Human Subject Research Specialist I

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Job Location (Full Address):

601 Elmwood Ave, Rochester, New York, United States of America, 14642

Opening:

Worker Subtype:

Regular

Time Type:

Full time

Scheduled Weekly Hours:

40

Department:

400626 Psychiatry M&D Research

Work Shift:

UR - Day (United States of America)

Range:

UR URG 106 H

Compensation Range:

$21.36 - $29.90

Responsibilities:

Dr. Paulo Lizano operates a Translational Neuroscience laboratory at the University of Rochester Medical Center in the department of psychiatry. The lab focuses on clinical, translational, and basic neuroscience projects that related to how vision and barrier disruption contribute to the development and neuroprogression of psychosis. This specific role will support a project funded by the National Institute of Mental Health to study the barriers of the brain. This full-time position for a Human Subject Research Specialist I (HSRS I) supports the conduct of human subjects research examining brain barrier dysfunction in mid‑ to late‑life individuals with early psychosis. This role assists with study activities across all phases of research implementation, including participant screening, recruitment, consent, assessment administration, neuroimaging data processing, and secure data management. The HSRS I will also support technical research tasks such as manual segmentation of the choroid plexus from brain MRI scans across the spectrum of neuropsychiatric disorders (including psychosis spectrum disorders), supports protocol adherence, and assists in maintaining high‑quality research data in compliance with IRB, institutional, and federal regulations. The position works closely with investigators and research staff to uphold ethical standards and support the successful completion of study aims.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Human Subject Screening and Recruitment: Assists in identifying potential research participants for a NIMH-funded human neuroimaging study examining brain barrier dysfunction in individuals with early psychosis. Supports the review of referrals and medical records to help assess eligibility against IRB-approved inclusion and exclusion criteria, and assists with contacting prospective participants and their care teams to schedule screening appointments under the direction of the principal investigator. Helps maintain and update recruitment tracking logs in REDCap and communicates enrollment progress to the study team on a regular basis. Assists with conducting telephone and in-person pre-screening interviews to confirm eligibility and answer questions about study participation prior to formal consent.
• Informed Consent and Participant Assessments: Assists in administering the informed consent process in accordance with IRB protocols, helping to ensure participants understand study procedures, risks, benefits, and their right to withdraw at any time, under the guidance of the principal investigator. Supports the conduct of structured clinical and cognitive research assessments, including symptom rating scales and neuropsychological measures relevant to the psychosis spectrum, and assists with scheduling MRI neuroimaging sessions with the URMC imaging core. Accurately documents consent and assessment data in REDCap and promptly reports any participant safety concerns or protocol deviations to the principal investigator.
• Neuroimaging Data Processing and Manual Segmentation: Assists with manual segmentation of the choroid plexus and other brain barrier structures using T1-weighted MRI data across participants spanning the neuropsychiatric disorder spectrum, including psychosis spectrum disorders, following protocols established by the principal investigator. Applies neuroimaging software (e.g., ITK-SNAP, FreeSurfer, FSLeyes) to delineate regions of interest on three-dimensional MRI volumes in accordance with a standardized, lab-specific segmentation protocol, and supports the development and validation of a novel semi-automated segmentation tool for the choroid plexus under senior investigator guidance. Assists with reviewing and quality-checking completed segmentations for anatomical accuracy and consistency, escalating ambiguous cases to the principal investigator for resolution. Supports the processing of raw MRI data through established preprocessing pipelines and assists with organizing neuroimaging outputs in a structured, BIDS-compatible data repository.
• Data Entry, Management, and Quality Control: Supports accurate and timely entry of participant demographic, clinical, assessment, and neuroimaging data into REDCap and other designated research databases as directed by the study team. Assists with routine quality control checks to help identify data discrepancies, missing values, or inconsistencies across study timepoints, and supports the maintenance of audit trails in accordance with Good Clinical Practice (GCP) guidelines. Assists with the secure transfer and archiving of neuroimaging files to help ensure data storage and sharing practices comply with HIPAA, institutional data governance policies, and NIH data management plan requirements.
• Protocol Compliance and Regulatory Support: Assists in ensuring study activities are carried out in accordance with the IRB-approved protocol, federal regulations (45 CFR 46), and University of Rochester institutional policies governing human subjects research, under the supervision of the principal investigator. Supports the preparation and submission of IRB continuing reviews, amendments, and adverse event reports, and helps maintain current and complete regulatory binders including consent form versions, personnel training records, and protocol correspondence. Assists with monitoring participant safety throughout the study and promptly reports any concerns regarding participant well-being or potential protocol deviations to the principal investigator.
• Study Coordination and Team Communication: Assists with scheduling and logistical arrangements for study visits, MRI scanning sessions, and participant follow-ups under the direction of the principal investigator, and serves as a supportive point of contact for enrolled participants. Participates in regular lab and team meetings to provide updates on task progress and any operational challenges encountered, and works collaboratively with co-investigators, clinical coordinators, and imaging staff to support the smooth execution of study procedures. Assists with the preparation of progress reports, manuscript figures, and presentations by organizing and summarizing study data as directed by the principal investigator.
• Other duties as assigned

MINIMUM EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• High School diploma or GED required
• Associate's or Bachelor’s degree in health sciences, psychology, neuroscience, biology, or related field of study required
• Associate's degree and completion of 6 months in the Human Subject Research Coordinator Trainee program required
• Experience with neuroimaging data or image annotation preferred

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Knowledge of human subjects research regulations, IRB processes, and HIPAA requirements required
• Ability to conduct structured interviews and research assessments required
• Experience with data entry and management systems (e.g., REDCap, Excel) required
• Strong attention to detail for manual MRI segmentation and data quality control required
• Effective interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills required
• Ability to work independently under general supervision required

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