Description
The Sarpal Lab is focused on understanding mechanisms that underlie psychiatric treatments with an overarching goal of advancing therapeutic approaches for chronic mental illness. The laboratory is interested in applying innovative and multimodal neuroimaging approaches to examine neurobiological systems that track patients across antipsychotic treatments. This includes high-field, 7-Tesla, neuroimaging-based fMRI, magnetic resonance spectroscopy imaging (MRSI), and proxy measures of dopamine functioning.
We are seeking a Database Coordinator in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh. This is an exciting opportunity to work with multidisciplinary research studying the neurobiology underlying treatment outcomes in populations of patients with chronic psychotic disorders. The successful candidate will assist lab members with neuroimaging and behavioral data analysis, data organization, and management. This individual will be responsible for programming and optimizing pipelines for data quality control and statistical and computational analyses for large-scale multimodal neuroimaging data, including but not limited to resting state and task-based fMRI, structural MRI, spectroscopy, and clinical data.
Interested candidates are encouraged to submit their CV, a cover letter describing research interests and career goals, and contact information for three references.
This position is grant funded.
Responsibilities:
- Pre-process and analyze neuroimaging data (including fMRI, MRS, structural MRI).
- Develop, maintain, and document data processing pipelines.
- Manage multiple datasets from ongoing and completed projects.
- Implement novel fMRI, connectivity, machine learning, and advanced statistical methods.
- Work in a self-initiated or consultative manner and collaborate with researchers on data collection and data analytic methods.
- Serve as a resource for non-routine requests for statistics or surveys.
- Help train and supervise junior lab members.
- Runs standard monthly reports to check data.
- Routinely review database / Perform quality checks and troubleshoot for inactivity and invoicing issues.
- Maintain database integrity and quality control by checking and correcting errors.
- Independently responsible for producing ad-hoc reports and projects as needed.
- Design and implement Access database for reporting, modifying, scoring, and merging data and database tables.
Qualifications
- Typically has completed a four-year academic degree including courses in computer programming, systems analysis, system development, or systems engineering
- Master’s degree or equivalent skills in biomedical engineering, computer science, or other quantitative field such as neuroscience, engineering, statistics, economics, or finance.
OR
- has acquired Core IT skills and knowledge via practical experience
- Proficiency with or knowledge base important for neuroimaging analysis platforms (e.g., HCP Pipeline, FreeSurfer, SPM, FSL, AFNI).
- Strong programing skills, background in statistics, experience working with diverse computing environments (e.g., Python, UNIX/BASH languages) and statistical software (e.g., R, Python, MATLAB).
- In-depth knowledge and experience using analytical and database software
- Strong listening, verbal, and written communication skills
- Flexibility and rigorous attention to detail
- Ability to work effectively with an interdisciplinary team
- Has mastered the essential knowledge base for an IT professional
- Has mastered the essential IT principles and analytical rules that guide their application in practical situations
- Able to perform basic/standard IT procedures and protocols
- Relies on buddy system/coach to demonstrate applied skills and to guide non-routine actions
- *Higher education (Bachelors/Masters) may be required per Grants
Licensure, Certifications, and Clearances:
- Comprehensive Crisis Management (CCMC)
- Act 34
UPMC is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran
Individuals hired into this role must comply with UPMC’s COVID vaccination requirements upon beginning employment with UPMC. Refer to the COVID-19 Vaccination Information section at the top of this page to learn more.
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