A collage of 6 SF BUILD scholar portraits from CIRCLE Program

CIRCLE Training Program

Applications is currently closed. Check back in the Spring

Join the Clinical Research Coordinators: Learners For Equity (CIRCLE) Training Program: For Seniors, Post-Baccalaureates, and Graduate Students

About

  • SF State leads SF BUILD in a partnership with UCSF
  • CIRCLE prepares diverse individuals to work in health research as a Clinical Research Coordinator (CRC)
  • CRCs support the daily activities of a clinical study involving human participants 
  • Training period includes discussions, CRC job shadowing at UCSF, and application preparation for a position in research
  • Tuition cost: FREE and scholars receive a $2,500 stipend

Provides

  • Cohort community of scholars interested in entering clinical healthcare field
  • Hands-on training to support clinical health care career exploration
  • Talks and practice on roles and responsibilities of a CRC with shadowing experience
  • Job application, interview and financial support
  • Networking, mentorship, and community building
  • Supports students' transition to clinical research jobs
  • Certificate of Completion for resumes

Eligibility

In accordance with Federal and State Law our program does not discriminate on the basis of age, gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, health or disability.

  • Open to SFSU: Graduating senior, recent grad or currently enrolled in a master's program
  • Can attend the training program from 7/29/24 - 8/09/24
  • Commit to completing 20 hours of shadowing by end of the Fall Semester
  • Has interest in research and/or addressing health equity

How to Apply

To apply, fill out the application form.

Application Closed

FAQ

Below are some frequently asked questions on the CIRCLE Training Program:

The CIRCLE training program is part of the SF BUILD (Building Infrastructure Leading to Diversity) project, which is funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and whose goal is to diversify the biomedical workforce.  SF BUILD is led by San Francisco State University in partnership with UCSF. 

The CIRCLE training program is composed of didactic modules and a shadowing experience. The didactic modules are based on the core competencies for the clinical research professional. In addition, we will provide professional development sessions that will prepare scholars to apply for a CRC position at the end of the training program, as well as opportunities to network. Last year, 80% of our scholars found employment at UCSF (half in permanent positions) and while we cannot guarantee that you will find a job at UCSF, we can provide guidance and resources during the job application process that can be used in future job searches.

A clinical research coordinator (CRC) supports, facilitates, and organizes the daily activities of a clinical study. A CRC is part of a team conducting research involving human volunteers (study participants) to identify new evidence/facts towards a theory or topic in a specific field in science/health care by gathering data in a systematic approach, also known as a clinical study.

In general, CRCs are responsible for the day-to-day activities for the study, such as:

  • Institutional Review Board (IRB) submissions (initial, modifications, reporting, renewal)
  • Protocol Development/Standard Operating Procedures
  • Research participant screening
  • Recruitment and enrollment of study participants
  • Data entry
  • Study participant tracking/scheduling
  • Data cleaning
  • Correspondence with participants or pertinent organizations, both internal (IRB or pertinent groups/departments within the organization) and external (sponsor, monitors, or vendors)

In addition, a CRC might assist with:

  • Literature searches
  • Presentations 
  • Manuscript preparation

The theoretical and practical modules will take place during the summer from August 1st to August 12th, 2022 via Zoom.

Yes, you will receive a compensation during your participation in the program.

As part of the shadowing experience, scholars will follow CRCs from UCSF for a total of 20 hours during the Fall Semester, which will need to be completed by December 31st, 2023. Depending on COVID-19 guidelines, the shadowing experience might be virtual, hybrid, or in-person.

Yes, when the scholars complete their shadowing experiences.

No, letters of rec are not required. You just need to submit the contact information for your references. In this manner, the CIRCLE application committee can contact the references on your list if they desire to do so.

Contact: