Generic Job Description - Research Assistant II MS and HSS GRADE D

Representative Duties:

Researches and collects data through complex laboratory/scientific experiments, techniques, and procedures; library research; structures interviews; or through other means for research projects.

Interprets, synthesizes, and analyzes data using scientific or statistical techniques.

Modifies and plans research experiments, procedures, tests, or survey instruments. Assists in research design.

Writes and edits material for publication and presentation.

Reports on status of research activities.

Oversees and instructs research and support staff on technical procedures, equipment operation, and laboratory maintenance. Schedules and coordinates research activities.

Sets up, operates, and maintains laboratory equipment and apparatus. Modifies equipment according to experimental specifications.

Identifies and recruits study participants.

Orders and maintains inventory of supplies.

May monitor hazardous work areas and laboratory safety. Prepares related reports.

May prepare financial information and monitor budgets.

Performs additional functions incidental to research activities.

Family: Research
Job Code: 602 and 607 Date: 10/95

The job duties listed above are representative and characteristic of the duties required and the level of the work performed in the job title. The duties will vary from incumbent to incumbent in the job title.

Yale University Clerical and Technical Job Description
Job: 602 and 607 Research Assistant II MS and HSS Grade D

Required Knowledge:

Advanced knowledge, college-degree; substantial knowledge in a specialized field; substantial knowledge in a broader field of learning.

Limited acquaintance with business, accounting or commercial procedures.

Limited knowledge of the University organizational policies and procedures generally; detailed knowledge of a narrow area of University rules and procedures.

Required Skills:

Extracts and compiles a broad range of data from a variety of written sources, personal contacts and/or databases selected independently; interpretation/limited analysis of data.

Use of one or several standard reference works.

Files already labeled material using a straightforward alphabetical or chronological system.

Summarizes, revises or makes limited use of complex, technical or specialized literature.

Composes, proofreads, or edits specialized technical reports or grant applications for external circulation; proofreads material for publication.

Regular, skilled use of more complex machines, including work processors or personal computers; responsible for basic troubleshooting and repair or manipulation of data using published software.

Modify and perform complex experiments from start to finish. Experiments include multiple procedures performed in combination and/or sequence.

Office and Administrative Skills:

Keyboards letters, memos and other moderately complex material.

Formats, stores, and files data on a personal computer to generate basic, pre-established reports.

Schedules and coordinates appointments.

Screens and refers callers and visitors to the appropriate individual.

Experience, Education, and Formal Training:

Two years of related work experience in the same job family and a Bachelor degree in a related field; or an equivalent combination of experience and education.

Complexity and Organization:

Wide variety of complicated job tasks requiring coordinating numerous processes/methods.

Often coordinates or organizes the work of others.

Interpersonal Relations:

Ongoing involvement outside the immediate unit.

Offers or obtains specialized information and provides assistance on complex matters.

Understands and evaluates what is being said and responds with complex answers that may take time to give.

Supervisory Guidelines:

Work is subject to general review on an occasional basis.

Incumbent plans and schedules own work and/or work of others based on the understanding of broadly defined objectives and priorities, supervisor reviews work after completion.

Instruction provided only in very rare instances.

Independent Judgment

Established procedures/policies govern some work situations.

Regular exercises of independent judgment or initiative.

Problems solved by choosing solutions from among several alternatives that are not necessarily governed by established procedures.

Leadership Responsibility

Occasionally provides work guidance or orientation for non-routine procedures/ policies.

Often distributes and monitors work.

Impact and Consequence of Error

Work affects both outside immediate work unit and outside the University.

Errors are difficult to recognize and correct and can cause harm or financial loss to individuals, departments and the University or to other individuals and groups.

Working Conditions

Occasional possibility of safety risks.

Occasional conflicting demands, time pressures, deadlines, or emergencies.

Regular sustained concentration.

Some physical effort or dexterity.

Example 1

Research Assistant II – HSS (607)
Salary: D

General purpose:
Under the direction of the Principal Investigator, this person will serve as recruitment coordinator for federally funded research in the Division of Substance Abuse. With experience in subject recruitment, clinical trials and/or substance abuse research, this person’s time will be split between coordinating subject recruitment and coordinating intake evaluations.

