Description
The Developmental Cognitive-Affective Neuroscience Laboratory conducts research on the neurodevelopment of emotion processing and regulation in typically developing adolescents and those diagnosed with or at risk for anxiety and mood disorders. We employ a multi-method approach that includes EEG, fMRI, DSI, clinical, and ambulatory assessments. Ongoing projects focus on the neurodevelopment of social threat and social reward processing in at-risk adolescent girls and the neural, cognitive, emotional, and behavioral factors that predict trajectories of manic symptoms in depressed adolescents.
The employee will assist with recruitment, clinical assessments, administering the neuroimaging protocol, and assessment of mood and arousal using actigraphy. The employee will work as a member of a cohesive research team dedicated to the longitudinal follow-up assessment of depressed adolescents as part of the Mood and Brain Circuitry in Adolescents (MBA) project.
The ideal candidate will have experience in conducting clinical research in children or adolescents and have the following characteristics: excellent communication skills, team player, detail oriented, caring, responsible, able to function independently, have excellent judgement, and ability to learn quickly.
Assist in the execution of research protocols and services.
Responsibilities:
- Assist with recruitment, scheduling appointments, obtaining written consent forms, collecting data by conducting phone or face to face interviews for research project(s).
- Maintain accurate documentation.
- Screen participants (child/parent) using phone and in-person measures
- Schedule participants assessments at appropriate time intervals
- Complete the formal diagnostic and assessment interviews required at all phases of the study including initial evaluation of child/adolescent subject and parent and follow-up assessments of all subjects (in the lab or travel at participant's home).
- Administer research protocol including computer tasks, fMRI scan, actigraphy/mood ratings, and self-report measures.
- Identify at-risk children, youth and adults who display symptoms of mental health disorders and report such cases to Drs. Ladouceur, Diler or project coordinator
- Provide support to data management staff
- Assist Investigators and Post Docs with administrative tasks and some data analysis for papers/presentations by performing some aspects as needed.
- Participate in participant recruitment (posting ads in schools, hospitals/stores, newspapers, completing mailings).
- Perform other duties as assigned and in accordance with system-wide competencies/behaviors
Qualifications
- Bachelors degree required preferably in psychology or related field.
- Familiarity with computers and common software packages required.
- Prior related work experience in a research setting preferred.
- Working knowledge of research methodology strongly preferred.
- One year of experience working in mental health environment (clinical or research)
- Experience working with adolescents
- Experience administering and scoring standard research assessments (e.g., K-SADS-PL, ALIFE, SCID, CGI, FH-RDC) is strongly preferred
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Proficiency in basic computer software packages, including MS Word and email
Strong interpersonal, organizational, and written/oral communication skills
Ability to maintain flexible schedule and access to transportation to travel to participants' home
UPMC is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran
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