About the role
OPS Research Support Specialist (RSS)
Department: Neurology
College: Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida
The Department of Neurology conducts a high volume of clinical research, primarily involving pharmaceutical-sponsored clinical trials and also participates in unique grant initiatives. The department addresses several neurological disorders across its research portfolio. The Department is committed to advancing treatment options and gaining a better understanding of neurological diseases through high-quality clinical research and adherence to established research protocols and regulatory requirements.
The OPS Research Support Specialist (RSS) provides clinical research and administrative support within the Department of Neurology. This position will work directly with an assigned research associate/coordinator to support a collaborative project with the College of Public Health.
The OPS RSS ensures the accuracy, integrity, and completeness of clinical trial data in accordance with study protocols, institutional policies, and applicable regulatory requirements. The position collaborates with principal investigators, clinical research associates, physicians, and public health staff to identify eligible research participants, coordinate study activities, resolve data queries, and monitor study progress. The OPS RSS also supports participant visits, maintains study supplies and documentation, and communicates study updates, concerns to appropriate research personnel.
This position is not eligible for Visa Sponsorship. This position is Grant-Funded. This is a Temporary, Part-time position (up to 30-40 hours per week).
Clinical Research Coordination and Quality Assurance
- Coordinate clinical research activities in collaboration with clinic staff, physicians, and research personnel to identify potential participants for clinical trials.
- Collect, review, analyze, and perform quality assurance checks on clinical research data to ensure accuracy, completeness, and integrity.
- Monitor study activities to ensure compliance with approved protocols, quality control standards, and applicable research requirements.
- Participate in research meetings to communicate study progress, discuss operational issues, and identify opportunities for improvement.
- Promote consistent interpretation and adherence to study protocols among research team members.
- Recommend process improvements to enhance data collection, study quality, and research efficiency.
Assist with ordering, dispensing, tracking, and maintaining research-related supplies and study medications in accordance with approved procedures and assigned responsibilities.
Participant Recruitment, Study Visits/Virtual interviews
- Collaborate with the principal investigator to evaluate potential research participants for eligibility.
- Coordinate screening evaluations, explain the informed consent process, and obtain informed consent when appropriately trained and authorized.
- Perform or coordinate protocol-required screening procedures and facilitate participant enrollment in accordance with study requirements.
- Schedule and coordinate study visits, follow-up appointments, and protocol-required evaluations.
- Perform or coordinate required study procedures and document participant visits in accordance with approved protocols and applicable scope-of-practice requirements.
- Maintain complete and accurate study progress notes, source documentation, and case report forms.
- Identify, document, and report adverse events in accordance with study protocols and institutional requirements.
- Communicate study-related questions, concerns, deviations, and changes to the Senior Clinical Research Associate and/or Principal Investigator.
- Assist in preparing and submitting Institutional Review Board (IRB) applications, protocol amendments, continuing reviews, adverse event reports, and sponsor communications, as required.
- Assist and conduct interviews with protocol defined questionnaire
Clinical Trial Data Management and Study Support
- Enter clinical trial data into designated databases and review entries for accuracy, completeness, and consistency.
- Prepare participant documentation and study materials for scheduled visits, including developing source documents as needed.
- Prepare materials to communicate research studies to potential participants and their families and assist with sponsor-provided promotional materials in accordance with applicable requirements.
- Conduct assigned participant visits and study assessments, including collecting required study information according to protocol
- Perform other duties as assigned to support the operational and research objectives of the Department of Neurology.
• This position requires a high school diploma or equivalent and four years of experience in office or
administrative support or in research support. College education may be substituted for the
required experience on a year for year basis.
• Senate Bill 1310- The Florida Senate (https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2023/1310) is
conditional upon meeting all employment eligibility requirements in the U.S.
• SB 1310: Substitution of Work Experience for Postsecondary Education Requirements
• A public employer may include a postsecondary degree as a baseline requirement only as an
alternative to the number of years of direct experience required, not to exceed:
• (a) Two years of direct experience for an associate degree;
• (b) Four years of direct experience for a bachelor’s degree;
• (c) Six years of direct experience for a master’s degree;
• (d) Seven years of direct experience for a professional degree; or
• (e) Nine years of direct experience for a doctoral degree
• Related work experience may not substitute for any required licensure, certification, or registration
required for the position of employment as established by the public employer and indicated in the
advertised description of the position of employment.
• Minimum Qualifications that require a high school diploma are exempt from SB 1310.
The University of South Florida is a top-ranked research university serving approximately 50,000 students from across the globe at campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg and USF Health. In 2025, U.S. News & World Report recognized USF with its highest overall ranking in university history, as a top 50 public university for the seventh consecutive year and as one of the top 15 best values among all public universities in the nation. U.S. News also ranks the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine in the highest tier, placing it as one of the top 16 medical schools in the nation and inside the top 10 among public universities. USF is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), a group that includes only the top 3% of universities in the U.S. With an all-time high of $750 million in research funding in 2025 and as a top 20 public university for producing U.S. patents, USF uses innovation to transform lives and shape a better future. The university generates an annual economic impact of nearly $10 billion for the state of Florida. USF’s Division I athletics teams compete in the American Conference. Learn more at www.usf.edu.