, Inc. in 2021) and MAPSCorps, 501c3 (joined Northwestern University School of Education and Social Policy in 2023), both originally headquartered 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 independently manages the collection, documentation, analysis of clinical trial data, and reporting of clinical research data. Provides input into the strategic, administrative, operational, and financial decisions that impact clinical research conducted across the University.
The job includes management of and research participation in the Bionic Breast project and other research studies involving human subjects. Ensures compliance of research activities with institutional, state, and federal regulatory policies, procedures, directives, and mandates. Analyzes possible solutions using standard procedures. Writes articles, reports, and manuscripts. Assists in drafting presentations on research findings. This position draws heavily and about equally on intermediate to advanced quantitative, qualitative, and textual analysis skills applied in support of studies focused on women's health, aging, and the health of marginalized populations.
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.

Responsibilities

• Project management for high complexity clinical studies, including the scientific elements of study planning, monitoring, and execution of investigator-initiated research efforts and owning administrative tasks to ensure timely progress toward scientific milestones and deliverables.

• Ensures project compliance with policies, procedures, directives, and mandates.

• Perform significant role in the design, development and implementation of quantitative and qualitative research studies, including grant writing, survey development, participant recruitment/enrollment/interviewing.

• Recognize abnormal results and varying conditions or procedures to correct problems, set up and perform experiments. Analyze meaning, significance, causes, and effects of the subject.

• Supportcompliant conduct, regulatory, and administrative activities.Stay current with and manage regulatory processes including IRB, FDA, NIH, HIPAA, CITI, clinicaltrials.gov, Florence portal.

• Responsible for training and supervising research trainees, students and staff. Ensures trainees meet project milestones and ensures completion of trainees' research learning objectives.

• Data collection, preparation, management, and analysis for both qualitative and quantitative analyses.

• Supportcompliant conduct, regulatory, and administrative activities.

• Prepare and lead presentations and manuscripts, including as first author and presenter, for the purposes of presentation at scientific meetings and publication in peer-reviewed literature.

• Support compliant conduct, regulatory and administrative activities, including leading development and management of IRB protocols, by liaising with peer experts in these domains.

• Independently tracks data collection progress, identifies deviations from projected accrual plans, directs solutions to correct course, collaborates with research operations lead to ensure data collection progresses on budget and on time.

• Performs and supervises others in literature search, synthesis and citation management, ensuring best practices.

• Accountable for all tasks in complex clinical studies.

• Performs various professional, organizational, and operational tasks under limited supervision. Acts as a resource on clinical research and related aspects of clinical study for other clinical research staff. Accountable for complex problem solving on assigned clinical research studies and professional tasks.

• Facilitates and participates in the daily activities of complex clinical studies and performs various activities including patient data retrieval, documenting clinical research records, and participation in program audits. Uses in-depth knowledge of clinical studies to coordinate the collection of analyzable clinical research data and/or samples with a high degree of independence.

• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Master in related field (public health, epidemiology, etc.).

Experience:

• Five years of relevant research experience.

• Knowledge and experience related to women's sexual health and social drivers of health.

Preferred Competencies

• Excellent critical thinking/problem solving skills.

• Strong analytic skills as well as proficiency in STATA, R or equivalent programs required; qualitative data analysis using ATLAS-TI and similar qualitative software packages.

• Expertise in epidemiology, social science, populations studies, clinical trials and/or community health.

• Experience in NIH grant writing, manuscript writing and writing and implementing human subjects protocols.

• Proven expert level proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and scientific search engines.

• Demonstrated leadership, interpersonal and relationship building skills.

• Demonstrated ability to work independently or in team in a fast-paced, environment.

• Excellent organization and verbal and written communication skills, as well as the ability to work effectively with people from many backgrounds.

• Ability to work with sensitive subject matter.

Working Conditions

• Office/Lab environment.

Application Documents

• Resume (required)

• Cover Letter (required)

The University of Chicago uses AI-assisted tools to streamline and augment some recruitment processes; however, AI is not used to make hiring decisions.
When applying, the document(s) MUSTbe uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family

Research

Role Impact

Individual Contributor

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

Drug Test Required

Yes

Health Screen Required

Yes

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No

Pay Rate Type

Salary

FLSA Status

Exempt

Pay Range

$75,000.00 - $90,000.00

The included pay rate or range represents the University's good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Benefits Eligible

Yes

The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

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.

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.

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