Wayne State University is searching for an experienced Research Associate, Population Sciences - Department of Oncology at its Detroit campus location.
Wayne State is a premier, public, urban research university located in the heart of Detroit, Michigan where students from all backgrounds are offered a rich, high-quality education. Our deep-rooted commitment to excellence, collaboration, integrity, diversity and inclusion creates exceptional educational opportunities which prepare students for success in a global society.
Support
the design and implementation of clinical research protocols involving human
subjects. Recruit and screen study participants through approved methods,
including outreach, surveys, and interviews. Conduct study visits and collect
clinical and research data in compliance with Institutional Review Board
(IRB), regulatory, and protocol requirements. Communicate regularly with the
Principal Investigator and research team regarding study progress and
participant status.
Collect, enter, and maintain
accurate clinical and research data, including outcomes, surveys, and case
report forms. Monitor data quality and completeness. Perform preliminary data
analysis and generate graphs, charts, and tables to summarize results in
accordance with study protocols. Proofread and verify research data and
documentation for accuracy.
Prepare
and assist with presentations of research findings for professional,
scientific, and academic conferences. Organize and summarize study results
for submission to peer-reviewed journals. Assist in drafting, factchecking,
editing, and proofreading scientific manuscripts, study reports, and
regulatory documents.
Maintain organized research records and study files
in accordance with regulatory and institutional requirements. Coordinate
study materials and supplies, and support documentation for audits,
monitoring visits, and regulatory submissions. Ensure workspaces remain
organized and compliant with confidentiality and data security standards.
Perform
other related duties as assigned.
We seek a full-time, entry-level Research Associate with a strong foundation in computational genomics and a keen interest in cancer and epidemiology. This role offers the opportunity to contribute to various projects
utilizing -omic data (e.g., GWAS, sequencing, RNA-seq, ATAC-seq) and integrating publicly available datasets from All of Us, UK Biobank, and dbGaP. The focus will be on understanding susceptibility to and survival following hematologic malignancies. This position is an excellent opportunity for someone looking to strengthen their computational skills while developing deeper expertise in cancer genomics and epidemiology. - Under the direction of the PI, design, execute, and interpret genetic studies using diverse quantitative and binary traits from large-scale cohorts. - Collaborate with colleagues in various multi-PI research consortia, including presenting and discussing analysis results. - Stay up to date with advances in human genetic analysis methods and be able to discuss these developments with both experts and non-experts.
Education: Bachelor's degree
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in public health, psychology, social sciences, nursing, biology, or related fields.
Requires advanced knowledge, predominantly intellectual in character, in a field of science or learning acquired by a prolonged course of specialized intellectual instruction.
Experience: Intermediate (3 to 4 years job-related experience)
Experience conducting clinical or human subjects research is preferred.
Experience with participant recruitment, informed consent, data collection, and maintenance of regulatory documentation is preferred.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Ability to work independently and manage multiple clinical research activities while adhering to study protocols, regulatory requirements, and timelines. Ability to analyze, summarize, and interpret clinical research data and communicate findings effectively in reports and presentations. Requires knowledge predominantly intellectual in character in a field of science or learning acquired through specialized instruction. Knowledge of scientific integrity principles, responsible conduct of research, and human subject protections (e.g., IRB requirements, confidentiality standards). Excellent time management, organizational, and documentation skills.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with demonstrated ability to interact professionally with research participants, clinical staff, and multidisciplinary research teams.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and familiarity with clinical research databases or electronic data capture systems is preferred. Ability to recruit and communicate effectively with diverse populations, including medically underserved communities.
Ability to identify workflow issues and recommend process improvements.
- MS in Statistical Genetics, Human Genetics with Computational Biology, Quantitative Epidemiology, or a relatedfield OR BS with 3+ years of work experience demonstrating an equivalent MS-level understanding of subject
matter and skill set. - Experience with data QC, analysis, and interpretation of human biological data. Prior experience in human genetics (single variant and gene-based association analysis using WES/WGS/array genotyping data) is ideal, but candidates with relevant experience in adjacent fields and a willingness to learn are
encouraged to apply. - Basic understanding of EHR data (e.g., UK Biobank, All of Us) and genomics databases (e.g., gnomAD, 1000 Genomes, TOPMed). Prior hands-on experience with these resources is preferred but not required. - Proficiency in R required; Python is also acceptable. - Working knowledge of Unix/Linux and cloud computing environments. - Strong interest in developing written and verbal communication skills for conveying analysis results to experts and non-experts. - Some experience with peer-reviewed publications and/or conference presentations is preferred.
H06 - School of Medicine
H0632 - Oncology
Typical work environment may include office, clinical, community, and/or research settings. May require evening or weekend hours to accommodate study participants. May require local travel for recruitment, community engagement, or professional conferences.
University policy requires certain persons who are offered employment to undergo a background check, including a criminal history check, before starting work. If you are offered employment, the university will inform you if a background check is required.
