Grade E Information Research Assistant III - MS/HSS

Grade D

Grade E

LABORATORY-BASED RESEARCH

Under the general guidance of a supervising Principal Investigator, perform a wide range of basic and complex laboratory procedures to assist with ongoing research projects and clinical trials.

Collect and analyze data based on knowledge and experience with laboratory and scientific experiments, techniques and procedures, following standard operating procedures and departmental/project protocols.

Maintain and manage laboratory animals, including such activities as daily handling, health monitoring, setting up mating experiments, providing injections, and performing other tests, procedures, and experiments.  Collect and test samples.

Perform surgeries on laboratory animals at the direction of supervising researchers and investigators.

Prepare and maintain documentation, logs, spreadsheets, and databases of activities and results.  Compile statistics.  Complete required forms and paperwork.  Prepare reports and communicate status and results to researchers and investigators.

Assist with development and modifications to research design, plans, procedures, policies, and protocols.

Assist with the preparation of scientific papers for publication.

Maintain laboratory equipment.  Track inventories and order supplies.

Train, instruct, and provide guidance for regular, student, or casual workers, and others regarding technical procedures, equipment operation, and laboratory maintenance and procedures.  May act as lead person in the absence of the supervisor.

Ensure that all phases of the laboratory work comply with relevant regulations, policies, research protocols, health and safety policies, etc.

NON-LABORATORY RESEARCH

Under the general guidance of a supervising Principal Investigator or Research Associate, provide technical and administrative assistance to support ongoing research projects and clinical trials using human subjects.

Recruit, screen, and schedule research subjects based on research project requirements and specifications.  Determine volunteers’ eligibility for participation for ongoing treatment and non-treatment research projects.  Complete necessary forms and paperwork (e.g., consent forms).  Provide instructions and communicate with subjects and potential subjects (via the phone and in person).

Collect, extract, transcribe, code, and organize quantitative and qualitative data based on knowledge and experience with the goals of the research project and appropriate research techniques.  Assist with the design, development, and modification of data collection tools, questionnaires, and databases.

Administer tests, surveys, and assessments to research subjects.  Collect and analyze samples.  Independently activate and maintain equipment and systems needed to administer tests (e.g., electrophysiological startle equipment).

Prepare and maintain documentation, logs, spreadsheets, and databases of activities and results.  Compile statistics.  Prepare reports and communicate status and results to researchers and investigators.

Recruit, screen, train, and oversee student and casual workers assisting with data gathering.

Ensure that all phases of the data collection and analysis comply with relevant regulations, policies, research protocols, etc.

Train, instruct and provide guidance for regular, student or casual workers in their duties.  May act as lead person in the absence of the supervisor.

Includes duties described in Grade D, but also involves:

Lead responsibilities, such as:
Administrative leadership of a unit or function, including overseeing and coordinating projects or work processes, and distributing and monitoring the work of at least 2 regular FTEs as a lead worker.

Serve as head technician or lead research assistant for a group of lab technicians, research assistants or field crew workers, including such activities as a) serving as designated safety director or biological, chemical, and radiation officer; b) having responsibility for writing Standard Operating Procedure manuals; c) overseeing quality control reviews and leading preventive maintenance of all instruments and equipment; or d) other similar roles.

Serve as the Chair of the non-human primate environmental enrichment program to establish formal programs and policies for the university.

Responsibilities require high skills, unusual skills, or a combination of multiple skills not typically required by others in the same job title.  For example:

Understand, interpret, and act on the rules, policies, and procedures related to gaining Internal Review Board approval to conduct human subject research. 

Negotiate and facilitate effective problem resolution with university personnel and business executives regarding subject recruitment, research protocols, and other specifics related to effective recruitment of research subjects and Internal Review Board requirements.