SUMMARY: The Research Assistant assists the Research Coordinator in the day-to-day administrative operations and enrollment activities for the Million Veteran Program (MVP). This position is located within the North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System (NF/SGVHS) and specifically at the Malcom Randall VA Medical Center (VAMC), Gainesville, FL. This position also assists in furthering the mission of the North Florida Foundation for Research and Education (NFFRE) by supporting the mission of the NF/SGVHS through the support of research and education related activities.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Have a thorough knowledge and understanding of all MVP/VA resources.
• Explain MVP to potential program partners and obtain informed consent, ensuring that all aspects of the consent process are completed.
• Have thorough understanding of program and be able to respond to general inquiries from partners.
• Be responsible for performing general office administration tasks (word processing, photocopying, faxing, and mailing) and assisting the Local Site Investigator (LSI) and Research Coordinator (RC) regarding travel, budget, and purchasing/ordering of supplies for the site.
• Assist the LSI and RC with all record keeping, data entry, and adherence to the protocol and Operations Manual.
• Ensure collection and shipment of blood specimens occurs per program protocol.
• Perform MVP-related phone calls to potential partners and enrollees as needed (e.g., MVP visit reminder calls, no show follow-ups, outbound recruitment).
• Knowledge of health sciences research principles and application of the scientific method, including Good Clinical Practices (GCP).
• Facilitate basic data entry, analysis and reporting, and/or database management.
• Maintaining accurate and timely case report forms, source documents, and regulatory files.
• Discuss and explain the study to potential research participants, including explaining the study procedures, reviewing informed consent and HIPAA authorization forms, and addressing any questions or concerns the participant may have prior to obtaining consent.
• Recognizes adverse events and brings them to the attention of the Research Coordinator and Local Site Investigator.
• Other duties as assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Medical Assistant Certificate or higher education
• Computer skills required: Microsoft Office Suite
• Demonstrated organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to multitask
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Other skills preferred but not required:
  • Specimen and/or tissue collection, handling, and processing
  • Experience reviewing and/or abstracting data from electronic medical records systems.