Visiting Research Data Manager - The Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology

LOCATION: Urbana, IL

CLOSING DATE: February 5, 2021

OPPORTUNITY TYPE: Job

JOB #: 16815

POSTED: January 18, 2021

Description:

The Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign seeks applicants to fill the position of Visiting Research Data Manager.  The Visiting Research Data Manager will work closely with a team of investigators in a large scale, epidemiological, prospective, birth-cohort research study to manage all stages of the data process including data acquisition, digitization, storage, documentation, and sharing with a nation-wide consortium of researchers and research institutions. The position will require maintenance and, when appropriate, augmentation of systems and protocols for the acquisition, tracking, documentation, long-term storage and sharing of research participants’ health and behavioral data, and biological specimens. The position will also require organizing, mapping, extracting, and integrating data from a variety of sources—including paper records--, monitoring and improving data quality, preparing datasets with the accompanying documentation, producing summary statistics reports, and responding to data requests from the nation-wide research consortium and investigators within and outside our research team.

The University of Illinois is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action employer that recruits and hires qualified candidates without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability or veteran status. For more information, visit http://go.illinois.edu.EEO.

Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Maintenance, augmentation, and documentation of data systems: (40%)

• Maintain existing and create new forms and datasets for sharing data with outside research partners

• Ensure existing databases are kept up to date and reliable

• Create and utilize software tools (programs, macros, templates and utilities) to check the reliability and validity of databases and datasets

• Build on features and functionality of existing databases to address data requests more effectively and efficiently

• Improve existing file structure for short and long-term data storage

• Improve platform and procedures for secure data sharing with outside research partners

• Develop data variable libraries and dictionaries

• Develop manuals for using databases and electronic forms

• Develop protocols for data entry, checking, cleaning, and storage

• Develop protocols for accessing and using stored data files, and for generating and sharing datasets and summary data reports

 

2. Oversight and utilization of data systems and staff: (50%)

• Extract, integrate and manipulate data from a variety of databases to create datasets in response to requests and needs from the research team, outside researchers and

collaborators, funders, and various research partners

• Perform validation and quality assurance and control procedures to ensure the integrity of data during collection, entry into electronic forms and databases, long-term storage and

the generation of datasets

• Generate summary statistics reports and quality assurance/control reports as needed

• Effectively communicate data management procedures and policy, and describe the structure of databases, data libraries, and data storage system to researchers, funders and

various research partners

• Train and supervise research staff performing data entry including task assignment, performance monitoring, and training in the confidential nature of the data, as well as other

foundational principles for working with sensitive, human-subject research data

3. Other duties related to data management and analyses will be assigned as needed (10%)

 

Skills/Eligibility:

Minimum Qualifications:

  • A Bachelor’s degree in Information Management or Data Science, Public-Community Health, Biostatistics, or other degree with heavy emphasis on data management
  • Experience working in research involving complex datasets
  • Experience designing and maintaining databases and running summary statistics
  • Experience writing protocols & organizing data files
  • Experience with MS Office Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access and at least one statistical software program such as SPSS, SAS, R or STATA
  • Experience supervising others working with data

Preferred Qualifications:

  • A Master’s degree or higher in the areas described above
  • Experience working in research involving health and/or behavioral related data
  • Experience working with highly confidential and sensitive information
  • Experience managing large, health or health-related datasets
  • Experience conducting complex data analyses
  • Experience creating and using protocols and programs for data validity and reliability checks
  • Experience creating surveys and/or databases using programs such as Gizmo, RedCap, Qualtrics, Microsoft Access, and/or SQL and at least one of these programs: Gizmo, RedCap, Qualtrics or SQL
  • CITI Protection of Human Subjects in Research, HIPAA training

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

  • Knowledge of best practices in data management in a research setting
  • Knowledge of requirements for scientific reports, presentations and publications, grant applications, and progress reports for grant agencies
  • Strong organizational skills and ability to work with large datasets
  • Technologically savvy and strong quantitative skills
  • Detail-oriented, adaptable, fast learner
  • Strong initiative and motivation to master complex tasks and solve challenging problems
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
  • Interest in research on women and children’s health
  • Ability to convey enthusiasm about the research to team members, participants and the general public

The Visiting Research Data Manager is a full-time, benefits-eligible Academic Professional position that may become regular at a later date.   Salary is commensurate with qualifications and experience. In order to ensure full consideration, application must be received by February 5, 2021. Applicants may be interviewed before the closing date; however, no hiring decision will be made until after that date. The expected start is as soon as possible after the closing date. To apply, please create your candidate profile at http://jobs.illinois.edu and upload your cover letter, resume, and names/contact information for three professional references as a single PDF file by February 5, 2021.  All requested information must be entered for your application to be considered. For further information, please contact Beckman Institute Human Resources at hr@beckman.illinois.edu.

The University of Illinois conducts criminal background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer. As a qualifying federal contractor, the University of Illinois System uses E-Verify to verify employment eligibility. The University of Illinois System requires candidates selected for hire to disclose any documented finding of sexual misconduct or sexual harassment and to authorize inquiries to current and former employers regarding findings

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