Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Yoga Research Assistant

🎯 Role Definition

The Yoga Research Assistant supports multidisciplinary research projects evaluating the physiological, psychological, and functional outcomes of yoga-based interventions. This role bridges practical yoga instruction and rigorous research practice: you will recruit and screen participants, implement intervention sessions when required, collect and manage survey, physiological, and qualitative data, maintain regulatory and study documentation, and contribute to analysis, dissemination, and grant activities. The ideal candidate is organized, ethically minded, comfortable with human subjects, and able to translate yoga practice knowledge into reproducible research procedures.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Research Intern or Research Volunteer in behavioral health or integrative medicine
Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT-200) transitioning into research
Laboratory or clinical assistant in kinesiology, psychology, or public health

Advancement To:

Clinical Research Coordinator / Study Coordinator
Project Manager for mind-body research programs
Research Specialist or Senior Research Assistant
PhD student / Clinical research scientist in integrative health

Lateral Moves:

Yoga Therapist or Clinical Yoga Instructor in hospitals/rehabilitation
Data Analyst focused on physiological/behavioral datasets
Community-based program coordinator for wellness initiatives

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Recruit, screen, and enroll study participants in accordance with inclusion/exclusion criteria; conduct telephone and in-person screening, maintain recruitment logs, and coordinate scheduling to maximize retention and study adherence.
Obtain informed consent from participants following IRB-approved procedures; explain study purpose, risks, benefits, and confidentiality; document consent and address participant questions proactively.
Implement standardized yoga intervention sessions when required by protocol (lead or assist classes), ensuring fidelity to the intervention manual and safety modifications for participants with mobility or health limitations.
Administer and collect quantitative outcome measures (surveys, questionnaires, timed physical tasks) using electronic platforms (REDCap, Qualtrics) and paper forms; ensure data completeness and resolve missing or inconsistent responses.
Collect physiological and biometric data (e.g., heart rate, HRV, blood pressure, actigraphy, salivary cortisol)—prepare equipment, calibrate devices, attach sensors appropriately, monitor signal quality, and follow biosample handling protocols.
Conduct structured and semi-structured qualitative interviews and focus groups; record, transcribe, and preliminarily code interviews for thematic analysis using software such as NVivo or Dedoose.
Enter, clean, and manage research data in secure databases; create and maintain data dictionaries, run routine quality checks, and reconcile discrepancies with source documents.
Assist with study randomization procedures and blinded interventions; prepare and secure allocation materials; support maintaining blinding integrity and documenting any unblinding events.
Prepare and ship biospecimens or physiological data to central labs following chain-of-custody and cold-chain requirements; complete sample logs, labels, and tracking.
Follow all IRB, HIPAA, and institutional policies for human subjects research; contribute to the preparation and submission of IRB amendments, adverse event reporting, and annual renewals.
Conduct comprehensive literature reviews and evidence summaries to support protocol development, study rationale, and background sections for grants or manuscripts.
Support statistical analysis by preparing datasets, generating descriptive statistics, creating analytic subsets, and collaborating with biostatisticians to implement appropriate models in R, SAS, or SPSS.
Maintain study manuals, standard operating procedures (SOPs), intervention fidelity checklists, and training materials to ensure reproducibility and compliance.
Train and supervise research volunteers, student assistants, and yoga instructors in protocol procedures, safety standards, data collection methods, and participant interactions.
Prepare materials for participant engagement and retention (reminder calls, study newsletters, reimbursement logistics), track compensation, and document contact attempts in study logs.
Monitor participant safety during sessions and assessments, identify adverse events or protocol deviations, and escalate according to safety plans and PI instructions.
Assist in grant writing and proposal development by supporting preliminary data preparation, drafting methods sections, budgeting item lists, and compiling appendices or supporting documents.
Generate figures, tables, and draft text for abstracts, posters, and manuscripts; coordinate submission logistics and respond to co-author edits with attention to journal guidelines.
Coordinate multi-site logistics for consortium studies: harmonize procedures, support cross-site training, and manage shared repositories or data transfer agreements.
Set up and maintain audio/video recording equipment for intervention fidelity monitoring and qualitative data collection; ensure secure storage and de-identification of multimedia files.
Develop and execute pilot testing of measurement protocols (e.g., feasibility of wearable sensors during yoga), iterate on methods to reduce participant burden and improve data quality.
Support translation and cultural adaptation of intervention materials and outcome measures when working with diverse populations; liaise with community partners and interpreters as needed.
Create and maintain organized regulatory binders, case report forms (CRFs), and digital documentation to ensure audit readiness and accurate study tracking.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc data requests, exploratory data analysis, and preparation of datasets for queries from collaborators and stakeholders.
Contribute to the organization's research strategy by identifying operational improvements, suggesting measures to increase recruitment efficiency, and participating in protocol design meetings.
Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams—investigators, biostatisticians, clinicians, yoga teachers, and community partners—to translate clinical and community needs into research-ready procedures.
Participate in project planning meetings, sprint planning (if using agile management), and regular study team check-ins to meet milestones and troubleshoot operational issues.
Serve as a community-facing ambassador for research studies: represent the study at outreach events, wellness fairs, and institutional open houses to improve visibility and enrollment.
Maintain and inventory yoga props, physiological measurement devices, and research supplies; coordinate purchases and equipment maintenance with institutional procurement.
Provide basic troubleshooting for participant technology issues (wearable syncing, survey access, telehealth platforms) and liaise with IT support for complex problems.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Human subjects research competence: informed consent, IRB documentation, adverse event reporting, and HIPAA-compliant data handling.
Quantitative data management and cleaning in REDCap, Excel, or SQL-based systems; creation and validation of data dictionaries and CRFs.
Experience with survey platforms and ePRO systems (Qualtrics, REDCap) including form design, branching logic, and automated reminders.
Basic statistical literacy and experience running descriptive and inferential analyses with R, SPSS, SAS, or Python; ability to prepare datasets for biostatistician review.
Physiological data collection and monitoring skills: ECG/HRV, blood pressure, breath measures, actigraphy; familiarity with device setup, signal quality checks, and preprocessing.
Qualitative methods: conducting interviews/focus groups, transcription workflows, thematic coding, and use of NVivo, Dedoose, or Atlas.ti.
Protocol implementation and intervention fidelity monitoring; ability to follow manuals closely and document deviations.
Audio/video setup and secure storage for session recordings; basic editing and redaction skills to de-identify multimedia.
Experience with biospecimen handling and logistics (saliva, blood), sample labeling, chain-of-custody, and cold chain shipping when applicable.
Familiarity with clinical trial processes: randomization, blinding, source documentation, and Good Clinical Practice (GCP) principles.
Electronic data capture and basic database querying for monitoring and report generation.
Experience contributing to grant budgets, IRB protocols, and draft sections of manuscripts or abstracts.
Yoga-specific competencies: practical knowledge of yoga postures (asana), breathing techniques (pranayama), mindfulness practices, and safety modifications; RYT-200 or equivalent preferred.
Experience training staff or peers on study procedures and delivering standardized training sessions.

