Project Coordinator

Position Summary:

We are looking for a full-time Project Coordinator for the Vanderbilt Stress and Early Adversity (SEA) Lab, a fast-paced highly collaborative interdisciplinary research group exploring brain development, caregiving, and interventions to improve child and family functioning. 

Under the supervision of Dr. Humphreys, the Project Coordinator will provide strategic oversight and leadership for multiple concurrent research studies. This role requires exceptional organizational skills and the ability to independently manage competing priorities across diverse projects while maintaining rigorous research standards. The coordinator will exercise substantial autonomy in problem-solving daily operational challenges, making independent decisions regarding recruitment strategies, retention interventions, protocol refinements, and resource allocation. Strong leadership capabilities are essential, as the coordinator will supervise a team of research assistants across educational levels (e.g., undergraduate, masters, doctoral), overseeing research protocol training, scheduling for data collection and related tasks, and overall performance while fostering a collaborative and productive team environment. Core responsibilities include monitoring recruitment targets and retention metrics across multiple studies, developing and implementing study protocols, conducting quality assurance audits of data collection procedures, coordinating complex multi-part study visits, and providing high-level administrative support to ensure seamless study operations. The role demands exceptional task-switching abilities, as the coordinator will frequently pivot between strategic planning, team management, data collection with families, compliance monitoring, and troubleshooting operational issues—often within the same day. While the primary focus is on coordination and oversight, the coordinator may conduct data collection activities as needed, including MRI and EEG acquisition, laboratory-based parent–child interactions, home visits, and clinical interviews assessing mental health and adversity exposure.

This position offers substantial professional development for individuals seeking a leadership career in research environments, with opportunities to refine project management, team supervision, and strategic decision-making skills. An ideal candidate would commit to 3-5 years, allowing for progressive responsibility and meaningful contribution to multiple study lifecycles.

About the Work Unit:

At the Stress and Early Adversity Lab, we are committed to fostering an environment that thrives on hard work, high expectations, and the pursuit of excellence. We celebrate achievements, big and small, and recognize that excellence is the driving force behind our impactful research. If you are seeking an environment where every day involves new and interesting challenges, work well on a team in a fast-paced environment, and are eager to contribute to cutting-edge, translational research, we would love for you to apply.

Key Functions and Expected Performance:

• Coordinate complex scheduling for longitudinal, multi-phase study visits across large-scale research studies 

• Serve as primary point of contact for participants, proactively addressing concerns and ensuring positive study experience 

• Implement systematic follow-up protocols to ensure timely completion of questionnaires and study procedures 

• Drive participant retention strategies for two longitudinal cohort studies, maintaining engagement throughout study duration 

• Identify and resolve recruitment, retention, and participant satisfaction challenges through creative problem-solving

• Lead community engagement initiatives, cultivating and maintaining partnerships with community organizations 

• Manage end-to-end recruitment pipeline, tracking progress against enrollment targets 

• Build and sustain collaborative relationships with community partners to support study goals

• Design and maintain REDCap surveys and data collection instruments to support study protocols 

• Maintain comprehensive databases for participant recruitment, tracking, and study metrics

• Monitor data quality and protocol adherence to ensure research integrity

• Develop, document, and refine study protocols and standard operating procedures 

• Ensure all project documentation maintains strict compliance with IRB regulations