Research Assistant I

Full-time position onsite at the Framingham Heart Study, Framingham, MA.  Research professional working with and under the direction of the Principal Investigator (PI) and Project Director to conduct a Muscle Research Study at the Framingham Heart Study (located at the Research Center at the Framingham Heart Study, Framingham, MA). Responsibilities include working 5 days a week to recruit, consent, and enroll study participants into the studies, complete data collection, complete other aspects of the research including the maintenance of inventory of study equipment, supplies and resources, data tracking and reporting. The position requires a strong ability to communicate effectively with older adults. Must have an engaging and energetic personality and be able to communicate that excitement and passion for the projects to potential study participants during recruitment process. Must have the ability to work on multiple projects, prioritize tasks, develop workflow, and meet study deadlines. Must be self-motivated, able to work independently with minimal supervision and as a part of a team. Must have good problem-solving skills, excellent interpersonal, computer and organization skills and pay close attention to detail. Must have a high comfort level for working in a fast-paced environment with other collaborators. Some home visits may be required to complete data collection. College degree in a scientific discipline or 2-3 years related experience preferred, although lesser experience would be considered based on an individual’s other qualifications. Full time position, but negotiable if available for 32 hours per week only.

• In collaboration with others, carries out research activities of the Muscle Study located at the Research Center at the Framingham Heart Study, Framingham, MA.
• Conducts the muscle study: individually recruits participants into the study, completes study visits to consent and enroll them into the study, administers questionnaires, instructs on protocol, coordinates with outside collaborators and troubleshoots issues as they arise. Completes in-home and remote study visits as needed. Completes other aspects of the research including maintenance of the inventory of study equipment, supplies and resources, data tracking and reporting.
• Works with our Biostatistics Core/data management team to manage the data, provide assistance with the tracking of study materials and data, data cleaning, and completes data backups and quality assurance checks for accuracy and completeness of study assessments. Completes tracking reports of participants who have been seen to be shared with principal investigators and study staff.
• Acts as a liaison with the FHS research center and other study staff to ensure efficient communication related to the study research.
• Uses professional concepts in accordance with organization objectives to solve complex problems in creative and effective ways.
• The above covers the most significant responsibilities of the position. It does not, however, exclude other duties, which would be in conformity with the level of the position such as completing special projects as assigned.

• College degree in a scientific discipline or 2-3 years related experience preferred, although lesser experience would be considered based on an individual’s other qualifications.
• The ideal candidate must have an exceptional ability to communicate and explain aspects of the study to older adults in an effort to convince potential participants to join our study. Therefore, the candidate must be engaging, have energetic personality and be able to communicate that excitement and passion for the projects to potential study participants during recruitment process.
• Must be a “people person,” friendly and comfortable working with study participants, older adults and across multiple study teams.
• Must have the ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously, prioritize tasks, develop streamlined workflow, and meet study deadlines.
• Must be self-motivated, able to work independently and as a part of a team and have good problem-solving skills.
• Highly detail-oriented with superb organizational and analytical skills.
• High level of computer literacy and related technology
• Must have demonstrated knowledge using Word, Excel, and Access.
• Must have the ability to learn and adapt to new technologies and be able to trouble-shoot technical problems with field data acquisition, data transfer, and data validation.
• Must demonstrate respect and professionalism regarding subjects’ rights, individual needs, and a working knowledge of HIPAA Protected Health Information regulations.
• Must demonstrate flexibility in regards to competing project demands, and changing priorities, adapting to schedule changes, coverage gaps, and unanticipated study needs.
• Human subjects’ protection certification (provided as part of training).
• Ability to closely adhere to study protocols.
• Appreciate ‘best practices’ in conducting scientific data collection.
• Effective time management skills, able to multi-task and prioritize sometimes competing demands. Must be creative, disciplined and discriminating to maintain bottom line efforts in midst of multi-tasking and daily re-prioritizing.
• Must be professional, proactive, collaborative, conscientious and results-oriented individual. Must have an optimistic and positive demeanor, excellent oral and written communication skills, good intuition and able to adapt to changing priorities and display good, sound judgment with a sense of humor.
• Motivated to learn and must have the ability to innovate, think strategically and conceptually, and handle even difficult situations.

Preferred qualifications needed to successfully funtion in this role. This should be no more than 5 bullet points.