"Sr. Research Assistant"

Job Req ID:  114537

Sr. Research Assistant

We are seeking a Sr. Research Assistant (SRA) who will be responsible for supporting research activities for SMART4TB TA2 Therapeutics studies under Dr. Nicole Salazar-Austin, an Assistant Professor in the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. This person will report directly to Nicole Salazar-Austin and will closely coordinate with research teams at all TA2 research sites. The SRA portfolio will include complex TB and HIV clinical research studies being implemented in partnership with academic institutions at each study site, with a primary focus on supporting the SMILE-TB portfolio. This person would be a critical member of a fast-paced international team of researchers, administrative staff, and study coordinators.

Project summary

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) launched the Supporting, Mobilizing, and Accelerating Research for Tuberculosis Elimination (SMART4TB) project. SMART4TB, a five-year $200 million cooperative agreement, to identify more effective methods and tools for finding, treating, and preventing tuberculosis (TB) in 24 priority countries for TB programming. This initiative will build research capacity in high TB burden countries by supporting studies that evaluate novel approaches, interventions, and tools to combat TB–including diagnostic tests, new treatment drugs and regimens, socioeconomic and health system challenges, methods to interrupt TB transmission, and TB vaccines readiness and delivery. Led by Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, the SMART4TB international consortium partners are the University of California, San Francisco, KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Treatment Action Group, Perinatal HIV Research Unit (South Africa), YR Gaitonde Medical, Educational and Research Foundation (India), Walimu (Uganda), Kyrgyz State Medical Academy, and Victory Network (Vietnam).

Specific Duties & Responsibilities

SMART4TB Consortium-specific Research Support

• Support the implementation of the SMILE-TB and PRISM-Kids protocols.
• Facilitate communications between sites, JHU, and other consortium partners.
• Assist with the development and submission of materials for ethical (IRB) approval.
• Develop systems for tracking screening and enrollment.
• Develop clinical research forms, particularly as they relate to pediatric-specific data.
• Assist with the development of a REDCap database.
• Facilitate study-specific monitoring activities for quality assurance.
• Prepare monthly data tables for reporting to the PI, research team, collaborators, and funding agency.
• Assist with the assessment of recruitment and retention.
• Coordinate review by the clinical endpoint review committee.
• Develop pediatric-specific standard operating procedures.
• Prepare USAID reports for missions and DC offices, including preparing data tables, summarizing protocol accruals and retention, and presenting publications associated with the consortium.
• Assist the SMART4TB consortium with secondary analyses.
• Travel to study sites in Africa and Asia approximately twice per year (2 weeks per trip) to oversee costing operations.

General Research Support

• Provide protocol development, study implementation, and research dissemination support to complex clinical studies, maintaining a good working knowledge of all assigned projects.
• Review, edit, and finalize study-related documents (protocols, case report forms, study SOPs) in collaboration with PIs and study teams.
• Conduct literature reviews, draft data tables, and conduct scientific writing/editing to support research dissemination. Format abstracts/manuscripts and submit them to conferences/journals.
• Provide assistance in developing effective visualizations, posters, and presentations for scientific conferences and donor reporting.
• Assist research teams in performing/coordinating quantitative and qualitative data analysis.
• Prioritize building effective working relationships with US and international team members and collaborators in service of common goals.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in a related discipline.
• Two years of related experience.
• Additional graduate-level education may substitute for required experience, to the extent permitted by the JHU equivalency formula.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience conducting health-related research required. Demonstrated skills in oral and written communication.
• Ability to function independently with a high degree of motivation essential. Ability to manage multiple and competing priorities.
• Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office, reference managers, REDCap databases, spreadsheets, and word processing required. Excellent attention to detail and organizational skills.
• Knowledge of clinical research practices and principles required. Must have excellent time management skills.
• The successful applicant will demonstrate an ability to work well with other professionals with minimal supervision and be comfortable being part of a diverse professional team.

