Research Coordinator I

The USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Southern California (USC Norris) was founded in 1971 and has been continuously funded as an NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center since 1973. USC Norris has a rich tradition of collaborative research and serves as a major regional and national resource for cancer research, prevention, treatment and education.   

The Research Coordinator I position is critical for cancer-focused studies using liquid biopsies. The successful candidate will have a California Phlebotomy license and experience consenting and working with research subjects.

Job Accountabilities

The Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center is seeking a Research Coordinator I to assist with recruitment and data collection for cancer-focused research programs.  This position will be a primary point of contact for research participants and will be involved in all stages of screening, enrollment, data collection, and follow-up.  The successful candidate for this Research Coordinator I position will be a dynamic, motivated, highly organized individual who is able to effectively communicate with participants, clinical and research staff, and program investigators.  The Research Coordinator I will report to the PI of lung, skin, and other cancer focused research studies.  Duties will include (but are not limited to):

• Interacting with participants and potential participants in person, by phone, and electronically (via email and videoconferencing).
• Interacting with other departments and core resources at NCCC (Clinical staff, Data Sciences Core, Liquid Biopsy Core, etc) to identify potentially eligible participants and obtain study-related data.
• Screening potential participants for eligibility and obtaining informed consent
• Collecting and recording data electronically following established SOPs
• Performing research blood draws (venipuncture) following established SOPs.
• Collecting and storing biospecimens (blood samples) following established SOPs
• Working closely with team members and participating in regular team meetings to track study progress and coordinate schedules

The successful candidate will have excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to interact with patients, participants, physicians, program staff, and research investigators.  The candidate should be comfortable interviewing patients (cancer patients and survivors) and considerate of the medical problems that the participants are encountering.   It is expected that the candidate will have a clear understanding of the inclusion/exclusion criteria for the studies for which they are obtaining informed consent; familiarity with medical terminology is helpful.  Must have a strong attention to detail to ensure adherence to study SOPs and compliance with regulatory standards (ICH, GCP, HIPAA, etc).  Bachelor’s degree with 1-2 years experience in clinical research, phlebotomy and health sciences (or equivalent combination of education and experience) required.  The Research Coordinator I will be responsible for drawing blood samples and *MUST HAVE A CALIFORNIA PHLEBOTOMY LICENSE* and be eligible for approval of their credentials by LAC+USC and Keck Hospital of USC.  Working knowledge of Microsoft Office programs and familiarity with databases (data entry) is required; familiarity with electronic data capture platforms such as REDCap, OpenSpecimen, and Café is a plus but training will be provided.  Proficiency in conversational Spanish is desired.

Preferred Qualifications

Preferred Education: Bachelor’s Degree

Preferred Experience: 2 years

Supervises: N/A

Supervises – Nature of Work

Preferred Field of Expertise: Phlebotomist License Required

The hourly rate range for this position is $31.50 - $32.50. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state, and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational consideration.

Minimum Education: Bachelor's degree, Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education Minimum Experience: 1 year Minimum Field of Expertise: Administrative or research experience. Working knowledge of MS Office applications. Demonstrated effective communication and writing skills. Ability to multi-task and prioritize. Demonstrated ability to work as part of a team as well as independently.