"Clinical Research Assistant"

Benefits of working at VCU

All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes: comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave granted up front, generous tuition benefit, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more. Learn more about VCU’s benefits here.

Job Code 34001

Recruitment Pool All Applicants

Posting Number req7960

Unit VP Research MBU

Department IDAS

Department Website Link idas.vcu.edu

Location VCU

Address 907 Floyd Ave, Richmond, VA 23284 USA

Duties & Responsibilities

Welcome to Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) …

a world UNLIKE any other!

At VCU, we are UNCOMMON and UNLIKE any other university. A premier, urban, public research university nationally recognized as one of the best employers in Virginia. We know that the unique backgrounds and life experiences of the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) community are what drive the university forward. Together, we’re forging a future that is built by us. Here, artists and engineers, doctors and designers come together to re-imagine the human experience and tackle the problems of tomorrow.

VCU is a great place to work. It’s a place of opportunity where your success is supported and your career can thrive. VCU offers employees a generous leave package, career paths for advancement, competitive pay, and an opportunity to do mission-driven work.

VCU's Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation and its Institute for Drug and Alcohol Studies (IDAS) invite all interested candidates to apply for our Clinical Research Assistant position! IDAS advances multidisciplinary research and training on the neuroscience of addictions and related neurobehavioral disorders.

Our impact is measured one student and patient at a time. VCU’s unequaled combination of excellence, research and creativity makes success possible for every one of our 300,000+ “RAMily” members. And that makes us one of the most innovative universities in the country.

All full-time staff are eligible for our generous benefits package that includes choices for health, vision, and dental coverage, life-insurance, short and long-term disability coverage, retirement planning, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, flexible spending accounts, tuition benefits, significant paid-time off,12 paid holidays, and more. Explore our benefits further here: https://hr.vcu.edu/current-employees/benefits/

Position Primary Purpose and General Duties

The VCU Institute for Drug and Alcohol Studies (IDAS) advances multidisciplinary research and training on the neuroscience of addictions and related neurobehavioral disorders. Research Assistants perform a variety of routine, non-technical duties in assisting technical and professional personnel in a research laboratory setting. The Research Assistant will be expected to perform most components of data collection from human-subject volunteers required for a biomedical behavioral research study.

Participant/research subject recruitment, including placement of IRB approved materials and media advertisements about research studies being conducted at IDAS, as well as collection and computer entry of responses and information furnished by potential research volunteers contacting the lab by phone, web or other means in order to identify possible participants

Collection of informed consent from research volunteers, including describing the study to research participant candidates in simple language, and overseeing the signing of consent and assent forms.

Biological data collection, including collection and testing of urine drug samples using test kits as well as administration of breathalyzer assessment of alcohol intoxication; Psychometric data collection, including administration, collection and scoring of paper-and-pencil or computer-driven questionnaires, as well as administration and recording of computer-driven cognitive performance tasks

Accurate and secure transmission and storage of study data, including to centralized databases or to physically-secured case report forms for industry sponsored clinical trials

Accurate calculation of subject compensation; Coordinate a busy study visit for the subjects, including escorting research volunteers to and from the different tasks and testing rooms and waiting rooms of the research facility

Other duties assigned by supervisor or Principal Investigator such as managing and supporting the PI’s student researchers

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

Demonstrated experience working in and fostering an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from various backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU

Bachelors of Science degree or equivalent in Psychology, Neuroscience or related field or equivalent experience.

Proficient in computer skills including word processing, data entry, spreadsheet, database management, and entry level statistical/programming skills required.

Strong clinical skills, including fundamental clinical skills such as establishing rapport, maintaining participant motivation, empathic responding, ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team, and ability to use clinical judgment in (rare) emergency situations.

Strong organizational skills, including understanding of HIPAA regulations.

Ability to organize meetings, and present reports.

Preferred Qualifications

Masters degree or equivalent in Psychology, Neuroscience or related field

Writing experience with first author and co-author peer reviewed manuscripts

Knowledge of statistical analysis and software applications

Experience recruiting, consenting, and carrying out study procedures with opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment participants, including during pregnancy and postpartum

Qualitative research experience, including data collection, coding, analysis

Ability to set up projects and surveys in REDCap, perform sample size calculations using GPower 3.1, analyze qualitative data (such as with ATLAS.ti.8) and quantitative statistical analysis (such as with SAS 9.4 and GraphPad Prism).

Experience with preparing and maintaining Institutional Review Board (IRB) and regulatory paperwork to comply with institutional regulatory requirements

Experience in mentoring and training student research trainees, incorporating them into research teams

Job Family: Research, University Title: Clinical Research Assistant, Job Code: 34001N

FLSA University Employee

Job FTE 100

Exemption Status Non-Exempt

Restricted Position Yes

E-Class UF - University Employee FT

Job Category University Employee

ORP Eligible No

Salary Range Commensurate with Experience, Up to $45,000

Compensation Type Salaried

Target Hire Date 7/28/2025

Contact Information for Candidates

Documents Needed to Apply