Soft Skills

Excellent verbal and written communication tailored to participants, investigators, and community stakeholders.
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail to manage competing tasks, documentation, and multi-site coordination.
Empathy and cultural humility when working with diverse populations and participants with chronic conditions.
Problem-solving orientation with initiative to identify operational bottlenecks and propose practical solutions.
Time management and prioritization skills to meet recruitment targets and study timelines.
Team player who collaborates across disciplines, mentors junior staff, and accepts constructive feedback.
Adaptability to changing protocols, unexpected participant needs, and evolving study requirements.
Professionalism and discretion handling sensitive health information and participant concerns.
Comfortable instructing or assisting in yoga sessions with clear, patient teaching style and an emphasis on participant safety.
Critical thinking for translating raw data into actionable insights and for contributing to study design improvements.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's degree in Psychology, Kinesiology, Public Health, Neuroscience, Integrative Health, Nursing, or a related life/social science field; or equivalent research experience.

Preferred Education:

Master's degree (MS, MPH, MSc) in Clinical Research, Public Health, Neuroscience, Integrative Medicine, or related discipline.
Preferred certifications: RYT-200/RYT-500, Certified Yoga Therapist (C-IAYT), or formal training in yoga therapy for roles involving intervention delivery.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Public Health
Kinesiology / Exercise Science
Psychology / Behavioral Science
Neuroscience
Integrative Medicine / Complementary & Alternative Medicine
Nursing or allied health professions

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 1–4 years of research experience in clinical or behavioral studies; experience running or assisting intervention sessions preferred.

Preferred:

2+ years working on clinical trials or behavioral intervention studies, with direct experience in participant-facing activities, data collection, and regulatory documentation.
Prior experience in mind-body, yoga, or mindfulness research, including fidelity monitoring and mixed-methods data collection.
Demonstrated experience with electronic data capture systems (REDCap/Qualtrics), basic statistical tools (R/SPSS), and qualitative software (NVivo/Dedoose).