Behavioral Research Coordinator
The focus of the Behavioral Research division is on behavioral, psychological, and socioemotional factors that contribute to disordered eating and associated cardiovascular health risks. Mentorship and supervision will be provided by Jason Lavender, PhD (MiCOR Director of Behavioral Research; Associate Professor) and Katherine Thompson, PhD (MiCOR Research Scientist; Assistant Professor).
This position is ideal for individuals who are planning to pursue graduate studies in psychology, mental health, medicine, or related fields. A two-year commitment is requested.
The successful candidate will be hired through The Metis Foundation, which is a 501c (3) specifically organized to advance clinically relevant scientific research to the medical community, especially within the Department of Defense (DoD). The research coordinator will join a multidisciplinary team (psychology, behavioral health, cardiology, data science) and will also contribute to interdisciplinary studies within the Biomedical Research division.MiCOR is broadly focused on enhancing the health and well-being of military populations, and studies in the program are developed with military relevance in mind. Research populations include active-duty military personnel, retirees, and their dependents, as well as civilians.
Key Responsibilities:
- Study-Specific Tasks: Coordinate multiple aspects of behavioral research projects, including participant recruitment and scheduling, obtaining informed consent, administering psychological interviews, and preforming other forms of data collection.
- Coordinate various activities and schedules (study visits, data collection, and protocol procedures)
- Implement study recruitment plans, such as use of social media and other approaches.
- Obtain informed consent according to Good Clinical Practice (GCP) guidelines and study-specific standard operating procedures (SOPs).
- With training and oversight, administer psychological interviews for research.
- Assist with the development of SOP manuals.
- Visit off-site collaborative centers, as applicable.
- Regulatory Compliance: Ensure strict adherence to relevant regulations, such as GCP guidelines, and maintain necessary documentation for audits.
- Adhere to legal, professional, and ethical codes with respect to confidentiality and privacy.
- Assist with proper and timely filing of standard regulatory documentation, reportable events, amendments, annual reports and other regulatory documents.
- In conjunction with study investigators, assist with Institutional Review Board (IRB) protocol submissions, writing informed consent forms/HIPAA forms, revising protocol language as needed, and addressing IRB stipulations.
- Data Management: Collect, record, and manage data in collaboration with the data team, maintaining the confidentiality and accuracy of research records.
- Document via established guidelines and SOPs.
- Interact with auditors/monitors as needed, as well as assisting with preparation of associated reports.
- Collaboration: Collaborate with multi-disciplinary team members including physicians, behavioral and clinical research scientists, and data analysts, to achieve research goals and ensure participant safety.
- Interface with other protocol support personnel as needed.
Please note, this is not an exhaustive list and the behavioral research coordinator may be expected to perform other duties as needed.
Opportunities for the Research Coordinator:
- Receiving training and experience administering interviews assessing psychological functioning and disordered eating
- Mentorship from research experts in the fields of eating disorders, psychology, and cardiology
- Gaining experience with innovative data collection methods (e.g., ecological momentary assessment, ambulatory physiological devices)
- Exposure to multidisciplinary research topics, such as the impact of disordered eating, behavioral health, and traumatic brain injury on the cardiovascular system, psychological and neurocognitive functioning in long-haul COVID, genomic medicine, and cardiometabolic health in miliary populations
- Potential for authorship of scientific presentations and publications
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Preferred knowledge and skills: Some prior research experience, especially in the areas of disordered eating, psychology, behavioral health, and/or cardiovascular outcomes.
Required knowledge and skills: Highly responsible and self-motivated with excellent organizational and problem-solving skills. Strong communications skills, both oral and written. Ability to learn and implement SOPs and meet project deadlines.Experience using Microsoft Office Suite (particularly MS Word and Excel).
Minimum Education/Training Requirements: Bachelor's degree (obtained by the start date for the position), preferably in a psychology- or health-related field.
Other Requirements: Must be able to obtain applicable Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) certifications. Must meet requirements to be able to obtain a DoD Common Access Card.
Physical Capabilities: Long periods of sitting, standing, escorting participants, carrying light items; may encounter participants who are confused or agitated.
Work Environment: Office and clinical research setting; hybrid work schedule; possible occasional evening and/or weekend hours to accommodate research participant schedules.
Metis Foundation is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.
Any qualifications to be considered as equivalents, in lieu of stated minimums, require the prior approval of the Director of Human Resources.