Job Description

Position Summary
The MindfulTech Lab, housed in the Center for Dissemination and Implementation Science (CDIS) within the Department of Medicine at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), is seeking a Visting Senior Research Specialist to direct the operations of our research team. Our activity is currently centered primarily on a family of NIH-funded hybrid effectiveness-implementation clinical trials for which we collaborate with community stakeholders to implement and evaluate app-based meditation programs for youth and officers in the juvenile legal system. This includes a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of a meditation app built with and for legal-involved youth in Chicago Cook County, the 2nd largest juvenile legal system in the U.S. (R01DA061795); a multi-site feasibility RCT of the mediation app with youth in 4 diverse juvenile legal systems in Oregon and New York (R01AT012892); and a single-site feasibility RCT of a meditation app for officers in Chicago Cook County (R34AT012078). These trials are conducted remotely and require minimal on-site meetings.

The Visting Senior Research Specialist will play critical roles in supporting the research team by directing these and other research projects taking place in the MindfulTech Lab, managing lab operations and personnel, and ensuring compliance with all regulatory and institutional guidelines. This is an ideal position for a driven academic professional who wants to assume a leadership position as a “right hand” to the Principal Investigator (PI), Dr. Ashley Kendall. The ideal candidate is familiar and able to work flexibly with the fast-paced demands of clinical trials research, has very strong written and verbal communication skills, and is committed to the highest levels of professionalism.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Mange timelines across all MindfulTech studies, proactively anticipating project needs and closely overseeing the study team to ensure that deadlines are met.
• Develop, implement, and enforce administrative and operational policies and procedures within the MindfulTech lab.
• Plan and supervise daily administrative, research, and other lab activities.
• Ensure compliance with all local, state, and national regulations including serving as the primary liaison with the institutional review board (IRB) and relevant funders.
• Serve as the primary liaison with academic, professional, and community partners (e.g., co-investigators, vendors, community recruitment sites).
• Recruit, hire, train, and provide ongoing supervision to lab staff.
• Oversee participant recruitment, enrollment, and retention across projects.
• Lead weekly project meetings with lab staff.
• Support meetings with external and regulatory collaborators, such as Community Advisory Board (CAB) and Data Safety and Monitoring Board (DSMB) meetings.
• Keep clear records from all meetings of all decisions made and action items identified, proactively assign out action items with clear deadlines, and monitor progress on these action items to ensure all deadlines are met.
• Develop project budgets with the PI and actively implement and oversee these budgets.
• Support the professional development of lab personnel by providing training and mentorship as appropriate.
• Assist with preparation of grant applications, peer-reviewed manuscripts, scientific and community presentations, and reports for scientific and community partners as appropriate.
• Perform other related duties and participate in special projects as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in science or related field required. Advanced degree preferred.
• A minimum of 5 years related research experience.
  Possess and applies advanced knowledge of research principles, concepts, practices and methods.
  A minimum of 5 years’ experience managing research studies is required, including supervisory experience and experience working with federal regulations and IRBs.
• Strong ability to manage teams, including enforcing administrative and operational policies and procedures in accordance with project needs and deadlines.
• Strong professionalism and ability to foster professional communication among staff.
• Strong computer skills, with REDCap experience preferred.
• Knowledge of research protocols, principles, and procedures; clinical trials and experimental design; and ethics and regulatory procedures (e.g., IRB applications, data safety and monitoring plans).
• Knowledge of technology-based interventions, mindfulness-based interventions, research with vulnerable populations (e.g., legal-involved youth), and/or behavioral health is helpful but not required.
• Proficient in specific lab research techniques.

The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify.

The university provides accommodations to applicants and employees. Request an Accommodation

How to Apply

Job Categories: Equal Opportunities. Job Types: Full-Time. Salaries: 60,000 - 80,000.

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