Clinical Research Assistant I – Neurology Department

WHY UT SOUTHWESTERN?
With over 75 years of excellence in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, UT Southwestern is committed to excellence, innovation, teamwork, and compassion. As a world-renowned medical and research center, we strive to provide the best possible care, resources, and benefits for our valued employees. Ranked as the number 1 hospital in Dallas-Fort Worth according to U.S. News & World Report, we invest in you with opportunities for career growth and development to align with your future goals. Our highly competitive benefits package offers healthcare, PTO and paid holidays, on-site childcare, wage, merit increases and so much more. We invite you to be a part of the UT Southwestern team where you’ll discover a culture of teamwork, professionalism, and a rewarding career! 

JOB SUMMARY
Dr. Elan Louis, Chair of the Department of Neurology, is interested in hiring a full-time, paid, post-baccalaureate trainee who is interested in obtaining additional clinical research training before applying to graduate or medical school.  The candidates will be working on the study of Cognition in Essential Tremor (COGNET), a longitudinal study attempting to understand the relationship between cognitive impairment and essential tremor (ET), a common movement disorder affecting 4% of adults aged 40 and older.  This position will require the candidates to conduct neuropsychological and neurological assessments on study subjects enrolled as brain donors across the United States.

This NIH-funded study draws on the expertise of clinical neurologists, neuropsychologists, and neuropathologists.  The study is unique in that all participants are brain donors, so we are able to map cognitive changes onto brain pathology.

As part of their educational experience, post-baccalaureate trainees will be taught to administer and score an extensive, in-person neuropsychological test battery (including the DVLT-II, D-KEFS, WMS-IV, and WAIS-IF).  The candidates will collaborate with colleagues at Columbia University Medical Center, including participation in regular diagnostic case conferences that aid development of preliminary clinical skills for diagnosing cognitive impairment.  The candidates will also attend research conferences and learn how to recognize a range of involuntary movements.  The candidates will be supported in learning statistical analyses to interpret study data for publication.  Opportunities for independent research will be available and are strongly encouraged.

It is expected that the educational experience will serve as a useful platform for their application to graduate school in the health sciences.  That is, it will serve as an educational link between their undergraduate experience and their future academic/educational advancement into a master’s or doctoral program in health sciences or a medical degree.

This position as Research Assistant will be responsible for consenting and enrollment of study subjects, scheduling follow-up study visits, administration of study assessments, and entry and maintenance of study data.  Each study visit takes approximately 4-6 hours to complete and will consist of administering standardized neuropsychological questionnaires, phlebotomy and a videotaped neurological examination.  The candidates will be responsible for conducting study visits in person with subjects located across the United States.  All travel is covered by the grant.  The position requires the completion of 2 study visits per week.  The candidates will be expected to participate in numerous aspects of clinical research from study design and planning, questionnaire development, preparation of materials for internal review board review, and selection of appropriate methods to evaluate and track study subjects.  This position will regularly present their impressions of patients to a neuropsychologist and psychiatrist for cognitive diagnosis; this allows the candidates to give first-hand testimony to the patients’ cognitive abilities and develop clinical presentation skills. 

Candidates are required to provide a cover letter detailing their past experience/skills and interest in the position.  Candidates should possess and be able to demonstrate the following preferred qualifications/experience: 

• Strong organizational skills 
• Strong interpersonal communication skills 
• Completed BS/BA 
• Candidate should possess a current driver’s license
• Candidate is able to perform phlebotomy in the field
• Candidate will have an educational agenda that involves learning about human-subjects research and a desire to learn the skills sets involved in designing and conducting such research
• Previous experience working with elderly or neurology patients or vulnerable populations.

BENEFITS
UT Southwestern is proud to offer a competitive and comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees. Our benefits are designed to support your overall wellbeing, and include:

• PPO medical plan, available day one at no cost for full-time employee-only coverage
• 100% coverage for preventive healthcare-no copay
• Paid Time Off, available day one
• Retirement Programs through the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS)
• Paid Parental Leave Benefit
• Wellness programs
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Qualified Employer
• Learn more about these and other UTSW employee benefits!

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION

Required

• Education
  High School Diploma or GED 
   

Preferred

• Licenses and Certifications
  (BLS) BASIC LIFE SUPPORT may be required based on research study protocols or affiliate location requirements. 
  (CPRAED) CPR AED may be required based on affiliate location requirements 
   

JOB DUTIES

• Directly interacts with clinical research participants, as required, for the research study. Interacts via telephone, telehealth or in-person.
• Coordinate regulatory aspects of the trial including maintaining and developing regulatory information to comply with industry standards, University policies, FDA requirements or other hospital policies
• Coordinate and schedule study procedures as per protocol. Approved study protocols which have order sets built may be pended by the non-licensed coordinator with oversight by PI.
• When outside of protocol, presents evidence and provides options (within scope of protocol) to PI.
• Screen, recruit, enroll and follow subjects according to protocol guidelines. May also assist with the consent process
• Maintain and coordinate data collection information required for each study which may also include developing CRF’s or data collection tools
• Assist in developing and implementing research studies to include writing clinical research protocols.
• Conduct study procedures according to the protocol with proper training and check offs to maintain scope of work
• Requires familiarity with research budgets to assist with or develop study budgets. May perform research billing activities, as needed, based on size of department (including linking patient calendars).
• May review and abstract information from medical records for verification of eligibility for trials, as needed based on size of department.
• Monitors patient safety by reviewing records and ensuring appropriate reporting per protocol and HRPP standards.
• Review research study protocols to ensure feasibility
• Assist in developing website or other social media for marketing/recruiting of clinical research study
• Develop proficiency in the clinical trial management system, electronic medical record and other required data entry systems
• Maintain subject level documentation
• Duties performed may include one or more of the following core functions: a) Directly interacting with or caring for patients; b) Directly interacting with or caring for human-subjects research participants; c) Regularly maintaining, modifying, releasing or similarly affecting patient records (including patient financial records); or d) Regularly maintaining, modifying, releasing or similarly affecting human-subjects research records.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

SECURITY AND EEO STATEMENT

Security
This position is security-sensitive and subject to Texas Education Code 51.215, which authorizes UT Southwestern to obtain criminal history record information.

EEO
UT Southwestern Medical Center is committed to an educational and working environment that provides equal opportunity to all members of the University community. As an equal opportunity employer, UT Southwestern prohibits unlawful discrimination, including discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, genetic information, citizenship status, or veteran status.