Social/Clinical Research Assistant

UNC-Chapel Hill•Chapel Hill, NC

About The Position

This position will serve as an Assistant Clinical Research Coordinator within the UNC TEACCH Autism Program. This NIH Stage 1 mixed methods study aims to test the feasibility, acceptability, fidelity, and efficacy of a multi-level physical activity intervention, Physical Activity and Community Empowerment ( PACE ). PACE is a 16-week multi-level program that utilizes self-management strategies, including goal-setting, self monitoring, and visual supports to help adults with ID engage in the program more independently through an interactive web-based dashboard. Adults with ID work with a support coach to increase daily step counts and time spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity by engaging in individualized aerobic and strength training activities. The project is currently focused on aim 2 – conducting a feasibility and piloting a randomized controlled trial (Stage 1B). This phase will use a waitlist control experimental design with 120 adults with ID in two sites (North Carolina and Arkansas). We will measure the efficacy of PACE on increasing physical activity and explore hypotheses regarding the potential efficacy of the intervention’s effect on physical activity. The findings from this project will lay the essential groundwork for a large-scale, Stage III -IV efficacy-effectiveness trial of PACE in community exercise settings throughout the US. Our long-term goal is to promote healthy physical activity behaviors through inclusive community settings, examine the long-term impact of these programs in preventing Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia in aging adults with ID, and improve wellbeing in adults with ID. In addition to PACE , this position will support the HEELS 2 Transition program and research projects which involve supporting young adults with ID in seeking an inclusive postsecondary education experience and transition to adulthood skill-building classes. Program evaluations involve direct assessments and questionnaires. Current research projects involve interviews and qualitative analyses as well as an intervention study testing out HEELS 2 Participation, eLearning modules and toolkits developed for supporting the transition to adulthood. The Assistant Clinical Research Coordinator assists with the execution of study protocols, including screening and recruiting study participants, conducting study visits, and collecting, entering, and reviewing study data.