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Research Project Coordinator, Veldhuis Lab

Job Summary:

Dr. Cindy Veldhuis at the Institute for Sexual Minority Health and Wellbeing is seeking a research project coordinator to support research focused on women’s same-gender relationships. The research coordinator will be responsible for overseeing and implementing the protocols of the SOQIR study and working with Gallup on recruitment of an online sample. The incumbent will be responsible for recruitment, coordinating the interviews, conducting qualitative interviews with couples and individuals, and qualitative data analysis. They will also monitor study performance, analyze & review results, & supervise development & implementation of new protocols. Assign work & supervise study staff & review technical operations ensuring that all processes, protocols & procedures are quality controlled & functioning up to standards. Develop implement & administer budgets, grant & administrative procedures. May co-author scientific papers for presentation & publication & coordinates writing, submission & administration of grants. Ensure that all study activities are completed by strictly following all current local, state, & federal laws, regulations, guidance, policy & procedure developed by the NU Institutional

Review Board (IRB). Specific duties are below.

  • Overseeing recruitment and data collection
  • Helping with study recruitment using social media and community outreach;
  • Scheduling interviews;
  • Managing logistics of interviews, such as reimbursements to participants;
  • Keeping track of expenses;
  • Conduct appropriate informed consent procedures;
  • Conducting qualitative interviews with couples and individuals via zoom or phone.
    • Using a semi-structured interview guide, the interviewer will ask questions, probe for more information, and explore themes that emerge during the interview.
    • Build rapport with participants;
    • Document interview summaries, observations, and reflections.
    • Review and correct transcripts;
    • Actively communicate/update/debrief with study team on interviews and participant recruitment;
    • Be willing to be observed and be given feedback on interviewing as part of training.
  • Qualitative data analysis
    • Read and code transcripts to find key themes, concepts, and patterns;
    • Apply codebook to transcripts;
    • Edit codebook as needed;
    • Find exemplar quotes for each theme
  • Performing other related duties as assigned.

This role is expected to last until August 31, 2024, with the possibility of extension. This is a grant-funded position and continued employment is contingent upon the grant.

Specific Responsibilities:

Technical

  • Leads execution & control of a biomedical &/or social science project or research study.
  • Coordinates processing & analysis of data, conduct of experimental tests & procedures
  • Develops new &/or revised research methodologies.
  • Ensures completion of study activities per protocol including recruitment.
  • Ascertains pretreatment & eligibility requirements.
  • Obtains informed consent.
  • Registers participant with appropriate sponsor.
  • Interviews & obtains medical & social histories.
  • Collects data from medical records.
  • Administers, schedules &/or scores tests.

Administration

  • Oversees & manages collection, maintenance, analysis & evaluation of data that will be used in grant submissions, presentations & publications.
  • Ensures that information is entered correctly into databases.
  • Assists PI in reviewing, analyzing, interpreting, summarizing, formatting, editing, & preparing tables, charts, graphs, progress & final reports, etc.
  • Coordinates between sponsoring agencies, collaborating organizations &/or other research &/or educational institutions.
  • Ensures that all study documents associated with current local, state, & federal regulatory guidelines, requirements, laws & research protocols are completed in a timely manner.

Supervision

  • Trains, directs, assigns duties to & supervises research staff, students, residents &/or fellows.

Miscellaneous

  • Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

  • Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree in a major such as social or health science or related; OR appropriate combination of education and experience and 3 years' research study or other relevant experience required; OR
  • Successful completion of a full course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a master's or higher degree in a major such as social or health science or related; OR appropriate combination of education and experience and 1 year research study or other relevant experience.
  • Supervisory or project management experience required.
  • Must complete NU's IRB CITI training before interacting with any participants & must re-certify every 3 years

Minimum Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities.)

  • Knowledge of qualitative methods highly desirable; must be sensitive to the nature of the work and confidentiality of the study participants.
  • Experience doing qualitative research interviews;
  • Experience with qualitative coding;
  • Ability to read, understand and extract key information (e.g., design, methods, major findings) from research articles;
  • Exceptional listening skills
  • Must be comfortable discussing relationships, sex, mental health, substance use, gender, sexuality, and trauma using a non-judgmental, strengths-based approach
  • Strong project coordination skills and the ability to prioritize tasks.
  • Demonstrated attention to detail and ability to adhere to instructions/procedures.
  • Good communication skills; demonstrated effective spoken and written communication, including willingness to ask questions when clarification or amplification is required.
  • Good time management skills; efficient and resourceful in problem-solving; able to prioritize tasks.
  • Ability to interact sensitively, effectively, and professionally with individuals from diverse cultural, socioeconomic, and educational backgrounds.
  • Demonstrated ability to take ownership of the work, possessing initiative, good follow-through; ability to work without supervision.
  • Ability to receive and benefit from feedback; willingness to expand skill set and improve.
  • Flexibility in adapting to new procedures and environments.
  • Ability to work in a team environment.
  • Knowledge of basic computer skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Demonstrated experience working with lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals.
  • Demonstrated experience working with Black, Indigenous, and other people of color (BIPOC).
  • Demonstrated experience working in women’s health or wellbeing
  • Experience with community-based participatory research or other community-centric research models.
  • Interest in women’s health, transgender/nonbinary people’s health, and research on LGBTQIA+ couples and research

Preferred Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities)

  • Ability to work in a team environment.
  • Ability to work with minimum supervision and guidance.
  • Willingness to expand skill set and improve.
  • Ability to write scientifically for dissemination activities.
  • Familiarity with data collection and management software, such as Qualtrics.

Benefits:
At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts and more! Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness:
Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life’s challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.
We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html to learn more.

Professional Growth & Development:
Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you’re interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more.

To Apply: To apply for this position, navigate to careers.northwestern.edu, search for job ID 47308, and click Apply for Job.

ISGMH Diversity Statement: ISGMH’s commitment to diversity is critical to our mission of advancing access to excellence in academic programs, world-class research, and health programs. Engagement in discrimination or harassment against any person because of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, military service, disability, sexual orientation, and gender identity or expression will not be tolerated. Through its work, ISGMH advances the health and wellbeing of LGBTQ individuals. Staff and trainees should expect to find a diversity of sexual orientations and gender identities among ISGMH staff, trainees, research participants, and in outreach experiences. We highlight the importance of respecting and valuing this aspect of diversity among staff and trainees.

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