The Center for Indigenous Health (CIH) is located within International Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and is seeking a Research Program Assistant. The core activities housed at CIH include research studies of infectious diseases, behavioral and mental health, and various training programs. The CIH works in partnership with communities to promote Indigenous well-being and health leadership to the highest possible level.

The goals of the infectious disease prevention projects are to evaluate the impact and efficacy of research projects aimed at improving health outcomes for and with Native American families and communities. Study data results will focus on public health outcomes specific to the approved protocols at the worksite.

The Research Program Assistant will primarily assist in the day-to-day logistical and operational tasks for various research studies at the site, interacting with the investigators, collaborators, and participants in a research environment. This person will assist in carrying out research in accordance with good clinical practices in such activities as obtaining informed consent, data and specimen collection, and patient follow-up over time.

Specific Duties & Responsibilities

• Serve as a Research Program Assistant for the Center’s community-based infectious disease prevention projects. Specific responsibilities may include, but are not limited to,
  
• Responsible for clinical research procedures with study participants including screening for eligibility, informed consent, questionnaires, specimen collection and sample processing, with minimal supervision and in alignment with study protocols and site policies.
• Collect data from patient medical records and questionnaires, prepare and code data entry, enter and maintain databases. Monitors data quality and accuracy as required by research protocol. Ensure that case files and accompanying paperwork are organized and current.
• Act as primary contact for study participants, which may include scheduling, confirming appointments, and escorting/directing to various locations on campus.
• Transportation of and delivery of services to enrolled study participants as directed by community-based Investigators, supervisors and coordinators.
  

• Basic laboratory work including safe handling and processing of human biospecimens, as well as shipping preparation per study protocol.
  

• Complete all training and certification requirements for required research procedures in a timely manner.
  

• Provide follow-up services to individuals as outlined in the study protocol.
  

• Facilitation of community-based meetings and events including the small and large-group presentation of study approval requests, project progress and goals achieved.
• Work with the rest of the study team on duties related to the general conduct of the study and participate in staff meetings to review project goals and protocols.
  

• Travel to community-based training meetings on a regular basis with overnight travel as needed.
  

• Travel to other JHU worksites for intermittent or long-term duties as site needs dictate.
  

• Assist with the other Center-wide programmatic duties as needed.
  

• This description is a general statement of required major duties and responsibilities performed on a regular and continuous basis. It does not exclude other duties as assigned.

Special Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Must be comfortable collecting saliva, urine, or blood samples from participants.
• Proficient in the use of computers, including software applications, databases, spreadsheets, and word processing.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Independent and self-motivated.
• Highly organized and detail oriented.
• Ability to manage multiple and competing priorities.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated strong, positive interpersonal skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively across disciplines and within a variety of cultures.

This description is a general statement of required duties and responsibilities performed on a regular and continuous basis; the Research Assistant will perform other related duties as assigned.

• High School Diploma or graduation equivalent, with some college courses preferred.
• Some related experience.
• Additional education may substitute for required experience, to the extent permitted by the JHU equivalency formula.

• Native language speaker.
• Ability to translate technical medical terminology and concepts into relatable language and examples.
• Knowledge of local geography and culture, prior work experience in this community.
• Prior research experience.

Classified Title: Research Program Assistant 
Job Posting Title (Working Title): Research Program Assistant   
Role/Level/Range: ACRO40/E/02/CB  
Starting Salary Range: $15.40 - $23.25 HRLY ($49,400 targeted; Commensurate with experience) 
Employee group: Full Time 
Schedule: Monday to Friday: 8 am – 4:30 pm 
Exempt Status: Non-Exempt 
Location: MD - Other Location 
Department name: 10001145-Center for Indigenous Health 
Personnel area: School of Public Health