Research Technician
Vanderbilt University
Research Technician
Job Description
The HBCD Operations Coordinator is part of the EBRL in the Department of Special Education at Vanderbilt University and is a key individual contributor responsible for successful research protocol implementation of the Healthy Brain and Child Development project (https://hbcdstudy.org/), an observational study with 25 sites nation-wide which will recruit pregnant birthing parents and follow them and their children for 10 years. Reporting directly to the Senior Project Coordinator, the HBCD Operations Coordinator is a full-time position providing general administrative and operational support to the research study team to achieve efficient and seamless study functioning and ensure successful research participant experiences.
The HBCD Operations Coordinator is responsible for postnatal scheduling for research participants for the HBCD study and serves as a primary point of contact between research participants and their families and the study team. The HBCD Operations Coordinator will work within the University financial and reporting systems to meet administrative needs of the study, the lab, and the Principal Investigator. The HBCD Operations Coordinator will provide occasional support to the HBCD study team during participant visits.
Note: A hybrid work arrangement is potentially available for this role. Some job functions require work hours outside of standard business hours.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Manage scheduling and retention efforts for the HBCD research study.
- Creates and maintains the research participant calendar and schedules participants for study visits across multiple platforms including Ripple, iLab, Google Calendar, and Outlook.
- Reserves CORE equipment (e.g., MRI, EEG, etc.) for study use.
- Manages communication with participant families and study staff for study visits.
- Manages delivery of important scheduling updates to participants and to the study team regarding appointment reminders, cancellations, reschedules, etc.
- Assign study staff members to participant visits with considerations such as personal staff schedules, PTO, visit burden, rotations, etc.
- Coordinate with the Study Navigator for participant check-ins and follow-up
- Develop and implement a system for maintaining contact between study visits (“light touches”) to ensure retention of the participant sample.
- Engages in open communication with participants and families, including promptly addressing participant questions or concerns that arise.
- Complete pre- and post-visit administrative procedures associated participant visits (e.g., birth/delivery check-ins with pregnant participants, visit closeout confirmations, etc.).
- Enter data into databases.
- Creates and maintains the research participant calendar and schedules participants for study visits across multiple platforms including Ripple, iLab, Google Calendar, and Outlook.
- Support day-to-day operational & administrative needs of the research study.
- Identifies and procures equipment and supplies needed to fulfill project requirements.
- Work within the university’s financial and reporting systems for project needs (e.g., submission of purchase requisitions for study supplies and research subject payments).
- Arrange transportation for research participant visits.
- Manage participant and study staff travel itinerary purchases and reimbursements.
- Coordinate the scheduling of Community Advisory Board Meetings
- Assist in other general administrative project procedures and maintenance as needed.
- Assist in other administrative general lab procedures and maintenance as needed.
- Attend regular lab meetings to Collaboratively participate in study team meetings.
- Maintain open and positive communications with investigators, participants, co-workers, other departments and sponsors.
Supervisory Relationships
This position does not have supervisory responsibility; this position reports administratively and functionally to the Senior Research Coordinator Manager.
Qualifications
- Minimum of Bachelor’s degree is necessary.
- Degree within the fields of Psychology, Education, Neuroscience, or related field is preferred.
- Prior experience managing coordination of complex schedules is necessary.
- Exceptional organization and coordination skills are necessary.
- Superior written and verbal communication skills are necessary.
- The ability to positively, warmly, and calmly engage with participants and study team members is necessary.
- Prior experience working in a research setting (> 1 year) is strongly preferred.
- Prior experience working with children and families is preferred.
- Familiarity standardized developmental assessment administration and/or neuroimaging methods, especially fMRI and/or EEG, is preferred.
About Us
At Vanderbilt University , our work - regardless of title or role - is in service to an important and noble mission in which every member of our community serves in advancing knowledge and transforming lives on a daily basis. Located in Nashville, Tennessee, on a 330+ acre campus and arboretum dating back to 1873, Vanderbilt is proud to have been named as one of “America’s Best Large Employers” as well as a top employer in Tennessee and the Nashville metropolitan area by Forbes for several years running. We welcome those who are interested in learning and growing professionally with an employer that strives to create, foster and sustain opportunities as an employer of choice.
We understand you have a choice when choosing where to work and pursue a career. We understand you are unique and have a story. We want to hear it. We encourage you to apply today so that you might become a part of our story.
Job Info
- Job Identification 10007051
- Job Category Research
- Posting Date 08/07/2025, 02:54 am
- Locations Nashville, TN, United States
- Job Schedule Full time
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