Classified Title: Sr. Research Assistant 

Role/Level/Range: ACRP/03/MB  

Starting Salary Range: $40,900 - $71,600 Annually ($56,250 targeted; Commensurate with experience) 

Employee group: Full Time 

Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:30am-5:00pm 

Exempt Status: Exempt 

Location: Hybrid/School of Medicine Campus 

Department name: ​​​​​​​SOM DOM Infectious Disease  

Personnel area: School of Medicine 

Total Rewards

The referenced base salary range represents the low and high end of Johns Hopkins University’s salary range for this position. Not all candidates will be eligible for the upper end of the salary range. Exact salary will ultimately depend on multiple factors, which may include the successful candidate's geographic location, skills, work experience, market conditions, education/training and other qualifications. Johns Hopkins offers a total rewards package that supports our employees' health, life, career and retirement. More information can be found here: https://hr.jhu.edu/benefits-worklife/.

Education and Experience Equivalency

Please refer to the job description above to see which forms of equivalency are permitted for this position. If permitted, equivalencies will follow these guidelines: JHU Equivalency Formula: 30 undergraduate degree credits (semester hours) or 18 graduate degree credits may substitute for one year of experience. Additional related experience may substitute for required education on the same basis. For jobs where equivalency is permitted, up to two years of non-related college course work may be applied towards the total minimum education/experience required for the respective job.

Applicants Completing Studies

Applicants who do not meet the posted requirements but are completing their final academic semester/quarter will be considered eligible for employment and may be asked to provide additional information confirming their academic completion date.

Background Checks

The successful candidate(s) for this position will be subject to a pre-employment background check. Johns Hopkins is committed to hiring individuals with a justice-involved background, consistent with applicable policies and current practice. A prior criminal history does not automatically preclude candidates from employment at Johns Hopkins University. In accordance with applicable law, the university will review, on an individual basis, the date of a candidate's conviction, the nature of the conviction and how the conviction relates to an essential job-related qualification or function.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Johns Hopkins University values diversity, equity and inclusion and advances these through our key strategic framework, the JHU Roadmap on Diversity and Inclusion.

Equal Opportunity Employer

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

EEO is the Law

https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights6.12ScreenRdr.pdf

Accommodation Information

If you are interested in applying for employment with The Johns Hopkins University and require special assistance or accommodation during any part of the pre-employment process, please contact the Talent Acquisition Office at jhurecruitment@jhu.edu. For TTY users, call via Maryland Relay or dial 711. For more information about workplace accommodations or accessibility at Johns Hopkins University, please visit https://accessibility.jhu.edu/.

Vaccine Requirements

Johns Hopkins University strongly encourages, but no longer requires, at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. The COVID-19 vaccine does not apply to positions located in the State of Florida. We still require all faculty, staff, and students to receive the seasonal flu vaccine. Exceptions to the COVID and flu vaccine requirements may be provided to individuals for religious beliefs or medical reasons. Requests for an exception must be submitted to the JHU vaccination registry. This change does not apply to the School of Medicine (SOM). SOM hires must be fully vaccinated with an FDA COVID-19 vaccination and provide proof of vaccination status. For additional information, applicants for SOM positions should visit https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/coronavirus/covid-19-vaccine/ and all other JHU applicants should visit https://covidinfo.jhu.edu/health-safety/covid-vaccination-information/.

The following additional provisions may apply, depending upon campus. Your recruiter will advise accordingly.

The pre-employment physical for positions in clinical areas, laboratories, working with research subjects, or involving community contact requires documentation of immune status against Rubella (German measles), Rubeola (Measles), Mumps, Varicella (chickenpox), Hepatitis B and documentation of having received the Tdap (Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) vaccination. This may include documentation of having two (2) MMR vaccines; two (2) Varicella vaccines; or antibody status to these diseases from laboratory testing. Blood tests for immunities to these diseases are ordinarily included in the pre-employment physical exam except for those employees who provide results of blood tests or immunization documentation from their own health care providers. Any vaccinations required for these diseases will be given at no cost in our Occupational Health office.