Research Specialist IV, Research Support

Assists with research support by leading day-to-day operations of projects, coordinating and allocating resources for research studies, and following federal and local regulations, standard operating procedures, and Institutional Review Board (IRB) approved protocols. Contributes to the execution of research by independently conducting data gathering activities, implementing protocols for reviewing data for accuracy and checking for inconsistencies in data, and implementing protocols for tasks related to the recruitment, enrollment, consenting, follow-up with participants, and answering participant questions. Contributes to the development of research materials and procedures by implementing study protocols, and guiding and mentoring others on the development of study materials (e.g., recruitment, data collection, retention) in a variety of formats including online. Coordinates the documentation and reporting of research study activities by developing tools, systems, and forms for project tracking and documentation, monitoring study progress, and escalating issues to project managers or investigators.

• Promotes learning in others by proactively providing and/or developing information, resources, advice, and expertise with coworkers and members; builds relationships with cross-functional/external stakeholders and customers. Listens to, seeks, and addresses performance feedback; proactively provides actionable feedback to others and to managers. Pursues self-development; creates and executes plans to capitalize on strengths and develop weaknesses; leads by influencing others through technical explanations and examples and provides options and recommendations. Adopts new responsibilities; adapts to and learns from change, challenges, and feedback; demonstrates flexibility in approaches to work; champions change and helps others adapt to new tasks and processes. Facilitates team collaboration to support a business outcome.


• Completes work assignments autonomously and supports business-specific projects by applying expertise in subject area and business knowledge to generate creative solutions; encourages team members to adapt to and follow all procedures and policies. Collaborates cross-functionally and/or externally to achieve effective business decisions; provides recommendations and solves complex problems; escalates high-priority issues or risks, as appropriate; monitors progress and results. Supports the development of work plans to meet business priorities and deadlines; identifies resources to accomplish priorities and deadlines. Identifies, speaks up, and capitalizes on improvement opportunities across teams; uses influence to guide others and engages stakeholders to achieve appropriate solutions.


• Contributes to the execution of research studies by: independently conducting research surveys, focus groups, qualitative interviews, or other data gathering activities for moderately complex projects while providing guidance to more junior personnel; developing training materials and resources for data collection and project support activities, under guidance, while ensuring effective knowledge transfer to team members; ensuring open-ended/qualitative data is adequately prepared for analysis and/or conducting basic statistics or qualitative analyses to assist investigators with data analysis; implementing data quality control and quality assurance measures in consultation with PI or project manager; implementing protocols and systems for recruitment, enrollment, consenting, and follow-up with participants; and responding to participants about issues escalated by project staff while suggesting improvements to investigators or project managers.


• Contributes to the development of research materials and procedures by: guiding and mentoring others on the development of study materials including surveys, flyers, brochures, and newsletters and implementing study protocols and/or operation manuals; and providing subject matter expertise to inform the implementation and/or design of research studies and/or study methodology connected to an investigators research agenda.


• Coordinates the documentation and reporting of research study activities by: developing tools, systems, and forms for project tracking and documentation in consultation with the PI and/or project manager; and monitoring the progress of study activities and escalating issues to project managers or investigators.


• Leads research support operations by: leading the day-to-day operations of projects; coordinating and allocating resources for research studies; contributing to the management of project budgets and/or ensuring projects remain within budgetary constraints; assisting investigators with the development and preparation of grant proposals and/or participating in discussions with leadership or funding agencies; drafting Institutional Review Board (IRB) protocols, amendments, continuing reviews, and other documentation; drafting Institutional Review Board (IRB) protocols, amendments, continuing reviews, and other documentation; and following and supporting the investigator/project manager in ensuring project team compliance with federal and local regulations, standard operating procedures, and IRB approved protocols and maintaining compliance for handling research data.