Sr. Clinical Research Assistant

All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes: comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave granted up front, generous tuition benefit, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more. Learn more about VCU’s benefits here.

VCU Institute for Drug and Alcohol Studies

At VCU, we are UNCOMMON and UNLIKE any other university. A premier, urban, public research university nationally recognized as one of the best employers for diversity, VCU is a great place to work. It’s a place of opportunity where your success is supported and your career can thrive. VCU offers employees a generous leave package, career paths for advancement, competitive pay, and an opportunity to do mission-driven work.

VCU's Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation and the Institute for Drug and Alcohol Studies (IDAS) invites all interested candidates to apply for our exciting Sr. Clinical Research Assistant position! IDAS advances multidisciplinary research and training on the neuroscience of addictions and related neurobehavioral disorders. VCU is UNLIKE the rest. Our impact is measured one student and patient at a time.VCU’s unequaled combination of excellence, diversity, research and creativity makes success possible for every one of our 300,000 “RAMily” members. And that makes us one of the most innovative universities in the country. A premier, urban, public research university nationally recognized as one of the best employers for diversity, VCU is a great place to work. It's a place of opportunity, where your success is supported and your career can thrive.

All full-time staff are eligible for our generous benefits package that includes choices for health, vision, and dental coverage, life-insurance, short and long-term disability coverage, retirement planning, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, flexible spending accounts, tuition benefits, significant paid-time off,12 paid holidays, and more.  Explore our benefits further here: https://hr.vcu.edu/current-employees/benefits/

Typical Duties

Duties and Responsibilities:
The VCU Institute for Drug and Alcohol Studies (IDAS) advances multidisciplinary research and training in the
field of neuroscience. The Senior Research Assistant will be expected to carry out data collection procedures
from human volunteers as required as part of the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study and
assist the research coordinator in study management. This is a multi-site longitudinal study taking place across
the United States.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Retention activities such as mailing out cards, birthday and holiday greetings, etc.
• Contacting enrolled participants to schedule upcoming visits.
• Conduct informed consent and assent procedures with study participants.
• Conduct research activities per protocol including collection of biological specimens (i.e. hair, saliva, breath, blood pressure, from participants), conduct interviews, and ensure survey completion with participants.
• Correctly calculate participant payment and follow procedures to initiate participant payment through the business office.
• Conduct regular quality control of data collected at the VCU site and notify the coordinator and project manager of trends.
• Supervise students working on the study.
• Assist with study protocol training in conjunction with the study coordinator.
• Performs all other research duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• VCU supports a diverse faculty, staff, and student environment. The candidate will demonstrate experience that shows their commitment to fostering such an environment.
• Bachelors of Science degree or equivalent in Psychology, Neuroscience or related field.
• Proficient in computer skills including word processing, data entry, spreadsheet.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Strong interpersonal skills such as establishing rapport, maintaining participant motivation, empathic responding, ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team, and ability to use clinical judgment in (rare) emergency situations.
• Strong organizational skills, including understanding of HIPAA regulations.
• Ability to work around MRI machines.
• Typical work week is Tuesday-Saturday, 9:30am-6pm, some flexibility required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience working with adolescent/young adults.
• Previous experience using REDCap.
• Previous supervisor experience.
• Current CITI Certificates (Social & Behavioral, Biomedical, GCP)
• Phlebotomy certification.

Job Family: Research & Innovation, University Title: Clinical Research Assistant 2-3, Job Code: 34002- 34003

Brandon Seigel
seigelb@vcu.edu