Essential duties of position:

Organize and oversee staff to monitor telephones, respond to queries, conduct phone screens, and schedule intake sessions. Maintain and oversee an on-call schedule for after-hours and weekend coverage of phone screens.

Will be responsible for coordinating the work of research assistants and project coordinators for many studies. Decide who is taking call for each evening and weekend, set up the schedule.

Ensure that all research assistants know the details of every study, and can effectively screen potential subjects appropriately. Keep study descriptions up to date. Train research assistants in how to effectively engage potential subjects. Make sure the computer database is set up appropriately, that phone-screening questions are on the
computer as they should be, and generate reports of activities.

Place advertisements for different studies, deciding where the best place is to advertise. Write the advertisements, and confirm that there is HIC approval for the ads. Track the response to ads, and whether they are generating responses from potentially eligible subjects as intended. Revise plans based on this analysis.

Oversee the allocation of subjects to individual studies. Make sure that eligible subjects are assigned to intake appointments based on subject interest and project need. If a potential subject calls in response to one ad but is ineligible, provide information about other treatment and research options.

Maintain a database of the number of participants who respond to each type of advertising and other methods of recruitment. Track potential participants to determine how many attend intake evaluation appointment, consent to participate, and complete each project.

Prepare reports for study investigators on recruitment efforts. This involves analyzing data (both simple statistics, and qualitative analyses). Work with Principal Investigators in weekly meetings with the research assistants and project coordinators to determine how allocation of subjects to different projects will occur, especially if entrance criteria are similar. Attend monthly meetings with the Principal Investigators where the needs of various projects and recruitment success/failure is reviewed. Discuss allocation of advertising resources and subject resources across the Center projects. Prepare meeting summaries.

Submit advertisements to the HIC for approval. Train research assistants/project coordinators in issues related to maintaining confidentiality.

Oversee study staff on intake evaluations. Provide or arrange for training of staff to perform intake evaluations. Responsible for maintenance of accurate and confidential records of the intake evaluation. Conduct intake evaluations on potential participants. Consent subjects, instruct subjects to complete self-report instruments, and conduct structured clinical interviews.

Provide some after-hour and weekend coverage for phone screens.

Education and training:

Two years of related work experience in the same job family and a Bachelor’s degree in a related field, or an equivalent combination of experience and education.

Willingness to work with a substance abusing population.

Willingness to work in the community.

Preferred: At least one-year experience in any type of clinical research (or patient contact).

Skills and abilities:

Good organizational and writing skills.

Ability to work independently.

Good computer skills (Word, Excel).

Example 2

Research Assistant II – HSS (607)
Salary: D

General purpose:
Working with a number of researchers in the development of structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging, and with a high degree of independence and judgment, perform both comprehensive and detailed computer image analysis of MRI scans, utilizing state of the art software. Manage imaging database, analyze imaging results and provide limited interpretation at first stages of review. In addition, implement and apply new neuropsychological experiments for use in functional MRI to meet aims of collaborating investigators.

Essential duties of position:

Using complex and highly sophisticated and specified software developed for image processing, perform detailed quantitative analyses of MRI scan images and determine statistical results of measures of the effects of drugs in multiple sclerosis. Identify anomalies in new software methods and make recommendations for improvements in automated detection of lesions in experimental MRI protocols.

Provide broad database management for all acquired data including analyses of MRI scans and clinical information; assurance of security of information for research purposes; generation of detailed statistical reports for analysis and decision making by physicians and researchers. As part of the research team, participate in the review of incoming data; identify problem areas in the management of data, its storage and analysis.

Interact regularly with other members of the team involved in the clinical trials to integrate scan analysis data with other forms of data for project report preparation, grant submissions and manuscript preparation. Oversee other support staff in the compilation of data; provide guidance and training in critical areas of data acquisition, entry and
analysis. Provide some degree of interpretation of clinical results based on working knowledge of data management and reporting systems; identify trends and problems that develop over the course of the studies and recommend corrective action.

