OHSU Casey Eye Institute is a premier academic medical center providing eye care for adults and children in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. We treat eye conditions from the most straightforward to the most complex and offer expert care in all ophthalmology specialties. Learn more about our clinics and services. Since 1945, OHSU Casey Eye Institute doctors and vision scientists have worked side by side to discover the causes of eye disease and find new treatments. Bringing research and patient care together helps us turn possibilities into realities. OHSU Casey Eye Institute is a "High Performing" eye hospital, which means we are ranked in the top 10 percent nationally by U.S. News & World Report. As part of the Casey Eye Institute, we improve access to eye care to preserve the gift of sight and eliminate preventable blindness in the communities we are privileged to serve.

 

The Senior Clinical Research Associate at the OHSU Casey Eye Institute Community Outreach Program plays a pivotal role in advancing vision health equity through innovative and community-based clinical research. This position is responsible for the design, coordination, and implementation of complex, multi-site telehealth, mobile and school-based clinical studies focused on preventing blindness and improving access to eye care for underserved populations across Oregon. Working in collaboration with the principal investigator, administrative, and research teams, this position ensures the integrity of study protocols, regulatory compliance, and high standards of data quality. This role collaborates closely with faculty investigators, community partners, outreach staff, and external stakeholders to oversee research activities that align with the program's mission of equitable eye health. This position mentors junior staff, contributes to grant development, and supports dissemination of research findings through publications and presentations. The ideal candidate brings a strong background in clinical research operations, a deep commitment to community-based health initiatives, and the ability to lead research efforts in diverse and often rural or frontier settings.

Research Management 

• Lead the oversight and monitoring of research data to ensure accuracy, integrity, and adherence to quality standards across the outreach program’s adult and pediatric initiatives.
• Coordinate the collection, maintenance, and submission of research and patient data, ensuring readiness for quality assurance audits and regulatory monitoring, including eIRB submissions.
• Collaborate with internal and external research teams to coordinate and advance scientific initiatives within the outreach research portfolio.
• Ensure full compliance with all regulatory and ethical requirements, including OHSU IRB, federal, state, partner school districts and institutional guidelines.
• Contribute to the design, implementation, and evaluation of research protocols under the direction of the Medical Director/Principal Investigator (PI).
• Maintain oversight of research grant accounts and ensure adherence to budget limitations and funding requirements.
• Oversee data collection processes and collaborate with evaluation, informatics, and clinical teams to support robust program evaluation and outcomes analysis.
• Supervise, delegate, and monitor the work of interns, students, data collectors, and research coordinators to ensure timely and high-quality deliverables.
• Manage research and evaluation teams based on strategic priorities established by the Medical Director/PI.
• Track and maintain evaluation timelines and deliverables in alignment with project goals and reporting needs.
• Provide direct supervision and mentorship to the research program coordinator.
• In partnership with the principal investigator and research staff, oversee and support research activities conducted by residents and medical students. 

Dissemination and Manuscript Responsibilities

• Apply statistical/analytical methods and contributes to/authors/co-authors grant applications, abstracts/posters, manuscripts
• Monitors progress on all manuscript development associated with the outreach program.
• Manage the dissemination of the team’s accomplishments to scientific and non-scientific communities by monitoring the progress of publications and presentations.
• Prepare oral and poster presentations.
• Prepare reports on progress for funders
• Participate in national research and policy efforts aimed at the prevention of blindness as directed by program directors. 

Grant Development and Management 

• Contribute to the development of grant applications and scholarly outputs by applying statistical and analytical methods, and by authoring or co-authoring grant proposals, peer-reviewed manuscripts, abstracts, and conference posters.
• Monitor and track the progress of all manuscript and publication efforts associated with the outreach research program to ensure timely completion and submission.
• Lead the coordination of dissemination strategies to share research findings and program outcomes with both scientific and non-scientific audiences, including community partners, policymakers, and funders.
• Prepare and deliver oral and poster presentations at local, regional, and national conferences to highlight the impact of outreach initiatives and research findings.
• Draft and compile progress reports for funding agencies, ensuring alignment with grant objectives and reporting requirements.
• Represent the program in national research collaborations and policy initiatives related to the prevention of blindness, as directed by program leadership.

Research & Operations Support

• Ensure operations of adult and pediatric screening sites are in alignment with screening protocols and the program’s clinical and research priorities.
• Assist telehealth program coordinator with telehealth site operations including participant registration, as needed. 
• Assist in the development of timelines for outreach activities, helping ensure timely implementation and evaluation of outreach initiatives.

Other duties as assigned by Medical Director or Program Director. 

• Master's in relevant field AND 5 year of clinical research coordination experience OR

• Bachelor's Degree in relevant field AND 9 years of clinical research Coordination experience 

• Demonstrated experience contributing to/authors/co-authors grant applications, abstracts/posters, manuscripts

• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement community-based innovative programs or research agenda.

• Strong interpersonal and critical thinking skills for independent problem solving, and an ethical approach to science and human subjects research, are needed to achieve scientific and administrative objectives.

• Experience in scientific writing/grant submissions, development of evaluation protocols and instrumentation.

• Experience in public health and ophthalmology.

• Basic computer keyboarding skills.

• Working knowledge of medical terminology. 

• Strong relationship building skills with patients, health plans, providers, staff, management. 

• Exceptional customer service skills - both in person and on the phone. 

• Exceptional interpersonal skills - able to resolve conflicts and to problem solve between parties. 

• Demonstrated evidence of strong written and verbal communication skills. 

• Ability to manage competing priorities. 

• Ability to meet deadlines and urgent system needs. 

• Ability to work independently; willingness to serve as a positive and professional role model. 

• Must have demonstrated record of reliable attendance, punctuality and proven successful performance in past and present.

• Ability to perform the job duties with or without accommodation.

• Experience working with community-based organization, familiarity with primary care model, experience in community outreach and serving underserved communities 

• Demonstrated experience contributing to/authors/co-authors grant applications, abstracts/posters, manuscripts.

• Familiarity with electronic medical records (OCHIN, EPIC), chart review and medical terminology.

This position's work location will be at the OHSU Marquam Hill Campus, Monday-Friday. Applicants must be willing to travel between sites on campus by stairs, elevator, tram, shuttle or other means. Following probationary/training periods this position may telework with manager approval, with approved Flexible Work Agreement on File. Some evening and weekends may be required depending on need. Limited pre-scheduled travel may be required to community partner sites throughout Oregon (less than 2%).

 

Applicants must be able to stand or sit for long periods of time; able to bend, reach, lift and carry up to 50 lbs; have the ability to utilize computers equipment multi-line phones, pagers, intercom system, and office equipment.

Oregon Health & Science University values a diverse and culturally competent workforce. We are proud of our commitment to being an equal opportunity, affirmative action organization that does not discriminate against applicants on the basis of any protected class status, including disability status and protected veteran status. Individuals with diverse backgrounds and those who promote diversity and a culture of inclusion are encouraged to apply. To request reasonable accommodation contact the Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Department at 503-494-5148 or aaeo@ohsu.edu.