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We are seeking a Sr. Research Assistant (SRA) who will be responsible for supporting research activities for SMART4TB TA2 Therapeutics studies under Dr. Nicole Salazar-Austin, an Assistant Professor in the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. This person will report directly to Nicole Salazar-Austin and will closely coordinate with research teams at all TA2 research sites. The SRA portfolio will include complex TB and HIV clinical research studies being implemented in partnership with academic institutions at each study site, with a primary focus on supporting the SMILE-TB portfolio. This person would be a critical member of a fast-paced international team of researchers, administrative staff, and study coordinators.

Project summary

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) launched the Supporting, Mobilizing, and Accelerating Research for Tuberculosis Elimination (SMART4TB) project. SMART4TB, a five-year $200 million cooperative agreement, to identify more effective methods and tools for finding, treating, and preventing tuberculosis (TB) in 24 priority countries for TB programming. This initiative will build research capacity in high TB burden countries by supporting studies that evaluate novel approaches, interventions, and tools to combat TB–including diagnostic tests, new treatment drugs and regimens, socioeconomic and health system challenges, methods to interrupt TB transmission, and TB vaccines readiness and delivery. Led by Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, the SMART4TB international consortium partners are the University of California, San Francisco, KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Treatment Action Group, Perinatal HIV Research Unit (South Africa), YR Gaitonde Medical, Educational and Research Foundation (India), Walimu (Uganda), Kyrgyz State Medical Academy, and Victory Network (Vietnam).

Specific Duties & Responsibilities

SMART4TB Consortium-specific Research Support

• Support the implementation of the SMILE-TB and PRISM-Kids protocols.

• Facilitate communications between sites, JHU, and other consortium partners.

• Assist with the development and submission of materials for ethical (IRB) approval.

• Develop systems for tracking screening and enrollment.

• Develop clinical research forms, particularly as they relate to pediatric-specific data.

• Assist with the development of a REDCap database.

• Facilitate study-specific monitoring activities for quality assurance.

• Prepare monthly data tables for reporting to the PI, research team, collaborators, and funding agency.

• Assist with the assessment of recruitment and retention.

• Coordinate review by the clinical endpoint review committee.

• Develop pediatric-specific standard operating procedures.

• Prepare USAID reports for missions and DC offices, including preparing data tables, summarizing protocol accruals and retention, and presenting publications associated with the consortium.

• Assist the SMART4TB consortium with secondary analyses.

• Travel to study sites in Africa and Asia approximately twice per year (2 weeks per trip) to oversee costing operations.

General Research Support

• Provide protocol development, study implementation, and research dissemination support to complex clinical studies, maintaining a good working knowledge of all assigned projects.

• Review, edit, and finalize study-related documents (protocols, case report forms, study SOPs) in collaboration with PIs and study teams.

• Conduct literature reviews, draft data tables, and conduct scientific writing/editing to support research dissemination. Format abstracts/manuscripts and submit them to conferences/journals.

• Provide assistance in developing effective visualizations, posters, and presentations for scientific conferences and donor reporting.

• Assist research teams in performing/coordinating quantitative and qualitative data analysis.

• Prioritize building effective working relationships with US and international team members and collaborators in service of common goals.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in a related discipline.

• Two years of related experience.

• Additional graduate-level education may substitute for required experience, to the extent permitted by the JHU equivalency formula.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience conducting health-related research required. Demonstrated skills in oral and written communication.

• Ability to function independently with a high degree of motivation essential. Ability to manage multiple and competing priorities.

• Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office, reference managers, REDCap databases, spreadsheets, and word processing required. Excellent attention to detail and organizational skills.

• Knowledge of clinical research practices and principles required. Must have excellent time management skills.

• The successful applicant will demonstrate an ability to work well with other professionals with minimal supervision and be comfortable being part of a diverse professional team.

Classified Title: Sr. Research Assistant

Role/Level/Range: ACRP/03/MB

Starting Salary Range: $40,900 - $71,600 Annually ($56,250 targeted; Commensurate with experience)

Employee group: Full Time

Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8:30am-5:00pm

Exempt Status: Exempt

Location: Hybrid/School of Medicine Campus

Department name: ​​​​​​​SOM DOM Infectious Disease

Personnel area: School of Medicine

Equal Opportunity Employer:

Johns Hopkins University is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other occupationally irrelevant criteria. The university promotes affirmative action for minorities, women, disabled persons, and veterans.