Research Support Specialist

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The University of Miami/UHealth Department of Public Health has an exciting opportunity for a full time Research Support Specialist to work in Miami, FL.

The Department of Public Health Sciences at the University of Miami has an opportunity for a full-time Research Support Specialist to support federally, state, and institutionally funded research focused on firefighter and first responder health and safety. The position will support multidisciplinary research conducted through the Caban-Martinez Laboratory and related research programs, including longitudinal cohort studies, occupational exposure assessments, epidemiologic investigations, and the development and evaluation of interventions designed to improve the health and safety of firefighters and other first responders. The Research Support Specialist will work collaboratively with Dr. Caban-Martinez and other investigators, research coordinators, research staff, community partners, and fire service organizations to support the day-to-day implementation of research protocols.

Core Job Functions:                                                                                                          

• Researches, collects, analyzes, and synthesizes data and maintains databases.

• Conducts quality assurance checks, reports on the status of research activities, and submits monthly activity logs for protocol.
• Organizes and coordinates community working group meetings for protocol activities.
• Serves as primary point of contact for community partners and supervises and oversees research data collection at protocol venues in the community.
• Reviews study progress, identifies areas of opportunity, and recommends solutions.
• Prepares and updates study research procedures manuals.
• Assists with the preparation of grant proposals by processing regulatory documents for all institutions and offices involved.
• Contributes to the publication and presentation of significant results and writes and edits material for publication and presentation. 
• Maintains research files and responds to phone calls on the research study phone line.
• Adheres to University and unit-level policies and procedures and safeguards University assets.

Department Specific Functions:

• Implements research protocols and study procedures in accordance with approved protocols, standard operating procedures, institutional policies, and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Supports participant recruitment, screening, enrollment, informed consent, scheduling, retention, and follow-up activities for longitudinal and other human-subject research studies.
• Coordinates and participates in field-based research activities at fire departments, community locations, University facilities, and other study sites throughout Florida and, when required, nationally.
• Collects, records, enters, reviews, and manages research data while maintaining accurate and complete source documentation and electronic research records.
• Develops, builds, tests, and maintains REDCap databases, including electronic case report forms, questionnaires, surveys, longitudinal study instruments, automated invitations, user permissions, and data-quality procedures.
• Conducts routine data-quality and quality-assurance activities, identifies incomplete or inconsistent data, assists with resolution of data queries, and supports preparation of research datasets for analysis.
• Generates routine and ad hoc reports, dashboards, recruitment and retention reports, study progress summaries, and data exports for investigators, research staff, sponsors, and other stakeholders.
• Administers research questionnaires, interviews, physical measurements, environmental assessments, or other study procedures according to protocol and staff training.
• Assists with the collection, labeling, processing, temporary storage, transport, tracking, and inventory of biological and environmental specimens in accordance with study protocols and applicable biosafety requirements.
• Supports maintenance of research specimen inventories and biorepositories and assists with monitoring laboratory and field research supplies and equipment.
• Works closely with investigators, study coordinators, and other research personnel to coordinate study visits, field deployments, participant follow-up, and protocol-specific data and specimen collection.
• Maintains study tracking systems, enrollment and follow-up logs, regulatory documentation, study files, procedure manuals, and other essential research records.
• Coordinates research team meetings, investigator meetings, community partner meetings, fire service site visits, recruitment activities, and field data-collection schedules.
• Monitors study activities and milestones, communicates study status to the research team, identifies operational issues, and assists investigators and senior research staff with developing and implementing solutions.
• Assists with the development, refinement, and implementation of standard operating procedures and field data-collection protocols and helps troubleshoot operational and data-collection challenges.
• Prepares research summaries, tables, reports, presentations, abstracts, and other materials for internal meetings, scientific conferences, sponsors, community partners, and fire service stakeholders.
• Contributes, as appropriate, to scientific manuscripts, abstracts, presentations, grant-related materials, and dissemination of research findings.
• Communicates professionally with research participants, fire service personnel, community partners, investigators, and University personnel and serves as a representative of the research program during study activities.
• Protects participant confidentiality and handles research and personally identifiable information in accordance with IRB requirements, HIPAA when applicable, University policies, and study procedures.
• Performs other research-related duties as assigned and adheres to University and unit-level policies and procedures while safeguarding University resources and assets.
• Travels locally, throughout the State of Florida, nationally, as required to support research activities, including participant recruitment, field data collection, study visits, investigator meetings, training activities, community engagement, and dissemination of research findings.
• Ability to work occasional evenings, early mornings, weekends, and extended hours as required by participant availability, field research activities, and travel schedules.

This list of duties and responsibilities is not intended to be all-inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties or responsibilities as necessary.

Core Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in public health, health sciences, biological sciences, social sciences, epidemiology, psychology, nursing, exercise science, or another relevant field required.
• No previous experience required
• Minimum one year of relevant experience in research, clinical research, epidemiologic studies, community-based research, participant recruitment, study coordination, or a related setting preferred. Experience working with human research participants, REDCap, longitudinal cohort studies, field-based data collection, or biospecimen collection and processing is preferred. Phlebotomy experience is preferred for positions involving blood collection.
• Certification in a relevant research, clinical, laboratory, or professional specialty is preferred. Current human-subjects research and applicable research compliance training will be required following hire. Phlebotomy certification or documented phlebotomy training is preferred for positions involving blood collection.
• Learning Agility: Ability to learn new procedures, technologies, and protocols, and adapt to changing priorities and work demands.
• Teamwork: Ability to work collaboratively with others and contribute to a team environment.
• Technical Proficiency: Skilled in using office software, technology, and relevant computer applications.
• Communication: Strong and clear written and verbal communication skills for interacting with colleagues and stakeholders.
• Strong organizational skills and demonstrated attention to detail and accuracy.
• Excellent written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to interact professionally and effectively with research participants, investigators, research staff, community partners, and first responder organizations.
• Ability to manage multiple assignments, establish priorities, and meet deadlines in a dynamic research environment.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively as a member of a multidisciplinary research team.
• Ability to understand and consistently implement research protocols, standard operating procedures, and regulatory requirements.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise appropriate judgment when handling sensitive research and participant information.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and electronic data-management systems; experience with REDCap strongly preferred.
• Ability to learn and use research databases, electronic data-capture platforms, study-management systems, and research equipment.
• Basic understanding of human-subjects research principles and research documentation practices.
• Knowledge of medical and/or public health terminology preferred.
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to identify operational issues and communicate potential solutions.
• Ability and willingness to travel to research sites and participate in field-based data collection, as required.
• Ability to work occasional evenings, early mornings, or weekends when required by participant availability or field research activities.
• Commitment to the University's values and to maintaining high standards of research integrity and professionalism.
• Ability and willingness to travel locally, statewide, nationally, as required by research activities, including occasional overnight and extended travel.

The University of Miami offers competitive salaries and a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, tuition remission and more.

UHealth-University of Miami Health System, South Florida's only university-based health system, provides leading-edge patient care powered by the ground breaking research and medical education at the Miller School of Medicine. As an academic medical center, we are proud to serve South Florida, Latin America and the Caribbean. Our physicians represent more than 100 specialties and sub-specialties, and have more than one million patient encounters each year. Our tradition of excellence has earned worldwide recognition for outstanding teaching, research and patient care. We're the challenge you've been looking for.

The University of Miami is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Applicants and employees are protected from discrimination based on certain categories protected by Federal law.

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