VR Clinical Research Assistant

$44,491 - $47,965/Yr

University of California - San Diego, CA

Full-time - Entry Level

San Diego, CA

Educational Services

About the position

The Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study (ADCS) was established in 1991 as a collaborative effort between the National Institute on Aging (NIA) and the University of California, San Diego. The ADCS serves as a multi-center clinical trials consortium, providing a structured framework for large-scale research projects focused on Alzheimer's disease. This consortium comprises 7 cores, 22 committees, and 39 research sites that are part of the Steering Committee, along with an additional 40 or more research sites across the U.S. and Canada that participate in various trials coordinated by the ADCS. The annual funding for the ADCS ranges from $15 to $25 million, enabling it to develop protocols related to Alzheimer's disease and coordinate multiple clinical trials of varying sizes and complexities under subcontracts funded by the NIH and clinical trial agreements with industry partners. The VR Clinical Research Assistant will play a crucial role in supporting the operations of the clinical trial for Pa's Lab at the ADCS, reporting directly to Dr. PA, the Co-Director of ADCS. The lab's focus is on identifying genetic and lifestyle risk factors for Alzheimer's disease and developing innovative interventions aimed at improving brain and cognitive health in older adults. The primary goal of the lab is Alzheimer's prevention, utilizing a combination of cognitive, behavioral, and neuroimaging techniques. In this role, the assistant will be responsible for participant recruitment, community outreach, participant education, screening, enrollment, scheduling, and conducting study visit assessments. The assistant will also interact with participants undergoing physical activity and virtual reality experiences during lab-based training visits, ensuring their comfort and safety while explaining the processes involved. Additionally, the assistant will assist in creating, maintaining, and updating study databases, supporting daily procedures related to analyses for publication and presentation preparation. The role may also involve creating informational and recruitment materials and acting as a liaison with other UCSD departments and agencies as needed. Furthermore, the assistant will provide education and information to the general public regarding the ongoing clinical trial and assist with various project-related duties as required.

Responsibilities

• Support the operations of the clinical trial for Pa's Lab at the ADCS.
• Assist with participant recruitment and community outreach.
• Provide participant education and conduct screening and enrollment.
• Schedule study visits and perform assessments during these visits.
• Interact with participants during physical activity and virtual reality experiences, ensuring their comfort and safety.
• Create, maintain, and update study databases and support daily procedures related to analyses for publication and presentation preparation.
• Create informational and recruitment materials as needed.
• Act as a liaison with other UCSD departments and agencies.
• Provide education and information to the general public about the ongoing clinical trial.
• Assist with miscellaneous project duties as required.

Requirements

• Graduation from high school or a General Education Diploma and two years of laboratory experience or two years of college including courses in Psychology or related field and one year of laboratory experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Ability to maintain and protect confidentiality of participant information with working knowledge of mandated reporting procedures.
• Ability to prioritize workload and work independently, seeking guidance when appropriate.
• Proven effective interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills in English.
• Strong basic computer skills such as word processing and data entry, as well as experience using Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint; Adobe PDF.
• Theoretical knowledge of psychology, neuroscience, biology, cognitive science, statistics, computer science or related field preferred, typically attained by a bachelor's degree and/or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Strong demonstrated experience with computers and proficiency in personal computers, word processing, spreadsheet, email software, databases, etc.
• Excellent record keeping, database management, detail-oriented, logical, methodological approach to problem solving, and strong administrative and organizational skills.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience collecting, handling, and shipping biological specimens.
• Experience administering neurocognitive and behavioral assessments.
• Previous experience in a clinical research setting.
• Experience administering detailed clinical interviews.
• Experience collecting, coding, and scoring data using computerized measures according to study protocol.
• Demonstrated knowledge of human subjects research policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of the human subject consent process and federal government regulations pertaining to consenting of subjects.
• On-line training certificate (acquired on job).
• Knowledge of IRB and sponsored research requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate and communicate effectively and diplomatically at all organizational levels.

Benefits

• Competitive hourly pay ranging from $21.39 to $23.06.
• Opportunities for professional development and training.
• Access to a diverse and inclusive work environment.
• Participation in a significant research initiative with a focus on Alzheimer's disease.