Department

BSD PED - Clinical Trials Office

About the Department

The Department of Pediatrics at the University of Chicago is a dynamic and stimulating place to work. We strive for the highest level of complex care for children from diagnosis and treatment; provide outstanding education and training for students, postgraduate scholars, and physicians; and nurture the research of Department scholars who seek to elucidate the causes of pediatric disease and identify promising new therapies. In addition to our provision of clinical care at UChicago Medicine (UCM) Comer Children’s Hospital and at our regional sites, we are currently expanding our clinical care across Northern Illinois and Northwestern Indiana. In collaboration with our partners in the Chicagoland Children’s Health Alliance (CCHA; Advocate Children’s Hospital, and NorthShore University Health System). CCHA has responsibility for the care of almost 1 million children. The Department has 6 ambulatory sites and 3 inpatient sites of care across the region with the goal of providing care ‘close to home’ whenever feasible (https://pediatrics.uchicago.edu/). Our mission is to improve the health of every child entrusted to us, in an inclusive environment that is committed to family-centered care, clinical excellence, impactful scholarship, effective disease prevention, and advocacy for the appropriate care of every child. We are especially committed to the children on the South Side of Chicago and to altering the inequities in healthcare. The Department of Pediatrics has approximately 185 physicians, physician-scientists, and scientists in 15 sections that cover the range of pediatric care. Our education program serves the students of the College, the Pritzker School of Medicine (PSOM), 70 categorical pediatric residents, 6 child neurology residents, 58 fellows, and numerous graduate students and post-doctoral fellows. The Department has a staff of 220 advanced practice providers, administrators, research administrators, clinical research associates, and laboratory staff. The Department has an expanding portfolio of Federal, foundational, and Philanthropic awards, and is committed to doubling its research base in the next three years.

The Pediatric Clinical Trials Office (Peds CTO) is an existing centralized support office that provides services and high-level guidance to individuals (faculty, investigators, research staff, and clinic coordinators from the University and Hospital) involved in human subjects research. The Peds CTO is responsible for establishing standards, operating procedures, policies and practices, implementing educational and training programs, developing communication tools, and managing the administrative functions that impact individuals involved in clinical research.

The Section of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics strives to become a Center of Excellence in the complex diagnosis and management for diverse disabilities with origin in childhood, which include children with motor, communicative, sensory, developmental, genetic, neurological, learning, behavior, and feeding disorders. The Section plays important roles in supporting children who are survivors of neonatal intensive care and pediatric intensive care critical illness. As coordinated family-centered population health care is the transforming principle for future health financing initiatives, the Section is uniquely positioned to address care coordination, management pathways, and collaboration with community providers to advance both the quality and value of efforts to improve outcomes for vulnerable child disability populations with a spectrum of developmental and behavioral disorders.

Job Summary

The Pediatric Clinical Research Coordinator 1 provides support to the Section of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics. This CRC will support the research of Dr. Sarah Sobotka as a critical team member to her growing research programs devoted to children with medical complexity and medical technology dependency including ventilators. This position will provide core research coordination support by recruiting, enrolling, and supporting families in research studies. In particular, the CRC will be a critical member of the team supporting an ongoing research program entitled, Disparities in Home Nursing for Children with Invasive Mechanical Ventilation: Piloting a Parent-to-Parent Intervention in Chicago. Work on this project will include enrolling and discussing consent with parents in this study. The CRC will also incorporate strategies for recruiting and maintaining home health teams the Sobotka Lab has learned from in-depth qualitative interviewing with care coordinators, parents, and home health nurses. CRC duties will vary based on family desired frequency and location but may include: on-site in the family home or hospital room, telephone or video conferencing, or asynchronous contacts via email or text messaging. Additional contributions to the research team will be key stakeholder input into research study design to incorporate critical patient and parent-centered outcomes.

This position is wholly funded by contractual grant funding which is renewed under provisions set by the grantor of the contract. Employment will be contingent upon the continued receipt of these grant funds and satisfactory job performance.

Responsibilities

Recruits and enrolls families in research studies. 

Reviews informed consent with families. 

Provides key stakeholder feedback to aid in the development and assessment of the intervention(s). 

