The Research Assistant is responsible for conducting literature searches, data management, recruiting participants, obtaining consents, maintaining files, scheduling and conducting interviews of patients and family members, maintaining data collection files, assisting with data analysis and generating correspondence, reports and graphics.

The Research Assistant will consistently demonstrate support of the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab statement of Vision, Mission and Core Values by striving for excellence, contributing to the team efforts and showing respect and compassion for patients and their families, fellow employees, and all others with whom there is contact at or in the interest of the institute.

The Research Assistant will demonstrate Shirley Ryan AbilityLab Core Attributes: Communication, Accountability, Flexibility/Adaptability, Judgment/Problem Solving, Customer Service and Core Values (Hope, Compassion, Discovery, Collaboration, and Commitment to Excellence) while fulfilling job duties.

Working Conditions

1. Normal office/research laboratory environment with little or no exposure to dust or extreme temperature.
2. May involve travel to other hospital/research sites and possibly to participants’ homes. Interviews/experiments may require flexible day, evening and/or weekend hours.

Reporting Relationships

1. Reports directly to Lab Manager, Research Scientist, or Project Director

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified.

Shirley Ryan AbilityLab is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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Required Skills

The Research Assistant will:

Responsibilities will vary according to the project in which the RA is assigned, but could include any or all of the following:

1. Recruits research study participants through consulting hospital-site staff to identify potential participants and reviewing medical records to determine appropriateness.
2. Conducts on and off site interviews using a variety of structured and non-structured questionnaires.
3. Explains study to patients and family members, and requests participation, obtaining informed consent.
4. Schedules and confirms participants for hospital and/or home interviews.
5. Retrieves and records data from medical records and records data from interviews on appropriate forms.
6. Assists in development of data tables, graphs and charts and preparation of material for presentation
7. Assists in the collection of new data through coding, transcribing, and recording collected information, generating reports detailing the data collected.
8. Conducts literature searches, copying and distributing articles as appropriate.
9. Maintains an inventory of data collection forms to ensure ease of data retrieval.
10. Assists in analysis of qualitative and quantitative data by coding and transcribing interviews.
11. Perform all other duties that may be assigned in the best interest of the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab including various record keeping tasks.

Required Experience

1. Work requires communication and mathematics skills normally acquired in four years of college, plus three to six months of related work experience. Prefer graduate of or student in graduate program in neurosciences, nursing, psychology, engineering, social work, public health or related field.
2. Knowledge of basic computer hardware in addition to software such as Microsoft Office, statistical programs such as Stata or SPSS, and/or relevant engineering or mathematical programs such as Matlab, as appropriate.
3. Familiarity with medical, engineering or health services research terminology and basic research/statistical methodology is required, as appropriate to the position.
4. Strong attention to detail, specifically as it pertains to project data entry project data.
5. Strong analytical ability to perform such activities as preparing reports, maintaining data inventory, developing graphs, and negotiating several hospital and/or human services systems.
6. Strong interpersonal skills are needed to interact effectively with patients/family member dyads, physicians, other human service professionals and a variety of supervisors for various research projects.
7. Flexibility to coordinate scheduling with other project staff is needed.
8. Proficient typing and administrative skills to transcribe data, prepare correspondence, and maintain files.

The Research Assistant will:

Responsibilities will vary according to the project in which the RA is assigned, but could include any or all of the following:

1. Recruits research study participants through consulting hospital-site staff to identify potential participants and reviewing medical records to determine appropriateness.
2. Conducts on and off site interviews using a variety of structured and non-structured questionnaires.
3. Explains study to patients and family members, and requests participation, obtaining informed consent.
4. Schedules and confirms participants for hospital and/or home interviews.
5. Retrieves and records data from medical records and records data from interviews on appropriate forms.
6. Assists in development of data tables, graphs and charts and preparation of material for presentation
7. Assists in the collection of new data through coding, transcribing, and recording collected information, generating reports detailing the data collected.
8. Conducts literature searches, copying and distributing articles as appropriate.
9. Maintains an inventory of data collection forms to ensure ease of data retrieval.
10. Assists in analysis of qualitative and quantitative data by coding and transcribing interviews.
11. Perform all other duties that may be assigned in the best interest of the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab including various record keeping tasks.