Research Associate I, Department of Pediatrics

Research Associate I, Department of Pediatrics

Hiring Department: UICOMP-Pediatrics

Location: Peoria, IL USA

Requisition ID: 1036308

Posting Close Date: 8/22/2025

Salary: $43,888 to $49,000 per year

The University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria, Department of Pediatrics is seeking applicants for a Research Associate I to manage quality improvement and research initiatives.

Position Summary

This position conducts research by preparing literature reviews and assisting with the collection, entering, coding and cleaning of data and descriptive results.

This position is a dual role, with time split between management of quality improvement (QI) projects in the Children's Hospital of Illinois (CHOI) and research and data management in the UICOMP Department of Pediatrics. It involves collaborating with physicians, members of administration, and OSF Mission Partners to expand and develop partnerships to facilitate research and QI activities. A percentage of time will be specifically dedicated to the Pediatric Resource Center.

The Research Associate I is responsible for assisting with the implementation and conducting of multiple research and QI projects. They will work with regulatory agencies and aid in data collection and management. They may help coordinate comprehensive patient protocol treatment schedules to maintain compliance with protocol requirements.

Duties & Responsibilities

Research

• Perform surveys, interviews, observations or uses other methods according to established research protocols.
• Prepare data for analysis and execute details of studies. Perform analysis and document results.
• May conduct literature searches.
• Order study supplies and maintain inventories.
• Completes required documentation for regulatory agencies through all stages of the research project.
• May assist with protocol development.
• Enters, organizes, and cleans data.
• Obtaining consents from subjects, as needed.
• Executes other miscellaneous details of the studies.

Communication

• Maintain detailed records of results and prepare written reports.
• Maintain and process required paperwork.
• Collaborate with and maintain open channels of communication between the Principal Investigator(s), OSF Clinical Research Administration and the Peoria Institutional Review Board.

Quality Improvement

• Review the ~ 30-40 new Departmental quality improvement (QI) projects begun annually and submit paperwork to the Institutional Review Board (IRB) for not human subjects research designation so that their outcomes can more easily be published at completion of the project.
• Manage QI spreadsheet that accurately tracks current and completed QI UICOMP/CHOI QI projects, to promote collaboration between PIs, decrease duplication of efforts and increase project innovation.
• Collaborate with the OSF research and data analytics teams to facilitate data acquisition and analysis for faculty, fellow and resident QI projects. Track timeliness and accuracy of data received, to assist with systems improvement.
• Work closely with appropriate SFMC/CHOI Quality and Safety personnel to help ensure project data integrity.
• Collaborate with the OSF and SFMC/CHOI data analytic personnel on projects that are examining issues across both CHOI and the Women’s and Children’s Service Line.
• Assist the CHOI Quality and Safety Physician in development of a QI and Safety tracking system and manage the tracking data input.
• Assist with more specific chart abstraction for a limited number of safety projects (1-2/year).
• Perform other related duties and participate in special projects as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in social science or related field required.
• Knowledge of fundamental research concepts, practices and procedures.
• Entry level knowledge of research methods.

Preferred Qualifications

• Entry level knowledge of quality improvement methods, concepts, practices and procedures preferred.
• A minimum of 1 year of research and/or quality improvement experience.
• Knowledge of clinical outcomes research.
• Familiarity with tools used for data collection and management, such as Excel, REDCap, SharePoint, or specialized research databases.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal and organizational skills (e.g., responsiveness, attention to detail, flexibility, and willingness to accommodate others’ timelines and data needs) to support and maintain relationships and collaboration and drive improvement initiatives.
• Able to work independently, manage and prioritize multiple projects and tasks concurrently.

About University of Illinois College of Medicine, Peoria (UICOMP) Department of Pediatrics and OSF Healthcare Children’s Hospital of Illinois:

UICOMP is one of the three regional campuses of the University of Illinois College of Medicine, one of the largest public medical schools in the country. UICOMP’s educational programs include 244 medical students and 300 residents/fellows in 21 different post graduate programs. The Department of Pediatrics is one of the largest departments at UICOMP. In collaboration with the OSF HealthCare Children’s Hospital of Illinois, the Department has 19 divisions and over 145 faculty members providing general pediatrics and subspecialty services to the pediatric population in Central Illinois. The current research infrastructure within the Department includes an office of research, a dedicated biostatistician and an internal research funding mechanism to support our faculty.

About Children’s Hospital of Illinois

The primary teaching hospital of UICOMP is Children’s Hospital of Illinois, a tertiary care facility serving a 37-county region with a population base of over two million. Children’s Hospital of Illinois provides comprehensive services to children, including Quaternary Care NICU and a state-designated Pediatric Critical Care Center. Children’s Hospital of Illinois is a major medical facility with 136 beds and a 32-bed critical care unit and the only Level 1 trauma center in Illinois outside of Chicago. There are existing resources through UICOMP and Children’s Hospital of Illinois for seeding research funding, quality and outcomes focused academic work and innovation in health education.

Jump Trading Simulation & Education Center, a part of OSF Innovation, is a collaboration between University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria and OSF HealthCare. Jump replicates a variety of patient care settings to ensure novice and seasoned clinicians can practice handling medical situations in a real-world environment. Boasting six floors and 168,000 square feet, the center is one of the largest of its kind and provides space for conferences, anatomic training, virtual reality and innovation. For more information, visit www.jumpsimulation.org

About Peoria, Il

One of the oldest communities in Illinois with a population of 113,150 Peoria is equal distance from Chicago and St. Louis. Here we have an enviable standard of living, exciting venues within a 15-20 minute drive from our homes, safe streets, quality and quantity shopping, our own symphony, our own ballet, Broadway Theater League, museums, art guilds, first-class medical facilities, the nation's oldest community theater and oldest Santa Claus parade.

Our vibrant riverfront showcases a multitude of festivals and celebrations that light up the summer nights much like our extraordinary Fourth of July Sky Concert fireworks show that draws well over one hundred thousand annually. Residents are flocking to live in the refurbished warehouses and lofts on Water Street that produce the perfect lifestyle for a 24/7 city.

We have many global businesses that allow Peoria to play all over the world through their products and services. Peoria has begun to diversify its economy with infotech industries as well. Thus our business community attracts some of the brightest graduates throughout the nation.

To apply, please visit this job listing on the UIC Job Board at, https://uic.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/1/home/requisition/16513?c=uic, scroll towards the bottom of the page and click, “Apply Now”.

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For fullest consideration please apply by 8/15/2025.

The budgeted salary range for the position is $43,888 to $49,000 per year.

Salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience, while also considering internal equity.

The University of Illinois offers a very competitive benefits portfolio. Click for a complete list of Employee Benefits, https://www.hr.uillinois.edu/benefits/.

The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters at https://www.hr.uillinois.edu/cms/one.aspx?portalId=4292&pageId=5705 to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify.

As an EOE/AA employer, the University of Illinois encourages applications from individuals regardless of an applicant’s race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, and Veteran or disability status.

The University of Illinois conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer of employment. Background checks will be performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

The university provides accommodations to applicants and employees. Request an accommodation at https://jobs.uic.edu/request-and-accomodation/.