Provides key insight into needs of family members and support for participants. 

Participates in virtual team meetings. 

May require travel to family homes or hospitals within one hour of the UCMC campus to meet with parents as such a valid driver’s license or other ability to travel is required. 

May include evening and/or weekend hours. 

Provides routine or standardized laboratory duties by collecting data in support of research projects under direct supervision. 

Assists with data entry and reports on results. 

Assists in analyzing data. Assists with preparation of reports, manuscripts and other documents. 

Maintains accurate and complete documentation of signed informed consent, relevant IRB approvals, source documentation, Case Report Forms (CRF's), and study-related communication. 

Plans and coordinates patient schedule for study procedures, return visits, and study treatment schedules. 

Ensures Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) are implemented and documented in accordance with study sponsor, primary investigator, and regulatory agency specifications. 

Educates patients about study procedures to be performed, visit schedule, what to report between and during visits, and the risks and benefits of the procedures. 

Protect patients and data confidentiality by ensuring security of research data and personal health information and compliance with federal regulations and sponsor protocols. 

Understand the IRB submission and review process and when and how to apply for IRB review, including facilitation of study initiation through meticulous and timely preparation of IRB submissions independently. 

Ensures compliance with federal regulations and institutional policies. 

Prepares for or participate in quality assurance audits conducted by study sponsors, federal agencies, or specially designated review groups. 

Participates in study-related documentation, such as protocol worksheets, procedural manuals, adverse event reports, institutional review board documents, or progress reports. 

Performs assessments at visits and monitors for adverse events. 

Organizes and attends site visits from sponsors and other relevant study meetings. 

May prepare and maintain protocol submissions and revisions. 

May assist in the training of new or backup coordinators. 

Performs various aspects of clinical research, such as collecting and processing specimens, interviewing subjects, taking vital signs, and contributing to the case report. 

Analyzes study-related documentation, such as protocol worksheets, procedural manuals, adverse event reports, institutional review board documents, or progress reports. 

Accountable for all tasks in basic clinical studies. 

Assists with various professional, organizational, and operational tasks under direct supervision. 

​​​Performs other related work as needed. 

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through < 2 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

---

Preferred Qualifications 

 

Education: 

Bachelor’s degree.

 

Experience: 

1-year clinical research experience or relevant experience. 

Experience with children with medical complexity, including children with invasive mechanical ventilation. 

Experience working with children and/or families from low income, disability, and/or minoritized backgrounds. 

Experience as a family member of a child with medical complexity, including ventilator assistance. 

Experience as a family member of a child who has had home health nursing. 

Ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing with parents and other professionals. 

Familiarity with the Zoom platform including scheduling and recording meetings. 

Professional working proficiency in Spanish. 

 

Preferred Competencies  

Ability to communicate in writing. 

Ability to communicate orally. 

Ability to develop and manage interpersonal relationships. 

Ability to exercise absolute discretion regarding confidential matters. 

Ability to follow written and/or verbal instructions. 

Ability to handle sensitive matters with tact and discretion. 

Ability to handle stressful situations. 

Ability to learn and develop skills. 

Ability to pay attention to detail. 

Ability to perform multiple tasks simultaneously. 

Ability to prioritize work and meet deadlines. 

Ability to work effectively and collegially with little supervision or as member of a team. 

Ability to work independently. 

Strong data management skills and attention to detail. 

Knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, and Adobe Acrobat. 

Ability to read and understand complex documents (e.g., clinical trials). 

Ability to handle competing demands with diplomacy and enthusiasm. 

Ability to absorb large amounts of information quickly. 

 

Working Conditions  

On-campus.

Virtual.

Personal home visits. 

Hospital visits. 

 

Application Documents  

Resume (required) 

Cover Letter (required) 

When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family

Research

Role Impact

Individual Contributor

Scheduled Weekly Hours

16

Drug Test Required

Yes

Health Screen Required

Yes

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No

Pay Rate Type

Hourly

​
FLSA Status

Non-Exempt

​
Pay Range

$24.04 - $31.25

The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Benefits Eligible

This position is not eligible for benefits.In addition to the base pay posted above, this position may be eligible for N/A

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.
 

Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.
 

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history.  A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment.  Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

 

The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu. Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.