Interact with psychologists or other collaborators to design fMRI experiments: take lead in translating conceptual design of experiments into practical studies, including development and implementation of software to present stimuli to subjects, testing of protocol with MRI system, and training of technologists for running studies, and actual performance of experiments with human subjects.

Experience and training:

Two years of related work experience in the same job family and a Bachelor’s degree in a related field; or an equivalent combination of experience and education.

Prior experience with medical image analysis or other relevant computer data analysis.

Prior experience with 3-D imaging systems.

Prior experience with neuropsychological testing.

Preferred: Bachelor’s degree in science or engineering with relevant medical experience.

Skills and abilities:

Working knowledge of personal computers and database software programs.

Familiarity with UNIX.

Familiarity with human neuroanatomy and radiological terminology.

Familiarity with neuropsychological testing procedures.

Example 3

Research Assistant II – MS (602)
Salary: D

General Purpose:
Oversee the Genotyping Facility for the Abraham Ribicoff Research Facilities at the Connecticut Mental Health Center including collection, analysis, organization, record keeping, dissemination, and coordination of all the genotyping for the transgenic mice colonies of the Facilities.

Essential Duties of the Position:

Perform and manage the genotyping of a large transgenic mouse colony. Duties will include: (a) sample collection, organization, and storage; (b) DNA extraction; (c) PCR optimization, troubleshooting, primer selection, and thermocycler maintenance; (d) PCR genotyping and gel electrophoresis and interpretation; (e) organizing and cataloging results; and (f) data management. Data management will require maintaining a large, dynamic database using Panorama/BBMouse software. This database includes the PCR data coordinated with the data on the actual mice, requiring frequent updating as mice are born, acquired, or used for experimentation. This is an internet-based and shared database utilized by at least six different Primary Investigators. Provide local expertise for this system, oversee and instruct investigators and trainees in its use, and coordinate among the P.I.s, animal care staff, and others involved in mouse genotyping.

Oversee and instruct other genotyping-related activities for several investigators, trainees, and research associates. This includes: (a) ensuring that other genotyping-related activities within the Ribicoff facilities are compatible with the Panorama/BBMouse system; (b) instructing research associates and trainees in genotyping-related techniques; (c) assisting with troubleshooting problems as they arise; (d) many experiments and projects require specialized and specific genotyping to be performed within the individual laboratories. These, as well as individual sample collections, will be overseen by the person in this position; (e) keeping up to date with new technologies and educating others in these; and (f) coordinating genotyping-related expenses and purchases among laboratories and individuals.

Participate in research into the molecular basis of neuronal plasticity and animal models of chronic mental illnesses, such as depression and addiction. Work with investigators to guide strategies for the use of specific transgenic mice and to provide those mice for experimental paradigms such as forced swim tests, memory testing, anxiety testing, etc.

Be a resource for the Ribicoff Facilities in general regarding the use of transgenic mice in studies of neuroscience. This includes overseeing and instructing our collaborators who are not themselves within the Ribicoff Facilities and coordinating the genotyping aspects of mice to and from the transgenic colony.

Assist, instruct, and oversee the maintenance, breeding, and husbandry within the colony as it relates to specific transgenic lines. This will require a working knowledge of rodent husbandry, as well as some limited, direct husbandry, where appropriate.

Participate in laboratory studies of gene and protein expression and function. Expertise will be required in standard techniques of probe generation, gene expression analysis, protein analysis, assessment of kinase activity, and cellular fractional techniques.

Education and Training:

Two years of related work experience in the same job family and a bachelor degree in a related field; or an equivalent combination of experience and education.

Experience with rodent husbandry and infection control.

Preferred: At least three years of experience working with a rodent colony; experience in laboratory supervision within
a research setting; additional courses in a related field of study.

Skills and Abilities:

Ability to work with others and individually.

Reliable and professional attitude.

Experience with the care of rodents and with the observation of rodent behaviors.

Preferred: Experience with molecular techniques such as PCR, genotyping, and cataloging of transgenic mice; experience with the construction of DNA probes, in situ- hybridization, and analysis of expression changes; experience with standard techniques of protein and kinase activity analysis, such as immunocytochemistry and immunoblotting.

Offer is contingent on the successful completion of a health screening.