Research Technician 4

Salary Grade

Case Western Reserve University is committed to providing a transparent estimate of the salary for this position at the time of its posting. The starting wage rate is $22.13 per hour, depending on qualifications, experience, department budgets, and industry data.

Employees receive more than just a paycheck. University employees enjoy a comprehensive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare, retirement plans, tuition assistance, paid time off, and a winter recess.

Job Description

POSITION OBJECTIVE

Working with a high degree of independence and under general direction, the Research Technician 4 supports an NIH-funded randomized controlled trial testing a tablet-based emotion-regulation intervention to improve psychological outcomes among surrogate decision-makers for critically ill adults in the intensive care unit. This position is responsible for screening and recruiting eligible participants, obtaining informed consent, delivering the study's tablet-based intervention and comparison content, and collecting longitudinal study data through direct interaction with surrogate decision-maker participants in the adult intensive care units at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center. This role collaborates closely with the research team to screen electronic medical records, ensure human subjects compliance, communicate with clinical staff, and address data collection issues that arise in the clinical setting. The research technician may also supervise the training and performance of student research workers and lower-level research staff in executing study procedures and consults with the principal investigator and project manager regarding potential modifications to research procedures or protocols for regulatory or operational purposes. Through accurate, protocol-faithful execution of study procedures, the research technician supports the successful and complete conduct of this NIH-funded clinical trial.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Perform high level, complex analysis and calculation of data, study implementation and data quality; interpret findings and make recommendations. Monitor and analyze screening, eligibility, approach, consent, enrollment, intervention completion, and participant retention data. Evaluate reasons for non-enrollment and attrition, monitor adherence to protocol-defined study windows, identify patterns of missing or inconsistent data, review protocol deviations, and compare recruitment and retention performance across participating intensive care units over time. Interpret findings to identify operational or data quality problems and recommend corrective actions to the principal investigator and project manager, including targeted retraining, workflow modifications, additional quality-control measures, or proposed revisions to study operating procedures. (20%)

• Utilize new and innovative research techniques involving a high degree of skill and training. Independently conduct human subjects research activities in adult intensive care units involving surrogate decision-makers for critically ill patients. Perform complex eligibility screening using electronic medical records and clinical information; determine when and how potentially eligible surrogate decision-makers may appropriately be approached; obtain informed consent in emotionally and clinically complex circumstances; deliver the protocolized, tablet-based intervention or comparison condition within study-defined windows; conduct longitudinal assessments; and recognize, document, and appropriately escalate deviations from approved research procedures. Independently troubleshoot complex or ambiguous implementation issues and determine when established procedures are sufficient and when consultation with the project manager or principal investigator is required. (25%)

• Supervise the training and performance of lower-level technicians and students. Train research assistant 2 staff and student research employees in electronic medical record screening and eligibility determination, participant recruitment and approach, informed consent, intervention/comparison delivery, REDCap and tablet-based data collection, participant tracking and follow-up, study documentation, and protocol fidelity requirements. Observe staff performing study procedures, review documentation for completeness and adherence to established procedures, identify errors or fidelity concerns, and provide corrective feedback and refresher training. Assist with coordinating day-to-day research assignments and coverage and communicate recurring or significant performance concerns to the project manager and principal investigator. This position does not have formal authority for hiring, discipline, or staff performance evaluations. (15%)

• Consult with management and professionals regarding complex study implementation and operational issues. Consult with the principal investigator, project manager, clinical personnel, and other research professionals regarding complex eligibility or consent questions, recurrent protocol fidelity or data quality concerns, and recruitment or retention problems. Review relevant clinical and study information, apply established protocols and standard operating procedures, investigate likely causes of recurring operational issues, and recommend appropriate corrective actions, workflow changes, staff retraining, quality-control measures, or matters requiring regulatory review or reporting. (15%)

• Modify or develop new procedures and policies. Participate in developing, evaluating, and refining operational research procedures based on experience implementing the protocol in the clinical setting. Identify operational problems and develop or recommend improvements to screening and recruitment workflows, eligibility and recruitment documentation, participant tracking and retention procedures, intervention delivery and fidelity procedures, REDCap and data quality workflows, staff training and competency materials, standard operating procedures, and the study manual of operations. Draft or test proposed solutions and implement approved changes to internal operating procedures and training materials. The research technician does not independently modify the IRB-approved protocol or participant-facing research procedures when regulatory approval is required; such modifications remain under the authority of the principal investigator and applicable regulatory review. (20%)

NONESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Prepare and monitor own budget, study-specific supplies, participant incentives, and equipment utilization; identify anticipated needs, reconcile relevant study records, and communicate supply or expenditure needs to the project manager. Maintain study-assigned tablets and other equipment and coordinate troubleshooting or replacement as needed. Perform other duties as assigned. (5%)

CONTACTS

Department: Frequent contact with the principal investigator, project manager, co-investigators, and other research team members to conduct and coordinate study-related procedures.

University: Infrequent contact with other departments to share information about study or complete other administrative requirements.

External: Frequent contact with clinical staff, patients, and family members at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center to coordinate and conduct study-related procedures.

Students: Regular contact with student employees to conduct training and oversee study-related activities.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY

This position has no direct supervisory responsibility for staff employees. Provides training, work direction, guidance, and performance feedback to student workers in the execution of study related activities and established research procedures. May coordinate and direct the day-to-day work activities of student research workers as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Experience: 5 to 8 years of research-related experience involving human subjects required. Must complete certification for the protection of human subjects through Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) program within 30 days of hire. Familiarity with Institutional Review Board (IRB) requirements, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) requirements, REDCap, Epic or comparable electronic medical record system is preferred.

Education: High school education required. Associate or bachelor's degree in a health, behavioral, biological or social science is preferred.

REQUIRED SKILLS

• Knowledge and understanding of commonly used practices, terminology, and procedures within research or a related environment. Ability to work with a high degree of independence under general direction and use experience, judgment, and established guidelines to perform job functions.

• Ability to learn, understand, and consistently follow established study protocols, approved research procedures, and specific research instructions.

• Ability to interact professionally and sensitively with colleagues, supervisors, hospital staff, patients, and patients¿ families face to face, including families of critically ill patients. Ability to meet consistent attendance.

• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail and accuracy, time-management skills, and ability to follow through on assigned duties.

• Professional and effective verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to communicate with individuals within and external to Case Western Reserve University.

• Ability to work effectively both independently and collaboratively within a team; must be highly motivated, responsible, dependable, and able to take initiative.

• Ability to appropriately handle sensitive health information and maintain confidentiality in accordance with applicable university, hospital, research, and privacy requirements.

• Ability to operate study related equipment, including iPads or tablets and ability and willingness to learn and use research and clinical data systems required for the position.

• Willingness to learn and work with Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools and technologies.

• Ability to demonstrate successful support, education, and advocacy for all students, aligned with the values, mission, and messaging of the university, while adhering to the staff policy on conflict of commitment and interest.

• Ability to meet consistent attendance.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Work is based in the principal investigator's research offices in the Dental Research Building at 2124 Cornell Road and in the adult intensive care units at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, approximately 0.1 miles away. The role involves regular activity in the intensive care unit, including screening, enrollment, informed consent, tablet-based study procedures, and interviews with surrogate decision-makers for critically ill patients. The employee must adhere to the University, hospital, IRB, HIPAA, and infection-control policies and procedures.

This is a full-time, 37.5 hour-per-week position. The position requires regular on-site presence and is not eligible for remote work. The employee should expect to stand, walk, and move between the research office and intensive care units for portions of the workday. The general work schedule is Monday through Friday, approximately 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with flexibility to accommodate participant recruitment, enrollment, and data collection schedules.

No laboratory hazardous material exposure is anticipated. Work in the hospital and ICU environment may involve exposure to infectious diseases or other clinical environment risks, which are mitigated through standard hospital infection control procedures. May be required to use personal protective equipment, including standard lab coat, gloves, and safety glasses when appropriate.

EEO Statement

Case Western Reserve University is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants are protected under federal and state laws and university policy from discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national or ethnic origin, protected veteran status, disability, age and genetic information.

Reasonable Accommodations

Case Western Reserve University complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act regarding reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the CWRU Office of Equity at 216-368-3066 to request a reasonable accommodation. Determinations as to granting reasonable accommodations for any applicants will be made on a case-by-case basis.

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