Careers at Virginia Tech

The Addiction Recovery Research Center (ARRC), a research center at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC in Roanoke, VA, is dedicated to understanding and treating substance use disorders. ARRC is looking for new part time Research Assistant to work primarily on NIH-funded research projects examining long-term recovery from addiction as well as decision-making processes and interventions relevant to substance use, including tobacco, alcohol, and cocaine use. Typically, a Research Assistant supports a scientist in the performance of various recruitment, technical, and data collection activities for research or laboratory programs. These roles will serve as part of the research team working collaboratively and independently to collect and organize human subject data for grant-funded research projects. Laboratory and research support responsibilities range from entry- to advanced-level.

The duties of the roles will include, though may not be limited to the following:
• Making significant contributions to the projects assigned and the achievement of the project’s research goals.
• Recruiting and screening volunteers to participate in a range of research studies examining decision-making and substance use.
• Scheduling and confirming appointments for participant research study visits.
• Collecting and entering data from research participants per approved protocols, standard operating procedures, and experiment instructions.
• Administering assessments and structured interviews, collecting urine, saliva, and/or blood specimens, and performing on-site analyses during participant study visits, all according to research protocols.
• Research record keeping and participant payments.
• Maintenance of office and laboratory supplies inventory.
• Maintaining accurate and confidential records used for conducting and monitoring multiple studies.
• Conducting literature searches to gather background information for use by the Principal Investigator (PI) and other research team members in developing and evaluating research protocols and grant applications.
• Participating in research team meetings to report on research progress, improve data collection processes, assist with problem solving, and address protocol issues that arise during the course of research studies.
• Other duties as assigned.

• Demonstrated organizational skills and/or experience with data management.
• Desire to succeed in a fast-paced research environment with numerous duties.
• Demonstrated attention to detail, organizational skills, and excellent communication skills.
• Ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality and professionalism.

• Coursework or degree in psychology, biology, neuroscience, or related field, and/or the equivalent level of training and experience.
• Demonstrated data collection and entry experience.
• Experience in one or more of the following research areas: psychology, addiction, neuroscience, or clinical trials.
• Experience with basic laboratory protocols including proper handling of subject specimens, data collection, participant recruitment, assessments, and data management.
• Proficiency with REDCap, Qualtrics, QuestionPro or similar survey tools and/or experience with statistical analysis.
• Experience with social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, etc.) to support research study participation and community engagement.

3

Restricted

Commensurate

5/15/2024

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School, and Honors College. The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including the Innovation Campus in Northern Virginia; the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke; sites in Newport News and Richmond; and numerous Extension offices and research centers. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $500 million in research annually.