We are seeking a Research Assistant for 1-2 years in the Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine at Johns Hopkins University. The research group of Dr. Chirag Parikh, Director of the Division of Nephrology, has several ongoing clinical research studies (see http://tribe.jhmi.edu/) including the NIH-funded study in Kidney Precision Medicine Project (KPMP), Caring for Outpatients after Acute Kidney Injury (COPE-AKI) clinical trial, the Deceased Donor Study (DDS). Dr. Parikh’s laboratory aims to transform the care of patients with kidney disease. The position involves direct patient interaction, collection and processing of human blood and urine specimens, medical chart abstraction using electronic health records, study database data entry, conducting literature reviews, manuscript writing, and participating in team meetings.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities

• Assist the Principal Investigators in developing and implementing study-operating procedures related to recruitment, retention, study visits, and specimen bank while ensuring quality control procedures are followed.
• Schedule research subjects enrollment and follow-up visits including production of calendars and schedules for the participants.
• Responsible for maintaining source documents, double data entry, and accurate record keeping of all study-related information and data verification as assigned.
• Manage assertively multiple databases and laboratory software.
• Maintains OnCore system by continuously updating patient status upon study visits
• Conduct data collection tasks including collection, handling, and tracking of biosamples from outpatient visits. Interact with in-house personnel (nurses, phlebotomists, and core lab techs) to request, track, and collect inpatient samples.
• Conduct in-person and over-the-phone interviews with participants to ascertain contact information, health provider, medical history, medical information, social history, and literacy test (only in-person visits). In addition, obtain physical exam information.
• Responsible for assisting in conducting study research visits at the outpatient clinical research unit (ICTR-CRU) and JHU hospitalization units.
• Prepare study kits for various research studies.
• Processing biosamples from ongoing studies.
• Scanning into and retrieving biological samples from -80C freezers.
• Perform miscellaneous job-related and lab-related duties as assigned.

Special Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Excellent work attitude and professionalism in working closely with physicians and clinician scientists.
• Ability to think and work independently and as part of a team.
• Strong desire to contribute to patient-oriented research and gain medical knowledge.

Physical Requirements 

• Sitting in a normal seated position in the office setting.
• Standing and/or walking for extended periods of time.
• Reaching by extending hand(s) or arm(s) in any direction.
• Communication skills using the spoken word.
• Ability to see within normal parameters.
• Ability to hear within normal range.
• Ability to move about.

• Bachelor's Degree in related discipline.

• Additional related experience may substitute for required education, to the extent permitted by the JHU equivalency formula.

• BA/BS in the Life Sciences or completion of the Pre-Medical track.
• Prior experience in a research laboratory or hospital is preferred but not required. 
• At least one year working in a research setting preferred.
• Strong desire to contribute to patient-oriented research and gain medical knowledge.

Classified Title: Research Assistant 
Role/Level/Range: ACRO40/E/03/CD  
Starting Salary Range: $17.20 - $30.30 HRLY ($41,000 targeted; Commensurate with experience) 
Employee group: Full Time 
Schedule: M-F ; 830am-5pm 
Exempt Status: Non-Exempt 
Location: School of Medicine Campus 
Department name: ​​​​​​​SOM DOM Nephrology  
Personnel area: School of Medicine