Clinical Research Coordinator I

GENERAL SUMMARY/OVERVIEW STATEMENT:

A multi-year Clinical Research Coordinator (CRC) position is available in the Cortical Physiology Laboratory in the Department of Neurology at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School.

Working independently under the Principal Investigator and Project Manager, the CRC will be responsible for carrying out clinical research studies, including but not limited to participant recruitment and enrollment, carrying out study procedures, data collection and transfer to data repositories, and maintaining study records.

This position is ideal for someone interested in pursuing medical school or graduate studies in psychology, neuroscience, or clinical research. It involves extensive patient interaction as a member of a clinical research team and offers opportunities for individual projects, presentations at conferences, and publications.

Current research project in the laboratory includes using novel electrodes to record brain activity to provide a high-resolution dynamic physiological map of the tumor and the tumor boundary to better understand tumor infiltration in the human brain mapped to 3D imaging of the brain tumors.

The CRC must be able to work in a multidisciplinary clinical team, display a high degree of initiative, and have excellent interpersonal, organizational, and time management skills. CRCs will receive research training, clinical exposure, and individual mentorship during their time in the lab. This project is expected to endure for two years, and continuous engagement throughout the project's lifecycle is highly encouraged.

Application Process:

• The start date for this position is flexible, but the position is immediately available.
• When applying, please upload a cover letter specific to the role in our Group and a resume that includes coursework relevant to the job (e.g., biology and pre-medical courses, journal club, lab work). Applications that do not include all components will NOT be considered.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The CRC will participate in all phases of clinical research projects, from study design to analysis and writing manuscripts for submission to academic journals. They will work closely with research participants and with other clinical research team members, including CRCs, post-doctoral fellows, members of collaborating research groups, Program Managers, and Study Physicians.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Mastery of study protocols, and obtain training and certification where needed to carry out study procedures.
• Assist study physicians with the review of medical records to screen and identify potential research participants.
• Recruitment of research participants for clinical studies (includes assisting in obtaining written informed consent, serving as the primary contact for study participants, and tracking participants throughout the study).
• Generate participant-related study data, including but not limited to administering clinical questionnaires, setting up and obtaining operating room intracranial recordings, assisting with tissue collection procedures, and downloading and preprocessing MRI acquisitions.
• Accurate and timely entry of clinical research data into electronic databases.
• Organize, maintain, and manage research databases and coordinate data repositories with other lab members.
• Attend regular meetings with the Principal Investigator and other team members to discuss study progress and challenges.
• Prepare and manage Institutional Review Board (IRB) applications and related human subject protection documents. Maintain study binders with essential records and coordinate quarterly data safety and monitoring board reports.
• Quantitative analysis of clinical and neuroscientific research data.
• Take on additional tasks and responsibilities as requested.

SKILLS/ABILITIES/COMPETENCIES REQUIRED:

• Must have a professional demeanor and a strong commitment to patient confidentiality.
• Ability to interact comfortably and respectfully with patients, research participants, and their friends and families in a medical research environment.
• Outstanding time management and organizational skills.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and being a team player.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to maintain a detailed and well-organized record of research performed and results obtained.
• Ability to focus, work independently, and regularly seek feedback on job performance.
• Ability to establish priorities and balance demands of multiple projects to meet deadlines.
• Flexibility and willingness to shift focus and help where needed, to achieve goals across multiple ongoing research studies.
• Must be able to identify problems and develop solutions.
• Computer literacy, including proficiency with Microsoft Office programs and operating system: MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, as well as the ability to learn new software applications (MATLAB or python).
• Willingness to interface with new hardware such as electrophysiology recording systems.

EDUCATION:

Bachelor's degree required with a background in psychology, neuroscience, biomedical engineering, or premedical preferred.

EXPERIENCE:

New college graduates with relevant course/project work or those without any prior research experience will be considered.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Office and clinical environment. Our laboratory is located on the MGH Main Campus. The CRC will work within a team of postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, physician-scientist, and clinical research coordinators. Work will be performed in both the laboratory setting and clinical facilities at the MGH and BWH hospitals. Work will also involve interacting with individuals and working in the operating room during surgeries during neural recordings as well as working with the MGH pathology department. There must be a willingness to occasionally work on weekends as required.