What are the responsibilities and job description for the Research Assistant – SCANlab, Psychological and Brain Sciences position at The University of Iowa?
The SCANlab in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences is seeking a Research Assistant (PRK1). The Research Assistant will assist in conducting a research project examining factors that can increase or decrease the likelihood that teenagers and young adults will drink alcohol and experience negative consequences from drinking. Responsibilities include recruiting teenagers and young adults (ages 14-19); working with participants (and their families) to schedule studies; performing cognitive assessments on them and recording their electroencephalographic (EEG) data while they perform the assessments; assisting in experiment design and development; managing data; and participating in other research tasks. This work is a part of a large research team that includes the PI and several staff members, as well as graduate and undergraduate students.
This is a one-year specified-term position with the possibility of extension based on grant funding and staffing needs.
Key Responsibilities
- Assist the Principal Investigator (PI) and other researchers in maintaining IRB approvals and modifications.
- Maintain databases and submit data to federal data-sharing sites.
- Coordinate and participate in a biweekly journal club.
- Coordinate research subject recruitment.
- Schedule ongoing study visits and coordinate scheduling of lab staff.
- Track progress of subjects through a longitudinal study and ensure that data collection protocols are followed faithfully.
- Occasionally run various study activities; these activities may include administering cognitive and/or behavioral assessments; collect EEG data and monitor quality of recordings; administer self-report assessments.
- Learn basic operation of EEG and eye-tracking equipment.
- Perform other administrative activities, such as organizing and maintaining files.
- Assist in training new lab members on research protocols.
- Use REDCap software to manage study data and track participants.
- Maintain lab inventory and order supplies as needed.
- Supervise undergraduate students and functionally supervise post-bac research assistants/interns and temporary staff.
For a full job description or questions about this position, please send an email to Chris Crawford at christopher-crawford@uiowa.edu.
Education Required
- Bachelor’s degree in psychology, cognitive science, neuroscience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience such that one can perform beginning-level research in psychology.
Required Qualifications
- Demonstrated ability to learn new technical skills quickly.
- Experience with office management and personnel.
- Experience managing databases using spreadsheet-based software systems.
- Experience with planning and managing medium- and longer-term objectives.
- Experience supervising staff and/or students.
- Ability to provide training to new staff.
- Must demonstrate attention to detail, accuracy and strong organizational skills.
- Must demonstrate excellent oral and written communication skills.
Desired Qualifications
- Demonstrated experience with research study coordination.
- Master’s degree in psychology, cognitive science, neuroscience or a bachelor’s degree with at least one year of experience in a similar position.
- At least 1 year research experience in psychology, preferably in cognitive or developmental psychology.
- Experience developing and submitting IRB applications and maintaining regulatory standards.
- Experience with any of these tools: REDCap, Rstudio, Adobe Photoshop, Canva, Acuity (or similar scheduling software).
- Experience working with human research participants administering physiological and behavioral experiments.
- Desire to remain in position for a minimum of 2 years.
Position and Application Details
For additional job details and to apply please visit https://jobs.uiowa.edu/ and access requisition #24003365.
In order to be considered for an interview, applicants must upload the following documents and mark them as a "Relevant File" to the submission.
- Resume
- Cover Letter
Job openings are posted for a minimum of 14 calendar days and may be removed from posting and filled any time after the original 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. Up to 5 professional references will be requested at a later step in the recruitment process. Please note that this position is not eligible for visa sponsorship in the United States. For additional questions, please contact: Chris Crawford at christopher-crawford@uiowa.edu.
