Research Project Coordinator

Department: MED-Medical Social Sciences
Salary/Grade: EXS/5

Target hiring range for this position will be between $51,346-$64,473 per year. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.

Job Summary:

Lab for Scalable Mental Health

The Lab for Scalable Mental Health (LSMH; https://www.schleiderlab.org/), directed by Dr. Jessica Schleider, conducts research at the intersection of digital health, public health, dissemination and implementation science, and clinical psychology. The Lab's overarching mission is to create, evaluate, and disseminate brief, scalable supports that bridge gaps in mental healthcare ecosystems, with a focus on harnessing technologies to serve youth facing structural barriers to treatment. Our team has pioneered a new area of intervention science-single-session interventions (SSIs) for mental health-that opens tangible paths toward reducing mental health problems at scale. Via multiple federal, foundation, and industry-funded grants, LSMH is national leader in running clinical trials and cross-sector evaluations of digital and lay provider-delivered SSIs. Through these initiatives, LSMH's SSIs have served more than 150,000 people to date. LSMH is a team science-oriented, dynamic research environment including more than 30 members at all professional levels, including undergraduates, BA- and MA-level scientific staff, doctoral students, postdoctoral fellows, and research faculty. LSMH is committed to ensuring that diverse voices and perspectives are reflected in the Lab and to ensuring all members' career development growth.

Overview/Background about the Department of Medical Social Sciences (MSS)

LSMH is housed in Department of Medical Social Sciences (MSS) in the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University. MSS is a novel transdisciplinary department that advances innovative social science methods to improve health outcomes. We serve as a collaborative hub across clinical and basic science departments in the medical school and the Evanston-based arts and sciences schools. We intend to meet a growing need for expanded interdisciplinary scientific collaboration, to promote discovery of multidimensional mechanisms of health and disease, to improve adult and child health status and outcome assessment, and to collaborate with partners across the translational spectrum. MSS is committed to creating a world of inclusion, health, and well-being for all. We hire the best people from a wide variety of backgrounds because drawing on diverse perspectives and experiences will be the foundation of our department's future success.

LSMH Research Project Coordinator

The LSMH Research Project Coordinator manages daily operations of a social-behavioral research study involving multidisciplinary teams of colleagues, sponsors & other external project stakeholders. Monitors study performance, analyzes & review results, & supervises development & implementation of new protocols. Develops study workflow & works closely with other study staff & reviews technical operations ensuring that all processes, protocols & procedures are quality controlled & functioning up to standards. May co-author scientific papers for presentation & publication & coordinates writing, submission & administration of grants. Ensures that all study activities are completed by strictly following Good Clinical Practices (GCP) & all current local, state, & federal laws, regulations, guidance, policy & procedure developed by the NU Institutional Review Board (IRB), Food & Drug Administration (FDA) Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), & the International Conference on Harmonization (ICH). The individual may also take a lead role in organizing and delivering training sessions for the lab's Single Session Consultation services to community partners, and will be responsible for monitoring progress following the completion of individual trainings.

The RPC position is an ideal opportunity for individuals interested in implementation science and advancing digital mental health interventions to improve equitable access to mental healthcare. This role is especially well suited for individuals who are motivated by supporting community focused initiatives, such as delivering Single Session Consultation trainings, and who take pride in monitoring outcomes to ensure meaningful impact. A candidate with strong communication skills, an interest in scientific writing or grant development, and a commitment to Good Clinical Practice will find this role both engaging and rewarding.

Key Responsibilities include:

Lead the execution and oversight of a social behavioral research study, ensuring all activities follow approved protocols. Developing and submitting IRB materials, and coordinating with study team members.

Coordinate participant recruitment, eligibility assessment, informed consent, and study enrollment. Conduct or oversee data collection activities, including interviews, Qualtrics

Monitor study performance, troubleshoot issues, and ensure all procedures meet quality control standards.

Coordinate and support the organization and delivery of Single Session Consultation trainings for community partners. Includes scheduling individual training with partner organization staff members on the SSC, leading group kick-off meetings, and contribute to developing materials and workflows for implementing the SSC across settings/ partners/ contexts. Supporting lab efforts to translate/adapt SSC materials into Spanish, train and provide consultation to Spanish-speaking SSC providers, and capacity-build to ensure SSC adoption and long-term maintenance.

Specific Responsibilities:

Technical

• Leads execution & control of a biomedical &/or social science project or research study.
• Coordinates processing & analysis of data, conduct of experimental tests & procedures
• Ensures completion of study activities per protocol including recruitment.
• Ascertains pretreatment & eligibility requirements.
• Obtains informed consent.
• Interviews &/or obtains medical & social histories.

Administration

• Oversees, supports & manages collection, maintenance, analysis & evaluation of data that will be used in grant submissions, presentations & publications.
• Ensures that information is entered correctly into databases.
• Coordinates between sponsoring agencies, collaborating organizations &/or other research &/or educational institutions.
• Ensures that all study documents associated with current local, state, & federal regulatory guidelines, requirements, laws & research protocols are completed in a timely manner.

Finance

• Orders & maintains inventory of study supplies (including participant reimbursement).

Supervision

• Trains[SH1.1], directs, assigns duties to & supervises research staff, students, residents &/or fellows.

Miscellaneous

Performed other duties

Minimum Qualifications: (Education, experience, and any other certifications or clearances)

• Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree in a major such as social or health science or related; OR appropriate combination of education and experience and 3 years' research study or other relevant experience required; OR
• Successful completion of a full course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a master's or higher degree in a major such as social or health science or related; OR appropriate combination of education and experience and 1 year research study or other relevant experience.
• Supervisory or project management experience required.
• Must complete NU's IRB CITI training before interacting with any participants & must re-certify every 3 years

Minimum Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities.)

• Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree.
• 1 year project management experience in a community-based health setting.
• Familiarity with word processing, spreadsheet, database, and web-based applications.

Preferred Qualifications: (Education and experience)

• A master's degree in psychology, public health, social work, or related field
• 3 years of project coordination, management, or related experience in a community-based or clinical setting.
• 3 years experience working with adolescents and families in a research setting.
• Extensive experience collaborating with a multi-disciplinary research teams.
• At least 1 year of research-related experience, such as experience with: participant recruitment and enrollment of clinical and vulnerable populations (e.g., adolescents with elevated depression symptoms); quantitative and qualitative data collection, coding, and analyses; coordinating with various members of a study team (e.g. research staff, trainees, and investigators); maintaining qualitative and/or quantitative research databases; assisting with IRB documentation and compliance; assisting with annual progress report preparation for grant-funded research.

Preferred Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities)

• Working knowledge of Qualtrics, REDCap, and qualitative and/or quantitative data analysis software.
• Working knowledge of rapid qualitative analysis approaches.
• Experience drafting and submitting procotols and modifications to IRB.

Benefits:
At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts and more! Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness:
Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life's challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.
We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html to learn more.

Professional Growth & Development:
Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you're interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics, including disability and veteran status. View Northwestern's non-discrimination statement. Job applicants who wish to request an accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance. View additional information on the accommodations process.

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