TRiCAM Laboratory Research Specialist

The Translational Research in Cognitive and Affective Mechanisms (TRiCAM) laboratory in the University of Minnesota Department of Psychology seeks to hire a Research Specialist (8351SM: Research Professional 1-Social Science-Multidisciplinary) responsible for conducting human psychological research and coordinating scholars (to include students and other scientists) affiliated with the laboratory. The Research Specialist will work as part of a team to refine experimental protocols, and then to recruit, test and train research participants in completing the protocols. The Research Specialist may also perform statistical analyses under the guidance of the PI and other members of the team to establish and maintain data integrity and to test various hypotheses. The laboratory is running a number of studies that involve patients with psychosis and other serious mental illnesses. This position is ideal for a college graduate interested in psychological or psychophysiological research who wants to grow their career by engaging in experimental psychopathology, including patient interactions and data collection. The successful applicant will join an active laboratory with a team of full-time staff, graduate students and undergraduate researchers addressing a broad array of questions of interest to clinical psychology. You will have the opportunity to learn advanced techniques, publish scientific papers, attend conferences and build your network with collaborators across the U.S.

We especially encourage applicants from under-represented minorities to apply.

Position Overview:

Research Specialists report to the PI of the TRiCAM Laboratory. Each position is a 100%-time, in person, 12-month civil-service position with possibility of reappointment annually until project aims are completed. Salary is competitive and commensurate with education and experience.

Job Duties/Responsibilities:

Participant recruitment (35%)

• Recruit research participants and manage their progression through a research protocol, including participants who come from psychiatric populations, such as those with psychosis.
• Contact individuals by telephone, email and Zoom; encouraging current and potential new research participants to engage in the research protocol, which may consist of the participant assessment steps described below, including clinical and cognitive assessments, behavioral and electroencephalography (EEG) testing, and follow-up of participants
• Schedule participants to complete the study and arrange associated logistical support (e.g., mailings, parking, payment).
• Understand the scientific goals and significance of the study and be able to explain those goals to participants in ways that are engaging and easily understood.
• Coordinate recruitment across other laboratories engaged in psychosis-related research.
• Reach out to community health providers to contact patient participants, make presentations about research participation, and follow-up with providers to confirm that they understand and whether they need more information
• Develop and distribute fliers in local community posting boards

Participant assessment (35%)

• Conduct clinical interviews with participants, which includes sensitive information assessing capacity to consent, assessing mental and physical health history, and gathering information on a participant's medication, resource utilization, and other general history.
• Support EEG data acquisition. Aid in setting participants up for EEG data collection, including providing participants with drug tests and breathalyzer alcohol tests, performing a vision test, fitting participants with an EEG cap, and confirming that appropriate data can be collected.
• Track the progress of research participants through the study protocol by monitoring database reports and current participant status

Lab administration (20%)

• Assist in the management of institutional review board, federal and other regulatory compliance correspondence (10%), including
  • Adding, updating and removing study personnel, training materials, instruments, advertisements, and other recruitment materials.
  • Annually update the IRB's database with recruitment progress and other accomplishments from the past year.
• Facilitate communication between laboratory collaborators and other scientists.
• Attend and participate in regular lab meetings.

Data analysis (10%)

• Conduct quantitative analyses of relevant raw data and database queries, including facilitating inter-rater reliability meetings and processes and maintaining and analyzing demographic data on the sample as it is being recruited to ensure research control alignment with the participant sample.
• Flag issues in need of further attention by the PI or other research personnel.
• Prepare relevant reports, such as for internal and external scientific meetings and regulatory requirements, such as making tables of sample demographic information, or statistical tests of group differences or relationship between symptom measures and cognitive functions

Required Qualifications:

• BA/BS in Psychology, Cognitive Science, Neuroscience or a related area, or a combination of related education and work experience to equal 4 years.
• Proficiency in common computer applications, including word processing and spreadsheets;
• Ideal candidates will have research experience working with psychiatric populations;
• Ideal candidates will have a demonstrated capacity for quantitative analyses, including statistical software or statistical databases.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Coursework in Cognitive or Psychopathology;
• Experience in applying skills and attention to recurring tasks with an emphasis on precision and timeliness;
• Capacity for performing structured research-related work assignments following established procedures and guidelines under supervision, such as statistical analyses using SPSS/R or equivalent;
• Experience administering clinical and cognitive assessments with participants;
• Experience in electroencephalographic (EEG) recording systems and/or functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI);
• Experience with social media and other web-based applications.

About the Unit

TRiCAM Laboratory

Dr. MacDonald's Translational Research in Cognitive and Affective Mechanisms (TRiCAM) laboratory is a research laboratory within the Department of Psychology, a division of the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Minnesota. We explore the numerous problems that come from this simple question, including basic cognitive and affective studies, clinical studies, and studies that develop new scientific methods.

We explore cognitive and affective processes in healthy populations to determine how these mechanisms work. For example, how does the prefrontal cortex control behavior? What emotions are associated with social decisions such as whether to trust someone? Work in the TRiCAM laboratory also explores the neural and genetic basis of these processes. For example, what brain regions are associated with controlling an emotional response? Is a particular gene relevant to inhibiting an automatic action?

Research in the TRiCAM laboratory also examines what happens when cognitive and affective processes break-down in mental illnesses, with an emphasis on psychosis and schizophrenia. For example, what causes a reduction in prefrontal cortex activity in schizophrenia? Are impairments in cognitive and affective processes associated with the genetic liability to schizophrenia?

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The Benefits of Working at the U

Pay Range: $20.67 - $23.07 hourly; $43,000 - $48,000 annually depending on education/qualifications/experience

Time Appointment Category: 100% Appointment

Position Type: Civil-Service

Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for more information regarding benefit eligibility.

The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program
• Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and employer-paid life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity
• Financial counseling services
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost
• Employee Transit Pass with free or reduced rates in the Twin Cities metro area

While our salary ranges provide a framework, it is important to note that most of the time, the initial pay may not reach the maximum of the range. This approach ensures that compensation reflects the value and unique contributions of each candidate while maintaining equity within our organization. As part of our commitment to fair and equitable compensation, please be aware that the salary offered to incoming candidates will be based on their individual credentials and experience.

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The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

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