Ucsf Research Assistant Jobs (NOW HIRING)

The UCSF Advanced Lung Disease and Lung Transplant Research Program oversees human subjects-based research operations in end-stage non-malignant lung diseases and lung transplantation and conducts clinical trials in adults with Cystic Fibrosis and non-CF bronchiectasis.  It is directed by Dr. Jonathan Singer, Professor of Medicine.

The Program functions within the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Allergy and Sleep Medicine in the Department of Medicine. Under direct supervision of the Principal Investigator (Jonathan Singer or John Greenland) or Supervisor, this position will perform entry level duties related to the support and coordination of clinical studies and may receive training and development to prepare and advance for journey-level work at the next level within the series. 

The Assistant Research Coordinator will support and assist with coordinating several ongoing studies focused on patient centered outcomes in lung transplantation as well as clinical trials in patients with cystic fibrosis and non-CF bronchiectasis.  The incumbent will help with identification, recruitment, enrollment, registration of subjects, administer structured surveys;  under direct supervision, perform discrete, validated physical assessment batteries, performing spirometry (a test of lung function), data abstraction from electronic or paper medical records and data entry into clinical databases. Further duties include collecting and transporting biologic samples (blood and lung lavage fluid) to collaborating laboratories for labeling, processing, storage and shipping to collaborators. In addition, for ongoing multi-center collaborations, duties are similar to those described above but also include interacting and coordinating with research coordinators and PIs at other centers.  Under direct supervision, this entry level position will learn about  informed consent and  discrete physical assessment tests, administer structured surveys, and process stipends for patients with cystic fibrosis and non-CF bronchiectasis participating in clinical trials. Under direct supervision and guidance of the PI or Supervisor, the Assistant Research Coordinator will also be responsible for writing/editing study protocols, and submitting IRB renewals, and general support of academic activities such as helping draft tables and figures for scientific abstracts and manuscripts. 

Required Qualifications:

• HS graduation and sufficient experience and demonstrated skills to successfully perform the assigned duties and responsibilities; and/or equivalent experience/training.
• Excellent verbal and written communications and presentation skills; excellent organizational skills; and excellent interpersonal skills to work effectively in a diverse team.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Windows.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, team-based environment; project management and coordination skills; ability to prioritize tasks and meet multiple deadlines on concurrent projects.
• Ability to establish cooperative working relationships with patients, co-workers, & physicians.

• Willingness and interest in working directly with extremely sick patients being evaluated for or who have undergone lung transplantation - will involve working with study subjects who may be hospitalized, including in the Intensive Care Units. 

• Demonstrated proficiency with medical record data abstraction and entry into online database

• Physical dexterity needed to perform muscle strength testing,

• Ability to work in a fast-paced, unpredictable study environment in which study tasks are completed in between clinical appointments in different physical locations on the Medical Campus
• Ability to know when a study subject is too sick to complete components of the research visit
• Willingness to assist in performing spirometry-an aerosol generating procedure-in the era of COVID19. Of note, full personal protective equipment will be provided, coordinator will be offered time to undergo full COVID19 vaccine (Moderna or Pfizer) prior to performing spirometry, and all patient participants will be ruled out for COVID19 by nasal swab PCR testing prior to undergoing testing.

Required Licenses and/or Certifications:

• None

Preferred Qualifications:

• Proficiency with medical terminology.

• Experience working with patients with severe lung disease requiring supplemental oxygen support

• Familiarity with health-related quality of life measures

• Previous experience as a clinical research coordinator including subject recruitment and survey administration

• Proficiency with conversational and medical Spanish or Chinese

• Phlebotomy license; if not licensed, be willing to be trained and certified to perform phlebotomy

• Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) certification

• Experience processing blood specimens

% 

of time

Essential Function (Yes/No)

Key Responsibilities

(To be completed by Supervisor)

10

Patient Management:   

Under direct supervision, assist with screening and enrollment of patients in several ongoing clinical research studies:   

Working in collaboration with the PI and others, will receive training on assigned protocols, screening and enrolling patients in appropriate studies.  This information includes inclusion and exclusion criteria, tests performed, data collection schedule, protocol, data collection forms, and study specific procedures to be followed.  This duty requires describing the study to potentially critically ill patients. Familiarity with medical terminology will be helpful to be able to identify appropriate subjects for recruitment.

20

Protocol coordination of study subjects: 

Work with and provide assistance to clinicians (nurse practitioners, physicians, nurse coordinators, physical therapists) who are working with the patient to

• Ensure compliance with the research protocol
• Answer any questions about the protocol that may arise, working closely with the Principal Investigator and Supervisor
• Help identify adverse and serious adverse events and report these as necessary to the IRB
• Receive training and direction from PI or Supervisor on how to draft or redesign Manuals of Operating Procedures 
• Administer surveys and ensure completeness of responses
• Under direct supervision, will be trained to perform study procedures (Physical performance batteries, 6-minute walk test) on subjects who may be very ill and/or hospitalized
• Identify and collect all clinical data from electronic medical records (EMR)
  • Experience with EMR and medical terminology is helpful
• Keep principal investigators and Supervisor informed of data collection issues

25

15

Data Management:  

• Tracks and reports progress of studies including patient enrollment/screening, data collection, and adverse event documentation
• Enters data into RedCap database
• In addition, enter data into databases for multicenter studies that UCSF Lung Transplant program is involved in. 

10

Project coordination/IRB compliance (under direct supervision):

• Ensures appropriate follow up and close-out of study subject records and compliance with all documentation required for the IRB 
• Interfaces and troubleshoots multicenter study issues with research coordinators 

15

Under direct supervision, assist with Clinical trial execution: screening and enrolling adults with Cystic Fibrosis and non-CF bronchiectasis in a variety of clinical trials.

• Interface with Cystic Fibrosis team to identify candidates for clinical trials
• Collect and transport select biospecimens to processing laboratories. Specimens may include sputum, blood, nasal swabs, urine. 
• Conduct phone check-ins with subjects regarding difficulty level, progression, and adverse events
• Perform spirometry and multiple breath washout (aerosol generating procedure) 

5

Administrative support:

• Assists PI in performing administrative tasks related to research (e.g., submitting research abstracts or manuscripts
• Assist and receive direction from PI on assembling tables and figures for research publications
• Order and maintain research related supplies

100%