Working title:

ASST STUDY COORDINATOR/BIOSPECIMEN COORDINATOR-NATIONAL CHILDREN'S STUDY

Official title:

SR RESEARCH SPEC(T16BN) or RESEARCH SPECIALIST(T16DN)

Degree and area of specialization:

Bachelors degree required with background in biological sciences, laboratory sciences, or clinical research preferred. Understanding of research methodology and ethics.

Minimum number of years and type of relevant work experience:

The ideal candidate will have at least three years of experience in a clinical, laboratory, or medical research setting which included at least one year of experience in staff supervision and training and quality assurance/quality control. Phlebotomy training and experience is a plus, but not required as training may be provided.

Principal duties:

This position will coordinate biospecimen and physical measures data collection for the National Children's Study - Waukesha County Vanguard Center (NCS-WCVC). This $16.2 million contract is funded by the National Institutes for Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) and is a long-term longitudinal study of environmental influences on children's health and development. See www.nationalchildrensstudy.gov for additional information.

The Waukesha County Vanguard Center is a collaboration among several institutions and state and local agencies. The University of Wisconsin Waisman Center, Medical College of Wisconsin (Milwaukee), and the National Opinion Research Center (Chicago) are the major partners. The Biospecimen Coordinator will work collaboratively with personnel from these organizations, as well as with staff of the NCS Program Office and NCS Coordinating Center.

The Assistant Study Coordinator/Biospecimen Coordinator will oversee biospecimen and physical measures collection, including training of biospecimen and physical measures collection staff and QA/QC of the collection processes. He/she will also assist the Study Coordinator in other operational aspects of the NCS study office.

Specific duties include:
1. Complete NCS training and become certified to train staff on all biospecimen and physical measures of the NCS protocol.
2. With the Study Coordinator and Study Field Manager, develop field office policies and procedures to ensure biospecimen and physical measures data collection, processing, storage and shipping are in compliance with the NCS protocol.
3. Share "on-call" duty (with other staff) to attend NCS births at area hospitals to ensure NCS protocol is carried out.
4. Monitor all biospecimen collection activities and work collaboratively with the NCS Coordinating Center to ensure quality in data collection and reporting. Implement and oversee the NCS quality control plan as it relates to biospecimens.
5. Manage inventory and equipment.
6. Assist Study Coordinator with institutional review board submissions and other administrative duties as required.
7. Perform phlebotomy as needed.

Additional Information:

This is a full-time, salaried position that will require a flexible schedule (occasional evenings and weekends) to accommodate the needs of Study participants and NCS births. Regular travel within Waukesha County. Attendance at periodic training programs in the Washington, DC, area are required.

Headquarters for the position is in the City of Waukesha.

A valid driver's license that meets UW Risk Management standards is required. The incumbent must provide his/her own transportation to sites. Travel reimbursement is provided at current state mileage rate.

In addition to the required University of Wisconsin Criminal Background check the federal government requires that a more rigorous, 7-year, background investigation be conducted as a pre-requisite to work on the National Children's Study.