"Research Coordinator"

Job Summary

This position involves day-to-day coordination of multiple concurrent studies, ensuring regulatory compliance, participant safety, data integrity, and efficient study implementation. The Research Coordinator will work closely with the Principal Investigator (Dr. Katherine Tossas), postdoctoral fellows, students, staff, community partners, and collaborating institutions to ensure high-quality, ethical, and culturally grounded implementation of all studies.

The ideal candidate will have exceptional organizational and communication skills, a strong work ethic, and prior experience coordinating research involving human subjects—particularly participant recruitment, enrollment, and longitudinal retention in clinical or community settings. The position requires demonstrated ability to work respectfully and effectively with populations across varied backgrounds and geographies. This role also involves engaging with participants around sensitive health topics such as cancer risk, abnormal screening results, and health system mistrust, requiring discretion, empathy, and cultural humility. The coordinator will ensure that all interactions uphold participants’ dignity, privacy, and trust while advancing the research mission of cancer prevention and care solutions for all.

Unit: Massey Comprehensive Cancer Ctr MBU

Department: Massey Central Admin

Key Responsibilities

Study Coordination and Participant Engagement

• Coordinate participant recruitment, screening, informed consent, enrollment, and follow-up for human subjects studies.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for study participants, ensuring culturally sensitive and respectful communication.
• Maintain participant tracking logs, follow-up schedules, and documentation in accordance with IRB-approved protocols.
• Assist with outreach activities (e.g., community events, clinics, social media) to promote study visibility and engagement.

Data and Sample Management

• Collect, verify, and enter study data into secure databases with high accuracy.
• Oversee biospecimen labeling, storage, and chain of custody for biological samples
• Maintain up-to-date records in REDCap, LabKey, and other electronic data capture systems.
• Support data quality assurance and generate routine reports for progress tracking.

Regulatory and Administrative Support

• Ensure compliance with IRB protocols, Human Subjects Protection regulations, HIPAA, and institutional policies.
• Assist with preparation and submission of IRB amendments, renewals, and related regulatory documentation.
• Manage study documentation, including consent forms, SOPs, and training logs.
• Coordinate scheduling, meetings, and communication among team members and partners.

Collaboration and Communication

• Engage regularly with internal research teams, clinic partners, and community collaborators.
• Provide study updates and recruitment metrics to the PI and project leads.
• Assist in training and onboarding students or volunteers supporting the studies.
• Represent the lab professionally at research meetings, conferences, and community outreach events.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Public Health, Psychology, Biology, or a related field required; Master’s degree preferred (e.g., MPH, MS, or related field).
• 2–4 years of progressively responsible experience coordinating or supporting human subjects research in academic, community, or clinical settings.
• Completion of CITI Human Subjects Protection and Good Clinical Practice (GCP) training (or willingness to complete upon hire).
• Strong organizational and project coordination skills, including demonstrated ability to support across multiple study protocols, timelines, and deliverables with accuracy and accountability. Candidates should have experience using project management or task-tracking software (e.g., Trello, Asana, Smartsheet, or Microsoft Planner) to coordinate research activities and monitor progress.
• Creative communication and outreach abilities, including proficiency with Canva, PowerPoint, and basic social media tools to assist with development of recruitment materials, visuals, or study updates in alignment with research goals.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, demonstrated through experience drafting participant correspondence, preparing IRB materials, or presenting study updates to internal or external partners.
• Ability to work respectfully and effectively with individuals and communities from varied backgrounds and experiences, including those who may face unique or sensitive health circumstances.
• Applied beginner data management and quantitative analysis skills, demonstrated through experience managing participant tracking spreadsheets, summarizing recruitment metrics, and producing basic tables, figures, and descriptive analyses (e.g., frequencies, cross-tabs, means) using Excel, SPSS, or comparable tools.
• High attention to detail and adherence to data integrity standards, with ability to maintain confidentiality and accuracy in sensitive records.
• Demonstrated initiative and problem-solving ability, particularly in fast-paced or resource-limited research environments.
• 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

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with research data management platforms such as REDCap, LabKey, Qualtrics, or similar systems, including entering, cleaning, and exporting data for analysis and reports. Candidates with experience developing or managing study databases, data dictionaries, or data quality control processes are especially encouraged to apply.
• Experience working in community-based or health disparities research, demonstrating familiarity with community engagement principles, fieldwork coordination, or collaboration with non-academic partners (e.g., clinics, FQHCs, tribal organizations, churches, or advocacy groups).
• Familiarity with biospecimen handling, labeling, and documentation for clinical or translational research, including adherence to chain-of-custody protocols, temperature tracking, and coordination with laboratory teams.
• Knowledge of institutional research systems and regulatory procedures, including experience with VCU’s RAMS-IRB or other electronic IRB submission platforms, as well as understanding of study renewals, amendments, and compliance monitoring.
• Bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish preferred, with ability to assist in participant communication, recruitment, and survey administration in both languages when needed.
• Strong technical and digital literacy, including the ability to create professional study materials, recruitment tools, and data visualizations using platforms such as Microsoft Office, Canva, or Adobe Express.
• Demonstrated flexibility and collaboration within multidisciplinary teams, contributing to project planning, community engagement, and dissemination efforts (e.g., community reports, posters, or presentations).

Please note VCU is not able to provide ongoing visa sponsorship for this position.

Please let us know if you were referred by a current Massey employee to ensure we honor our commitment to the Employee Referral Program.

VCU is committed to hiring veterans! VCU will include a veteran’s period(s) of military service in the calculation of their annual leave accrual rate. This may provide veterans with an increased leave accrual!

*** This is a restricted role and fully grant funded until June 30, 2027.

Salary Range: Starting at $48,000 - commensurate with experience

Benefits: 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 benefits, 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.

FLSA Exemption Status: Non-Exempt

Hours per Week: 40

Restricted Position: Yes

ORP Eligible: No

Flexible Work Arrangement: Hybrid