Job Information
UPMC Research Specialist | The Cognitive-Affective Neuroscience and Development (CAND) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
The Cognitive-Affective Neuroscience and Development (CAND) lab focuses on investigating the neurodevelopment of emotion processing and regulation, with a focus on the role of pubertal maturation, in typically developing youth as well as those diagnosed with or at risk of anxiety and mood disorders.
The Research Specialist will report to Dr. Ladouceur and will assist with advertising, subject recruitment, screening, and scheduling. They will administer the research protocol, which involves completing a neuroimaging protocol, administering questionnaires via Qualtrics, collecting physiological data while participants complete a speech task, providing instructions for the collection of salivary assays performed at home, ensuring all documentation are completed that data is saved, backed-up, and preprocessed in a timely manner, as well as assist with other duties in the lab as needed.
This position is grant funded.
Responsibilities:
Screen participants using phone and in-person measures.
Schedule participants’ assessments at appropriate time intervals.
Administer research protocol at initial evaluation and follow-up: including Tanner staging, saliva sample collection (participants collect at home and return to the lab or staff pick up at home), hair sample collection in the lab, computer tasks, fMRI scan, questionnaires, speech task with physiological measures.
Provide support to data management staff – e.g., storing of data, data entry, data cleaning and data integrity checks.
Assist investigators, graduate students, and postdocs with administrative tasks and some data analysis for papers/presentations by performing some aspects as needed.
Assist with participant recruitment (posting ads in schools/hospitals/stores, newspapers, completing mailings).
Attend and participate in all project-related meetings.
Perform other duties as assigned and in accordance with system-wide competencies/behaviors.
Bachelor's degree required, preferably in Psychology, Neuroscience, Sociology or related research field.
Minimum of one year of work experience in a research project and/or related clinical setting is required.
Two years of experience working in research laboratory conducting human subject research required.
Experience working with children or adolescents is strongly preferred.
Strong interpersonal, organizational, and written/oral communication skills.
Ability to maintain flexible schedule and access to transportation to travel to participants’ home (if needed).
Excellent critical thinking/analytical skills, and the ability to make independent decisions are preferred.
Familiarity with computers and common software packages required.
Working knowledge of research methodology strongly preferred.
Licensure, Certifications, and Clearances:
Comprehensive Crisis Management (CCMC)
Act 31 Child Abuse Reporting with renewal
Act 33 with renewal
Act 34 with renewal
Act 73 FBI Clearance with renewal
UPMC is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran