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Department of Emergency Medicine Heersink School of Medicine

Research Associate Program

The Emergency Medicine Research Associate Program (EM-RAP) is a key component of the UAB Emergency Medicine research infrastructure. The EM-RAP consists of specially-trained Research Associates (RAs) who maintain a presence in UAB emergency departments to assist investigators and clinical research staff with recruitment of research participants. The EM-RAP fulfills the infrastructure necessary to carry out NIH-funded randomized controlled clinical trials, clinical and epidemiologic research studies and public health service initiatives. EM-RAP RAs receive extensive training and orientation to operational workflow of the UAB EDs and how to interact with clinicians and nurses across UAB Hospital. Research Associates record and maintain data associated with various research protocols, and assist the clinical research study team in determining patient eligibility by confirming enrollment inclusion and exclusion criteria with existing clinical staff.

Interested in being an RA?

Requirements:

  • 1 year commitment
  • Minimum of 20hrs per week depending on shift availability
  • 2 years of undergraduate courework in public health, pre-medical/health-related sciences track OR 4 year undergraduate degree with plans to seek graduate-level training in medicine, nursing, public health, or related field
  • Currently enrolled in graduate program or completing final semester of undergraduate studies
  • Detail-oriented, capable of multi-tasking in fast-paced clinical environments and consistently demonstrate copmpassion and respect for hospital patients

Duties & Responsibilities:

  • Recruit and enroll patients in clinical trials and other projects according to the study protocol based on defined criteria
  • Interact with treating physicians and nurses to coordinate research procedures without disrupting routine healthcare services
  • Interact with research subjects and/or their family members to provide general information concerning study protocols or to collect study data
  • Assist with completing regulatory paperwork and electronic data collection forms, including navigating hospiutal Emergency Medical Record (EMR) syustems to abstract and enter clinical study data
  • Work with patient care staff to collect biological specimens and deliver specimens to hospital laboratories
  • Contact participants by telephone to schedule follow-up appointments or complete post-discharge data collection tasks
  • Assist clinical research staff prepare for routine meetings and site monitoring visits, incluyding supporting efforts to resolve data discrepancies or other quality improvement tasks.

*Please note this is a paid position. 

If you are interested in becoming an RA for the UAB Department of Emergency Medicine, please fill out the interest form below and someone will contact you with more information.

RA Interest Form

 

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Contact

WCovington Headshot 23Whitney Covington, MPH, MLS

Manager - Clinical Research Coordination
wcovington@uabmc.edu