Buck Institute for Research on Aging
live better longer
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
- Competitive salary ($50 – 65k/ year) commensurate with experience plus benefits including health insurance, paid parental leave, PTO, and 401k (5% employer match after 1 year)
- Minimum of 24 hours per week up to full-time (negotiable)
- Onsite position
POSITION SUMMARY
The Buck Institute is completing its first clinical research study to investigate the effects of food on aging in older adults with more studies starting soon. We are looking for a Bilingual (Spanish) Clinical Research Associate (CRA) to help execute the day-to-day logistics and communications required for the successful running of clinical studies. We are looking for a fluent Spanish and English speaker to help us meet our research diversity goals by expanding Latino/Latina outreach and county-wide partnerships.
The successful candidate will work alongside our team including Principal Investigator, Dr Newman, MD PhD and practicing geriatrician, Investigator Dr Brianna Stubbs, PhD, who has 10+ years of clinical research experience, Study Nurses, and clinical research associates. Given the small team, the CRA will get hands-on experience across the lifecycle of clinical study execution. This experience will be rewarding and challenging for a highly motivated individual who has the confidence to execute tasks independently but also to ask for help when needed.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Maintain participant records, telephone screen participants ahead of in-person screening, and track participants’ progress through the study.
- Coordinate logistics for sample analysis ahead of in-person study visits.
- During study visits, help answer questions about the study and carry out basic clinical procedures including blood ketone and glucose measurement, physical function testing, and administer questionnaires. Build rapport with the study participants to ensure they enjoy their visits and increase retention.
- Elicit language preference and carry out study visits and phone calls in Spanish in a culturally competent manner.
- Provide translation when needed between study participants and nurses or investigators.
- Assist investigators with bilingual community outreach and participant recruitment, including community seminars and off-site visits.
- Ensure compliance with the study’s protocol by thoroughly reviewing and documenting each subject study visit.
- Extract and digitize data from written case report forms; carefully preserve data integrity.
- Process biospecimens, and ship to analytical lab or archives as required. Basic wet lab assays using the archived blood samples.
- Participate in data analysis, interpretation, write-up, and dissemination.
- Maintain confidentiality of all patient-related records including written and verbal communications.
QUALIFICATIONS
Education & Experience
- BA/BS or equivalent in a biomedical or related field
- Experience with, or interest in, Clinical Trial conduct and operation
- Experience in a wet lab with basic analytical techniques and assays
- Strong interest in the science of healthy aging and translating basic science research into clinical interventions
Required Skills
- Fluent in Spanish and English, both written and verbal
- Comfortable initiating community outreach to maintain and establish resources, public speaking, and group facilitation
- Competent working with culturally diverse individuals/families (EOE)- specifically, Latino/Latina Spanish-speaking communities in Marin and Sonoma Counties
- Ability to travel within the community
- Detail-oriented and meticulous in all aspects of work
- Strong follow-through skills and ability to proactively identify and solve problems; demonstrated initiative is imperative
- A professional demeanor, and strong communication skills with the public, other providers, and co-workers
- Strong interpersonal and ‘customer service’ skills are critical
Desired skills
- Competent with email, calendar scheduling, Microsoft Excel, and Google Drive
- Proficient at learning to utilize platforms such as FitBit app, ASA24 diet log, Redcap
