Job Description

Position: Research Assistant, General Internal Medicine (BHEAT Study)       

Location: Boston, MA

Schedule: 40 hours per week, Hybrid (1 - 3 days in office per week)

ABOUT BMC:

At Boston Medical Center (BMC), our diverse staff works together for one goal — to provide exceptional and equitable care to improve the health of the people of Boston. Our bold vision to transform health care is powered by our respect for our patients and our commitment to ensure everyone who comes through our doors has a positive experience.

You’ll find a supportive work environment at BMC, with rich opportunities throughout your career for training, development, and growth and where you’ll have the tools you need to take charge of your own practice environment.  

POSITION SUMMARY :

The Research Assistant (RA) will support the Boston Hypertension Equity Alliance in Treatment (BHEAT) study, a new clinical trial investigating health system strategies to improve hypertension management in safety net primary care clinics throughout Boston, led by Dr. Michael Fischer and Dr. Cheryl Clark. BHEAT is funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) and includes a focus on reducing disparities in hypertension treatment and outcomes.

The RA will be a key member of a small core research team focused on daily monitoring and progress of the trial, and will interact with study investigators, project managers, clinical staff, and other research staff at BMC and other clinical sites. Duties may include a wide variety of research support tasks, which will provide experience in the design and conduct of clinical trials, health systems research, and health disparities research.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Assist with administrative aspects of the research study, including maintaining project records and handling routine communication needs of the project

• Coordinate meetings between the research staff and research sites, including scheduling and recordkeeping

• Assist with the preparation of Data Use Agreements, Institutional Review Board (IRB) applications, and related documents regarding the protection of human subjects

• Help develop polished deliverables to convey progress and results of the study, including reports, presentations, posters, abstracts, and manuscripts

• Partner with collaborators and study staff on oversight of studies, standard operating procedure development and review, and data quality assurance

• Perform systematic literature reviews and synthesize relevant data

• Perform administrative tasks as needed to support the research study such as organizing files, maintaining updated manuals, etc.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

EDUCATION:

• A minimum of a Bachelor’s degree is required by start date.

• Major in a field related to the research and an excellent academic record preferred.

EXPERIENCE:

• Candidates should have an academic and/or professional record demonstrating experience and skills in analytical thinking and/or scientific methods.

• Candidates should also demonstrate skill in organization, time management, and both verbal and written communication. Relevant research experience would be an asset but is not a requirement.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

Attentive and organized to ensure research quality and compliance

• Organized approach to balancing multiple tasks, prioritizing duties, and monitoring multiple workflows

• Advanced attention to detail

• Able to adhere to directions, detailed study protocols, and data compliance protocols

• Experience with data organization and reporting

Communication and collaboration

• Excellent interpersonal skills needed to work with research collaborators, human subjects, and patients in clinical settings

• Clear communication skills and ability to adapt to the communication needs of the intended audience

• Cultural sensitivity and comfort with a multidisciplinary team and diverse populations

Motivated to engage and learn

• Problem-solving approach and learning mindset

• Intellectual independence and initiative

• Interest in health equity, health systems, health services research, public health, health policy, and/or medicine

​ Technical skill

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications including Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

• Clear and concise writing

• Careful editing and proofreading

• Skilled in preparing clear, informative, visually appealing written deliverables, including tables, figures, and written documents

Additional skills that would be helpful but are not required

• Database design and management, particularly with REDCap

• Data analysis

• Research experience (classroom-based or professional), including clinical research studies or qualitative research methods

This position is grant funded through 11/2029. There may be opportunity beyond this grant funding for position integration into ongoing operations.

JOB BENEFITS:

• Competitive pay

• Tuition reimbursement and tuition remission programs

• Highly subsidized medical, dental, and vision insurance options

• Career Advancement/Professional Development: Access a wealth of ongoing training and development opportunities that will not only enhance your skills but also expand your knowledge base especially for individuals pursuing careers in medicine or biomedical research.

• Pioneering Research: Engage in groundbreaking research projects that are driving the forefront of biomedical science.

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT:

As the primary teaching hospital for Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine and BU schools of public health and dentistry, intellectual rigor shapes our inquiries. Our research is led by a belief that skin color, zip code, and financial circumstances shouldn’t dictate health.

Boston Medical Center is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. If you need accommodation for any part of the application process because of a medical condition or disability, please send an e-mail to  [email protected] or call 617-638-8582 to let us know the nature of your request.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Disabled/Veterans

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