Research Assistant
General Summary: Join our research team directed by Stephanie Crowley, Ph.D. We conduct experiments on human circadian rhythms and sleep. Our current studies are relevant to "social jet lag" experienced by teenagers when they have to wake up early for school. Research assistant duties include study marketing, running participants in the study protocols, analyzing data and making graphs. Senior research assistants have helped to write manuscripts for publication. Good experience before graduate school.
Participants live in the lab and must be supervised 24 hours a day. Supervision includes: ensuring the study protocol is run without deviation by following the procedures outlined in our lab manuals and checklists, making food for participants, and collecting test tubes of saliva samples. Supervision is divided into three shifts: early morning shifts (from 7:30 am to 3:30 pm), evening shifts (from 3:30 pm to 11:30 pm) or night shifts (11:30 pm to 7:30 am) interspersed with non-shift days with flexible hours. New research assistants usually start out working the nights. All research assistants have to work on most weekends. Work on flexible non-shift days can include: answering phone calls and e-mails from potential participants and parents, meeting families in the lab to explain the study and collect information to determine eligibility, downloading data from participant's equipment (such as wrist activity monitors), data analysis, ordering supplies, making beds and grocery shopping.
Principal Responsibilities:
- Recruit, screen and schedule potential study participants.
- Utilizes approved informed consent and HIPAA procedures.
- Administers tests and questionnaires including the assessment of participant eligibility, level of function, and/or response to intervention(s) according to research study protocols.
- Helps maintain study procedure documentation.
- Prepares study related materials.
- May assist with data entry, cleaning and guided analysis.
- Monitors study participants as required by study protocol.
- Maintains supply inventory.
- May utilize study-related devices and equipment as part of assessment procedures.
- Maintains study records and edits for completeness and accuracy.
- Attends regular team meetings.
- Uses discretion to resolve issues when unplanned events arise.
Qualifications:
- B.S or B.A. degree.
- Outstanding attention to detail and organizational skills
- Ability to prioritize workload and carry out assignments with minimum supervision
- Proactive in taking on new assignments
- Excellent communication skills
- Good spoken and written English
- Ability to effectively supervise research participants
- Ability to interact productively with the other research assistants and Principal Investigator
- Basic computer proficiency
- Ability to maintain a tidy and clean work environment
- Availability to work evenings, overnight and weekends if called for under the study protocols
- Reliable vehicle (safe parking in attached garage)
Preferred Candidates:
- B.S. or B.A. in Psychology, Neuroscience, or other life-sciences
- Excellent MS Office skills, especially Excel and Word
- Coursework or work with human subjects, preferably children or adolescents
- Previous night shift experience
Disclaimer:
The above is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for the performance of this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements.