Research Study Assistant

Department: MED-Mesulam Ctr Cog Neur & Alz
Salary/Grade: NEX/9

Target hiring range for this position will be between be range is as be $17.05-$21.31 per hour. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.

Job Summary:

The Mesulam Institute for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer's Disease at Northwestern University is hiring specifically for the Alzheimer's Disease Research Center (ADRC) study. The ADRC is one of many ADRCs in the country making it a large multi-site study with each site enrolling participants to better understand cognitive aging, neurodegeneration, and dementia. At the Mesulam Center, we care deeply about advancing science and creating a safe, supportive space for our participants. The ADRC enrolls and follows individuals who are cognitively healthy and also individuals who have experienced mild cognitive impairment or dementia due to a variety of causes, including neurodegenerative brain disease. Our participants currently range from 50 to 105 years old. Many of our patient participants have atypical or rare forms of dementia such as primary progressive aphasia and behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia and our center specializes in these disorders.

We are looking for an individual who has a passion for science and helping others. This individual will play a critical role in our day-to-day operations of the study including scheduling research visits, completing remote and in-person research visits with neuropsychological tests, collecting and entering data, and assisting with participant recruitment and retention. We are looking for an individual who has the following: strong written and oral communication skills, strong interpersonal skills, ability to work well with others, detail-oriented, and the ability to work independently and as part of team. Priority will be given to individuals with prior human subjects research experience. We are expecting this person to be on-site Monday-Friday approximately 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM.

To learn more about the ADRC network please visit NIA's website - https://www.nia.nih.gov/research/adc.

You may also learn more by contacting Loreece Haddad (Research Project Manager of the NU ADRC) at loreece.haddad@northwestern.edu.

Please note this role completes all activities by strictly following Good Clinical Practices (GCP) & all relevant current local, state, & federal laws, regulations, guidance, policy & procedure developed by the NU Institutional Review Board (IRB), Food & Drug Administration (FDA) Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), & the International Conference on Harmonization (ICH).

Supervisor provides objectives, detailed deadlines and general instructions. Work is reviewed for technical accuracy and compliance with instructions, practice, policy and procedures. EE meets frequently with supervisor to obtain instructions regarding general phases of work and in some cases as to specific details.

Specific Responsibilities:

Technical

• Recruits study participants.
• Reviews & obtains informed consent.
• Schedules study visits with participants.
• Conducts interviews with participants and their study partners &/or caregivers..
• Administers and scores neuropsychological test.
• Administers surveys and questionnaires.
• Reviews medical records for study information.
• Consults with nurses & physicians to determine eligibility requirements of protocol for participants throughout the duration of their study participation.
• Performs data entry.
• Facilitates communication with key personnel & participants to maintain study flow.

Administration

• Maintains detailed records of results which may include collecting, extracting & entering data; &/or preparing basic charts & graphs.

Finance

• May process reimbursements for travel expenses.
• May prepare reports for participant compensation.

Miscellaneous

• Serve on-call in a rotating position for capturing participants' brain donations at their time of death.
  • On-call rotation lasts two weeks and occurs a few times per year.
• 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.

Must complete NU's IRB CITI training before interacting with any participants & must re-certify every 3 years.

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

Prior research experience at an undergraduate level or above, specifically with human research participants.

Preferred Qualifications:

A bachelor's degree in a health-related field.

Neuropsychological testing &/or survey administration.

Experience working with older adults with &/or without cognitive impairments.

Preferred Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities)

• Accuracy and strong attention to detail.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Personable and highly organized.
• Proficient at data entry and navigating electronic data capture systems, specifically REDCap.

Benefits:

At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful and competitive benefits. The available benefits package for this position will include health, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance; paid vacation and holidays; paid medical/sick and parental leave; tuition benefits for the employee and dependents; pre-tax and flex spending accounts for commuting and dependent care; generous retirement savings options; and wellness programs. For a comprehensive overview of available benefits, including eligibility details, 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.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics, including disability and veteran status. View Northwestern's non-discrimination statement. Job applicants who wish to request an accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance. View additional information on the accommodations process.