Research Assistant - Psychiatry - Bowren Lab
The Department of Psychiatry at the University of Iowa is seeking a highly motivated Research Assistant to join Dr. Mark Bowren’s research team to study neural correlates of cognition and behavior in neurological patients. The Research Assistant will support research by collecting and managing data (including neuropsychological, neuroimaging, and neuromodulation data), recruiting and scheduling study participants, administering behavioral and neuropsychological tests and questionnaires, managing regulatory paperwork, querying databases, and working with investigators, staff and students as a member of an interdisciplinary team.
CHARACTERISTIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
• Develop and maintain positive working relationships with the research team including neuropsychologists, neuroscientists, physicians, postdoctoral scholars, students and research support personnel.
• Administer cognitive and neuropsychological tests and other behavioral tasks to neurological patients and healthy comparison research participants.
• Execute established data processing pipelines for preprocessing of prospective data as new research participants are enrolled.
• Maintain a database containing behavioral, clinical, neuroimaging, neuromodulation, and experimental data, identify and correct database discrepancies, assign appropriate access privileges to research staff, add new or updated measures to the database, and compile requested data sets for analysis.
• Utilize computer software to assist in the preparation of materials to be included in reports, publications, and presentations.
• Manage, prepare, and organize regulatory documentation. Communicate with IRB staff, investigators, funding agencies, and regulatory authorities. Monitor compliance to regulatory guidelines and proper maintenance of documents. Ensure regulatory reports and reviews are submitted on time.
• Perform scientific literature searches on specified topics and prepare bibliographies and abstracts according to instructions.
• Assist in the preparation of materials for scientific manuscripts and abstracts to be written by faculty or other research staff.
• As individual skills develop, take a lead role on research projects.
• Assist in the design, development, execution, administration and maintenance of new protocols and clinical research studies. As individual skills develop, troubleshoot, analyze and propose modifications to protocols.
• Demonstrate strong communication skills via telephone including rapidly developing rapport with potential research participants and speaking clearly and effectively over the phone.
• Assist with participant recruitment efforts. This includes recruiting and interviewing prospective participants for studies, obtaining informed consent, detailing medical/neurological history, completing questionnaires and reviewing data with investigators.
• Review compliance with protocol, organize and maintain study records and files in conjunction with other research staff.
• Schedule and facilitate collection of MRI data, including making MRI reservations in conjunction with other research, medical, and nursing staff.
• Assist with scoring and recording new data collected; perform data entry and data audits. As individual skills develop, will oversee data with minimal oversight.
• Occasionally travel off-campus to other medical and community centers to conduct research/recruitment and to meet with investigators, researchers, and potential participants.
• Participate actively in lab meetings to bring forward coordination issues requiring investigators’ attention.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED
Supervision is received from Dr. Mark Bowren in the Department of Psychiatry.
SUPERVISION EXERCISED
As skills develop, may provide direction, or be called upon for assistance with training new staff on study protocol, interviewing, and/or testing procedures. May supervise and facilitate the progress of students working on research projects.
Required Qualifications
• Bachelors of Arts/Science degree in Psychology, Neuroscience, or a related field.
• Minimum of 1 year of behavioral and/or medical research experience.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills.
• Excellent command of the English language, both written and verbal.
• Experience with Microsoft Office.
• Data base management experience.
• Demonstrated ability to quickly learn basic statistical analysis skills using R or other statistical analysis software.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently while being accountable and efficient with time management.
• Demonstrated ability to rapidly learn how to administer and score standardized neuropsychological measures.
Desirable Qualifications
• Previous experience with REDCap data management software
• Previous experience using R, MATLAB, Python, or Linux shell scripting (e.g., bash).
• Previous experience using EPIC electronic medical record system.
• Previous experience working with individuals with chronic medical and/or psychiatric conditions.
• Previous experience administering neuropsychological measures.
• Previous experience working with brain MRI data.
• Working knowledge of Good Clinical Practice (GCP). Good clinical practice (GCP) is the ethical and scientific quality standard for designing, conducting, recording, and reporting research involving the participation of human subjects.
Application Process
To be considered, applicants must upload a letter of interest and resume (relevant to this recruitment) that clearly addresses how they meet the listed required and desired qualifications of this position.
Job openings are posted for a minimum of 7 calendar days.
This job may be removed from posting and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended.
Successful candidates will be required to self-disclose any conviction history and will be subject to a criminal background check and credential/education verification.
Professional references will be required later in the recruitment process.
For questions contact lori-posey@uiowa.edu
Equal opportunity/affirmative action employer
The University of Iowa is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment free from discrimination on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, pregnancy (including childbirth and related conditions), disability, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, service in the U.S. military, sexual orientation, gender identity, or associational preferences.
Persons with disabilities who need assistance or accommodations with the application or interview process may contact University Human Resources/Faculty and Staff Disability Services, (319) 335-2660 or fsds@uiowa.edu. For jobs in UI Health care, please contact UI Health care Leave & Disability Administration at 319-356-7543.
