Clinical Research Coordinator

Clinical Research Coordinator for Gastrointestinal dysfunction in Parkinson’s disease Study

Do you want to help Stanford University develop world-leading research to better understand the role of the gut-brain axis in people with Parkinson’s disease?

If you…

• Enjoy working directly with patients and their families.
• Have experience collecting, processing, and/or storing biological samples, such as blood.
• Project management or leadership training.
• Are exceptionally organized and can balance multiple projects at one time
• Love learning new skills, such as how to administer neurological and memory tests.
• Are a proven quick learner who doesn’t need handholding to get started.

Then we offer…

• The opportunity to contribute to understanding Parkinson’s disease with GI dysfunction.
• Challenging but positive environment where you will always learn new things.
• Teamwork and camaraderie.
• Competitive full-time salary.
• Excellent Stanford benefits.

The Poston Lab recruits and follows older normal adults and patients with Parkinson’s disease and related disorders.  These studies collect information on motor symptoms, GI symptoms, cognition, biospecimen markers, and autopsy results.  Most research participants will have Parkinson’s disease or another neurodegenerative disorder; some participants will not have any impairment.    

The Poston Lab seeks a full-time Clinical Research Coordinator Associate.  The desired candidate has excellent critical thinking skills, the ability to coordinate between multiple teams, is self-motivated, detail-oriented, relatively independent, patient, punctual, and conscientious, with excellent interpersonal skills and excellent communication skills in English. Preference will be given to qualified candidates, who have project management/leadership experience or who have laboratory technician skills. Under the supervision of Dr. Poston and other study investigators, main duties include project management and coordination between interdisciplinary teams, in-person and telephone recruitment of research participants; obtaining informed consent; scheduling and coordination of research participant visits; maintaining longitudinal contact with participants by phone, email and other means; data collection (including psychometric data), scoring, and data entry. Additional biospecimen-related duties may include the processing, handling, and management of human biospecimens. Training will be provided to administer research questionnaires, administer psychometric tests, and process biospecimens.

We like working with other smart, motivated, fun people looking to better the lives of our patients through scientific discovery.  In addition to submitting your online resume, please include a cover letter describing your project management and/or clinical research experience and the top five attributes or experiences that make this the right job for you. For more information about our lab and research, please see http://neurology.stanford.edu/labs/postonlab/.
 

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English required.
• Project management or leadership skills desired.
• Prior experience with patients or research subjects is desired. Preference given to applicants with previous experience, particularly clinical research experience, with older adults who may have neurological impairment (e.g., Parkinson’s disease). 
• Ability to communicate clearly and empathetically with research participants and their families.
• Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to work easily with research participants and research team members.
• Strong general computer skills and ability to quickly learn and master computer programs.
• Strong analytical skills and experience with computer spreadsheets and database software.
• Preference given to applicants with prior experience handling biospecimen and/or has experience working within a scientific laboratory that processes human biospecimen (such as but not limited to: experience using pipettes, lab equipment (e.g., centrifuges), and following prewritten protocols involving the safe use of biohazardous materials and/or reagents).
•  Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Excel.
• Ability to work under deadlines with general guidance.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS*:

• Frequently stand, walk, twist, bend, stoop, squat and use fine light/fine grasping. 
• Occasionally sit, reach above shoulders, perform desk based computer tasks, use a telephone and write by hand, lift, carry, push, and pull objects that weigh up to 40 pounds.
• Rarely kneel, crawl, climb ladders, grasp forcefully, sort and file paperwork or parts, rarely lift, carry, push, and pull objects that weigh 40 pounds or more.

* - Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodation to any employee with a disability who requires accommodation to perform the essential functions of his or her job.
 

WORKING CONDITIONS: 
Occasional evening and weekend hours. Includes working in cold rooms and working with dry ice.

WORK STANDARDS:

• Interpersonal Skills: Demonstrates the ability to work well with Stanford colleagues and clients and with external organizations.
• Promote Culture of Safety: Demonstrates commitment to personal responsibility and value for safety; communicates safety concerns; uses and promotes safe behaviors based on training and lessons learned.
• Subject to and expected to comply with all applicable University policies and procedures, including but not limited to the personnel policies and other policies found in the University's Administrative Guide, http://adminguide.stanford.edu.

Core Duties:

• Serve as primary contact with research participants, sponsors, and regulatory agencies. Coordinate studies from start-up through closeout.
• Determine eligibility of and gather consent from study participants according to protocol. Assist in developing recruitment strategies.
• Coordinate collection of study specimens and processing.
• Collect and manage patient and laboratory data for clinical research projects. Manage research project databases, develop flow sheets and other study related documents, and complete study documents/case report forms.
• Ensure compliance with research protocols, and review and audit case report forms for completion and accuracy with source documents. Prepare regulatory submissions and ensure Institutional Review Board renewals are completed.
• Assemble study kits for study visits, monitor scheduling of procedures and charges, coordinate documents, and attend monitoring meetings with sponsors, acting as primary contact.
• Monitor expenditures and adherence to study budgets and resolve billing issues in collaboration with finance and/or management staff.
• Interact with the principal investigator regularly, ensuring patient safety and adherence to proper study conduct.
• Ensure essential documentation and recording of patient and research data in appropriate files per institutional and regulatory requirements.
• Participate in monitor visits and regulatory audits.
   

Minimum Education and Experience

Two-year college degree and two years related work experience or a bachelor’s degree in a related field or an equivalent combination of related education and relevant experience.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office.
• Knowledge of medical terminology.
   

Certificates and Licenses Required

Society of Clinical Research Associates or Association of Clinical Research Professionals certification is preferred.

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Drivers License Requirements

• Must possess and maintain a valid California non-commercial Class C Driver's License.

• Ability to drive day or night.

• When conducting university business, must comply with the California Vehicle Code and Stanford University driving requirements.