Sleep Tech Researcher

Discover Vanderbilt Health: With eight hospitals and over 180 clinics, we are the region’s largest comprehensive academic health system. Vanderbilt Health has a long tradition of providing world-class care to the people of the Mid-South, living out our mission of moving medicine forward through preeminent programs in patient care, education and research. Here you’ll find a spirit of collaboration and a supportive community where your expertise is valued, your knowledge expanded and your uniqueness celebrated. We are committed to fostering an environment where talented, compassionate people are united in bringing the most advanced care to our neighbors throughout the region.

Organization:

OTO Clinical Trials

Job Summary:

The Research Coordinator/Sleep Technology Coordinator independently supports a broad portfolio of head and neck research studies, including clinical trials and investigator-initiated studies. This role is responsible for coordinating study activities, ensuring regulatory compliance, maintaining quality assurance standards, and managing study documentation and data collection. The coordinator also serves as the primary sleep study technologist for research protocols, conducting overnight sleep studies up to 4 times per month and ensuring accurate collection of sleep-related data. The position requires strong organizational skills, attention to detail, independent decision-making, and the ability to collaborate with multidisciplinary teams while managing multiple research projects simultaneously.

Key Duties/Tasks:
• Coordinate and manage clinical research studies across a diverse portfolio of head and neck research, including clinical trials, investigator-initiated studies, and quality improvement initiatives.
• Conduct overnight polysomnography (PSG) studies up 4 nights/per month, including setup, monitoring, data collection, and documentation.
• Perform all activities necessary to maintain a fully functioning sleep research program in accordance with departmental, institutional, and regulatory requirements.
• Collect, manage, and maintain accurate research data, source documentation, case report forms, and study records in compliance with protocol and regulatory standards.
• Coordinate participant recruitment, screening, enrollment, scheduling, follow-up visits, and study-related procedures.
• Ensure adherence to study protocols, Good Clinical Practice (GCP), IRB requirements, and sponsor expectations.
• Perform quality assurance and quality control activities, including data review, protocol compliance monitoring, audit preparation, and process improvement efforts.
• Prepare and maintain regulatory documentation, study files, and required reports for ongoing research activities.
• Collaborate with investigators, clinical staff, sponsors, and multidisciplinary teams to support the successful execution of research studies.
• Conduct patient evaluations and assess participant eligibility, needs, and study requirements.
• Maintain, troubleshoot, and ensure proper operation of sleep study and research equipment; monitor inventory and supplies as needed.
• Support scoring, analysis, and interpretation workflows related to sleep study data as applicable.
• Exercise independent judgment and prioritize multiple projects, deadlines, and competing demands in a fast-paced research environment.
• Provide education and serve as a resource for study participants and research team members regarding study procedures and protocol requirements.
• Perform additional duties and special projects as assigned in support of research, sleep medicine, and programmatic objectives.

Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent experience)
- 1 year of clinical research experience preferred
- RPSGT (Registered Polysomnographic Technologist) certification - a MUST
- Experience with Epic or other EHR

Preferred Capabilities:
- Knowledge of medical terminology and clinical documentation
- Experience with data management and study documentation
- Strong organizational and independent work skills
- Effective communication and cross-functional collaboration

Why You’ll Love This Role
Monday–Friday schedule with flexibility
Meaningful, hands-on work that directly supports research participants and scientific progress
Close collaboration with a leading investigator in sleep research
A role that blends clinical skill, coordination, and regulatory rigor—excellent for long-term growth in clinical research

Work Locations
Training: Vanderbilt Medical Center East — 1211 21st Ave S, Nashville, TN
After training: One Hundred Oaks — 719 Thompson Ln, Nashville, TN

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KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Proficiently prepares and processes new IRB research proposals, amendments, continuing review applications and adverse event reports according to institutional and departmental policies and procedures and federal regulations
• Accurately and compliantly prepares and maintains documents required to be maintained internally and available for regulatory authorities and/or the sponsor prior to, during and after the conduct of a clinical/translational trial. Participates in periodic site visits from sponsor, regulatory authorities and others to review research, source documentation and research procedures
• Identifies and procures equipment and supplies needed to fulfill project requirements (locally and across multiple sites, if required)
• Participates in the determination of eligible candidates for study participation, assuring participants fulfill eligibility requirements. Strives to ensure studies are completed in a timely manner through implementing effective screening and recruitment strategies and completing required documentation. Assesses and evaluates potential participants pertinent medical and historical information to ensure only appropriate subjects are enrolled in clinical/translational trials and remain eligible for continued participation
• Records data from source documentation and/or participant interaction onto case report forms (either paper or electronic) with awareness and attention to the requirements for accuracy, completeness and timeliness. Attends to query resolution in a timely manner. Assures research information is collected and stored in a manner that is compliant with regulations/policies and good clinical practice. Participates in site visits from sponsor, regulatory authorities and others to review research, source documentation, critical documents and research procedures
• Performs packaging and ships study specimens (blood, urine, etc.) to the sponsor or laboratory in accordance with sponsor and shipping guidelines and regulations, maintaining appropriate documentation
• With direction, develops and manages study budgets, monitoring efficient invoicing and taking appropriate action to maintain clinical trial billing compliance, providing reports investigators, department administration and funding agencies
• Serves as an advocate for human subjects by establishing and maintaining communication with Investigators, research staff, Sponsors, participants and representatives of professional organizations, participant advocates, and the public responsible for, or concerned about, protections for human participants of research and through ongoing monitoring of trial processes and participants
• Participates in the ongoing informed consent process, ensuring that human subjects, their families, and other health care providers clearly understand what is expected of and from them in the course of participating in a clinical/translational trial
• Participates in research related programs, such as the Clinical/translational Research Staff Council and its activities by submitting issues or suggesting solutions, and reviewing Council information, by attending meetings open to research staff and by sharing information with other research personnel
• The responsibilities listed are a general overview of the position and additional duties may be assigned.

TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES

• Clinical Research (Novice): Can research problems that span several areas of the department. Develops and writes basic trial protocols. Knows what information is available in the company. Designs data collection forms. Has developed networking skills which assist in researching issues.
• Study Design & Conduct (Novice): Applies qualitative and quantitative research methods to perform preparatory, regulatory, and analytic tasking within the life cycle of a study.
• Project Coordination (Novice): Reviews specific project related documents for completeness and accuracy and ensures project status reports are received, when due, from project managers for all approved projects. Provides administrative and logistics support for various project meetings, training, workshops and facilitated sessions. Coordinates and tracks all work requests to ensure on time project delivery. Keeps project plans updated and ensures key milestones and dependencies are understood. Responsible for record keeping for project meetings such as issues logs, gap analysis sheets, meeting minutes, making copies, team event planning and execution, team travel, on-boarding activities for contractors or consultants, set up and maintenance of project repositories.
• Communication (Novice): Clearly, effectively and respectfully communicates to employees or customers.

Allied health is among the fastest growing occupations in healthcare today. This area can be defined as credentialed professionals who perform supportive, diagnostic, and therapeutic health care services to promote health and prevent disease in a variety of settings.

These areas are crucial to Vanderbilt Health’s reputation for excellence in these areas that has made us a major center for patient referrals from throughout the Mid-South.

Each year, people throughout Tennessee and the southeast choose Vanderbilt Health for their health care because of our leadership in medical science and our dedication to treating patients with dignity and compassion.

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Core Accountabilities:

Organizational Impact: Executes job responsibilities with the understanding of how output would affect and impact other areas related to own job area/team with occasional guidance. Problem Solving/ Complexity of work: Analyzes moderately complex problems using technical experience and judgment. Breadth of Knowledge: Has expanded knowledge gained through experience within a professional area. Team Interaction: Provides informal guidance and support to team members.

Core Capabilities :

Supporting Colleagues:- Develops Self and Others: Invests time, energy, and enthusiasm in developing self/others to help improve performance e and gain knowledge in new areas.- Builds and Maintains Relationships: Maintains regular contact with key colleagues and stakeholders using formal and informal opportunities to expand and strengthen relationships.- Communicates Effectively: Recognizes group interactions and modifies one's own communication style to suit different situations and audiences. Delivering Excellent Services:- Serves Others with Compassion: Seeks to understand current and future needs of relevant stakeholders and customizes services to better address them.- Solves Complex Problems: Approaches problems from different angles; Identifies new possibilities to interpret opportunities and develop concrete solutions.- Offers Meaningful Advice and Support: Provides ongoing support and coaching in a constructive manner to increase employees' effectiveness. Ensuring High Quality: - Performs Excellent Work: Engages regularly in formal and informal dialogue about quality; directly addresses quality issues promptly.- Ensures Continuous Improvement: Applies various learning experiences by looking beyond symptoms to uncover underlying causes of problems and identifies ways to resolve them. - Fulfills Safety and Regulatory Requirements: Understands all aspects of providing a safe environment and performs routine safety checks to prevent safety hazards from occurring. Managing Resources Effectively: - Demonstrates Accountability: Demonstrates a sense of ownership, focusing on and driving critical issues to closure.- Stewards Organizational Resources: Applies understanding of the departmental work to effectively manage resources for a department/area.- Makes Data Driven Decisions: Demonstrates strong understanding of the information or data to identify and elevate opportunities. Fostering Innovation:- Generates New Ideas: Proactively identifies new ideas/opportunities from multiple sources or methods to improve processes beyond conventional approaches.- Applies Technology: Demonstrates an enthusiasm for learning new technologies, tools, and procedures to address short-term challenges.- Adapts to Change: Views difficult situations and/or problems as opportunities for improvement; actively embraces change instead of emphasizing negative elements.

Position Qualifications:

Responsibilities:

Certifications:

LIC-Registered Polysomnographic Technologist - Tennessee

Work Experience:

Relevant Work Experience

Experience Level :

Less than 1 year

Education:

High School Diploma or GED

This role offers the opportunity to make a meaningful impact within Vanderbilt Health, supported by a comprehensive benefits package which may include health, disability, retirement and/or wellness offerings to enhance your well-being and professional growth.

Vanderbilt Health is committed to fostering an environment where everyone has the chance to thrive and is committed to the principles of equal opportunity.  EOE/Vets/Disabled.