Managing research – The daily blog of behavioral and cognitive economics

Recognizing the Role of the Research Coordinator

Research groups — whether at a university, company, or government agency — rely on people with a very crucial role: The research coordinator. Also called the study coordinator, research specialist, or trial manager, this person is responsible for making sure clinical trials are conducted according to quality and safety standards under the auspices of a principal investigator, or PI. The typical coordinator has a bachelor’s degree and manages anywhere from one to a multitude of studies or projects at once. Responsibilities vary but generally include study protocol development, recruitment of volunteers, budgeting, billing, data management, banking of biospecimens, and regulatory duties, among others. ….[READ]