Research Study Coordinator

The Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer’s Disease (Mesulam Center) is a multi-departmental component of the Feinberg School of Medicine. We specialize in clinical care and scientific study of neurological diseases that interfere with cognition and behavior. Areas of emphasis include age-related memory impairments and dementia. Our three interacting missions are to investigate the causes and clinical characteristics of neurodegenerative diseases, to ensure that our patients are the beneficiaries of the latest advances, and to explore the neural foundations of behavior and cognition in health and disease.

The Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer’s Disease is a multi-departmental component of the Feinberg School of Medicine. We specialize in clinical care and scientific study of neurological diseases that interfere with cognition and behavior. Areas of emphasis include age-related memory impairments and dementia. Our three interacting missions are to investigate the causes and clinical characteristics of neurodegenerative diseases, to ensure that our patients are the beneficiaries of the latest advances, and to explore the neural foundations of behavior and cognition in health and disease.

This position is for a research study assistant for the longitudinal research study on Primary Progressive Aphasia in the laboratory of Dr. Marsel Mesulam and Dr. Elena Barbieri. Primary responsibilities may include scheduling research participants, administering neuropsychological tests, coordinating with interdisciplinary teams within the Center, transcribing speech samples, processing participant payments, data entry/maintenance of a REDCap database, neuroimaging data processing and data analysis, preparing data for faculty/investigators and grant-related reports, and working on study-related research projects. To be considered for this position, please include a cover letter detailing previous experiences that may fit well with this role.

This position has funding for a period of two years.

Specific Responsibilities :   

Technical

• Participates in the planning & conduct of research study including participant recruitment and retention.
• Schedules participant visits for neuropsychological tests, MRI and PET scans.
• Accompanies participants to imaging scans (e.g. MRI, PET).
• Obtains informed consent.
• Administers tests &/or questionnaires following protocols.
• Collects, compiles, tabulates & processes responses.
• Gathers study specific information.
• Extracts & analyzes data from medical charts.
• Runs pipelines for the pre-processing and analysis of neuroimaging data including structural and functional MRI, and PET.
• Performs statistical analysis under supervision.
• Helps summarize and visualize data using appropriate graphs and tables.
• Completes basic clinical procedures such as drawing blood & obtaining blood pressure.

Administration

• Collects, records, reviews & summarizes research data.
• Collates relevant mathematical results & prepares tables, charts & graphs reflecting relationships of multiple tests.
• Analyzes neuroimaging data
• Prepares reports for investigators and sponsors on recruitment status and other pertinent study data.
• Develops and refines research study materials and protocols as needed.
• Writes portions of grant applications.
• Works across Northwestern University and Northwestern Memorial Hospital teams to facilitate study compliance.
• Completes documents associated with current local, state, & federal regulatory guidelines, requirements, laws & research protocols.

Finance

• May process payments for research participants per study protocol.
• Works with industry representatives and Northwestern Memorial Hospital partners to maintain billing schedules.
• Coordinates reimbursements for participant pay, additional gift card orders, etc. & ensure costs remain within allotted grant budget.

Supervision

• May provide work direction &/or train other research staff to interview/test participants.
• May act as a mentor in regard to education of junior coordinators.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications: (Education, experience, and any other certifications or clearances)

• Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree in a major such as social or health science or related; OR appropriate combination of education and experience and 2 years' research study or other relevant experience required; OR
• Successful completion of a full course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a master's or higher degree in a major such as social or health science or related; OR appropriate combination of education and experience.
• Must complete NU's IRB CITI training before interacting with any participants & must re-certify every 3 years.

Minimum Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities.)

• Experience as a research assistant in biomedical or socio-behavioral research laboratories.
• Experience collaborating across teams.
• Excellent communication and organization skills.
• Preferred Qualifications: (Education and experience)
• Bachelor’s or higher degree in Neuroscience, Cognitive Science, Psychology or related field.

Preferred Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities)

• Prior experience in human participant research, particularly with older adults and/or individuals with cognitive impairments.
• Experience with preliminary data analysis and report building.
• Experience with neuroimaging and/or neuropsychological testing
• Experience with REDCap or similar research database

Target hiring range for this position will be between $19.31-$27.16 per hour.   Offered salary will be determined by the applicant’s education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.

Benefits:
At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts and more Visit us at to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness:
Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life’s challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.
We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at  to learn more.

Professional Growth & Development:
Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you’re interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at  to learn more .

Northwestern strongly recommends COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters for people who can obtain them as a critical tool for minimizing severe illness. More information can be found on the webpage.

The Northwestern campus sits on the traditional homelands of the people of the Council of Three Fires, the Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Odawa as well as the Menominee, Miami and Ho-Chunk nations. We acknowledge and honor the original people of the land upon which Northwestern University stands, and the Native people who remain on this land today.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply.