Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute (HPHCI) is currently seeking a highly motivated individual to join the Chronic Disease Research Across the Lifespan (CoRAL) group within the Department of Population Medicine (DPM; www.populationmedicine.org) as a Research Assistant. The DPM is jointly sponsored by Harvard Medical School and the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute.

The Research Assistant will join the Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) project (https://echochildren.org/), a longitudinal research study exploring the effects of prenatal nutrition, neighborhood environments, and lifestyle factors on pregnancy and childhood health outcomes. We will enroll pregnant persons, and their children once born, as part of a new study cohort.

The Research Assistant will recruit for, schedule, and conduct research visits with infants and children and their caregivers enrolled in our ECHO cohort. The Research Assistant will also be responsible for administering consent forms and performing data entry while following all research protocols and scripts. Evening and weekend hours, and some local travel, are required. Must have a valid driver’s license. This position requires excellent communication skills for work with research participants and close collaboration with investigators and project managers both within HPHCI and with external institutions and collaborators.
Hiring Requirements
Job Details

Key Responsibilities/Duties – What You Will Be Doing

Perform study visits at our office and participants’ homes. Obtain informed consent from study participants and carefully follow study protocols and scripts to collect data.
Collect biospecimen samples from research participants and safely transport the samples to the lab. Obtain clinical data including body measurements and blood pressure. Administer additional study assessments, questionnaires, and interviews.
Communication with research participants including but not limited to recruitment; scheduling, confirming, and rescheduling appointments; and performing research visits.
Operate research equipment per protocol. Equipment includes, but is not limited to: computers, height boards, scales, blood pressure machines, and activity monitors.
Complete all necessary paperwork and data documentation. This includes, but is not limited to: expense reports, data collection, and documentation of specimen delivery and participant incentives.
Ensure adequate stocking of supplies and report needs to supervisor.
Perform data entry.
Attend weekly team meetings.
Maintain a positive and accommodating relationship with the study team and participants.
Other duties and projects as assigned.

Qualifications – What You Need To Perform The Job:

Education, Certification, and Licensure
High School Diploma Equivalency

Experience:

1- year related experience
Experience with Microsoft Office, Word, and Excel is required.
A general understanding of a research environment is preferred.

Skill Requirements:

Excellent interpersonal and communicational skills.
Able to handle confidential and sensitive information discreetly.
Able to prioritize work, operate under tight deadlines, and meet deadlines.
Excellent organizational skills, accuracy, and attention to detail.
Ability to operate independently, with good judgment, and with flexibility.
Spanish fluency is a plus
Proof of Driver’s License required (own vehicle not required)

Working Conditions and Additional Requirements:

Some weekend and evening hours are required.
Must be comfortable around blood and needles, and comfortable performing a heel stick blood draw on infants (no prior experience or training necessary)
Must be able to work under normal office conditions and work from home as required (this position will be hybrid with most days required in-office and other remote work).
Work may require simultaneous use of a telephone/headset and PC/keyboard and sitting for extended durations.

For more information and to apply click HERE