Job Description

Clinical Research Specialist

Research Data Tech Sr (DUKE TITLE)

Center for Child & Family Policy

Sanford School of Public Policy

Duke University

Occupational Summary

Center for Child and Family Policy Mission

The Center for Child and Family Policy is dedicated to improving the well-being of children and families through research, education, and engagement. We study factors that influence child outcomes, develop and test promising interventions, and advance evidence-based practices and policies that can inform change and unlock opportunities for all children and their families.

Position Description

The position involves coordinating field operations for the research study Midlife Health Inequities in the Rural South: Risk and Resilience. The work involves engaging with community organizations to foster participation, recruiting participants via phone and in-person visits, and screening them for eligibility. Responsibilities include obtaining informed consent, scheduling and conducting assessments involving biological specimen collection, and ensuring the safe transmission of specimens to Duke. The role also involves verifying data accuracy, introducing participants to the study’s longitudinal assessment component, and maintaining compliance through various communication methods.

This is a full-time position. Work for this position must be based in the North Carolina Black Belt area with travel to meet with study participants, research colleagues, as well as transfer of biological specimens to Duke University.  Contact with project manager and project leader will be primarily via Zoom. The specialist will be supervised by the project’s manager and will hold weekly virtual meetings throughout the field operations, with more frequent meetings at the start of the field operations.

Work Performed

A detailed description of functional areas and tasks follows:

• Community Engagement:  Make contact with community organizations in the region.
  • Initiate and maintain communication with local community groups to discuss the study's goals and seek their support in encouraging participation. This involves scheduling meetings, preparing presentations, and addressing any concerns or questions from the organizations to foster a collaborative relationship.

• Participant Recruitment: Conduct recruitment of participants in the two Black Belt samples.
  • Utilize contact lists provided by sampling statisticians and Institute for Social Research (ISR) staff to reach out to potential study participants via telephone and in-person visits. This includes crafting and delivering compelling recruitment messages to encourage participation and ensuring a diverse and representative sample.

• Eligibility Screening: Screen potential participants to determine age eligibility.
  • Conduct initial screenings through phone calls or face-to-face interactions to verify that participants meet the study's age criteria (35-50 years). This involves asking standardized questions, recording responses accurately, and maintaining confidentiality.

• Consent Acquisition: Obtain signed informed consents from eligible participants.
  • Explain the study's purpose, procedures, risks, and benefits to eligible participants. Ensure they understand their rights and obtain their signed consent during in-person visits, complying with ethical standards and institutional guidelines.

• Scheduling and Assessments: Schedule and conduct 90-minute assessments.
  • Arrange appointments for in-person assessments, coordinating times and locations convenient for participants. Administer assessments that include collecting biological specimens (bloodspots) and other biometric measurements, ensuring a standardized approach and accurate data collection.

• Specimen Transmission: Transmit biological specimens for storage.
  • Safely package and transport collected biological specimens to Duke's Center for Child and Family Policy (CCFP). Follow protocols for specimen handling, labeling, and documentation to ensure their integrity during transit and subsequent storage.

• Data Verification: Verify accuracy of study database information.
  • Review and cross-check collected data against database entries to ensure accuracy and completeness. Resolve discrepancies promptly and update records as necessary, maintaining a high standard of data quality.

• Participant Monitoring: Introduce and monitor Intensive Longitudinal Assessment component.
  • Educate participants on the longitudinal assessment process, including expectations and timelines. Maintain regular communication through text messaging, emails, and phone calls to monitor compliance and address any issues, providing support to ensure ongoing participation.

Perform other related duties incidental to the work described herein.

The above statements describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this classification. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties required of personnel so classified.

**Work for this position will be based in the North Carolina counties of Bertie, Edgecombe, Franklin, Granville, Halifax, Hertford, Martin, Nash, Northampton, Pitt, Tyrell, Vance, Warren, Washington, and Wilson. This position will require significant travel between these counties. Preference would be for the Clinical Research Specialist to live in or near one of these counties.**

EDUCATION/TRAINING

Work requires a Bachelor's degree with significant coursework or training in social sciences and research methods.

EXPERIENCE

Work requires one year of experience in a related position.

OR AN EQUIVALENT COMBINATION OF RELEVANT EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE

In addition, the successful candidate will possess the following qualities/attributes:

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Demonstrated commitment to racial equity
• High attention to detail and dependability
• An orientation to collaboration and teamwork

OPPORTUNITIES

If interested, successful candidates will have the opportunity to join study team members in preparing and giving research-related presentations and in manuscript development and publication.