The Schaefer Lab at Vanderbilt University seeks to hire a Study Coordinator responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the lab, including managing recruitment efforts for an ongoing twin registry. The Study Coordinator will be responsible for recruiting and interviewing study participants, co-developing and maintaining study data pipelines, and aiding in the creation and maintenance of the data infrastructure. Additionally, this role involves training and supervising undergraduate research assistants, as well as assisting with grant and proposal development. Interviews will include diagnostic, personality, and neuropsychological assessments. The person hired for this role will work closely with both Professor Schaefer and research participants, and so a combination of remote and on-site work at Wilson Hall will be required. The position also requires the ability to adapt to a flexible schedule, as some evening or weekend hours may be needed to accommodate participants' schedules and study needs.

 

About the Work Unit: 

The Department of Psychology in the College of Arts & Science has faculty (both tenure and non-tenure lines) who are aligned within three specializations: clinical psychology, cognition and cognitive neuroscience, and neuroscience. We are first and foremost a research-oriented department, and our faculty comprises nationally and internationally recognized scholars in their fields of research.

Our Undergraduate Program currently consists of nearly 160 undergraduate majors. Our approximately 40 Ph.D. students in the Department's Graduate Program will join, upon graduation, alumni employed in public and private institutions and organizations, as well as in private practice.

 

Duties and Responsibilties: Train and Supervise Research Assistants for Participant Recruitment and Management:

Train undergraduate research assistants to perform recruitment activities, including contacting potential participants, explaining study objectives, and scheduling assessments. Oversee research assistants who will contact and encourage potential research participants to engage in research protocols, which may consist of in-person visits, videoconference interviews, online questionnaires, biospecimen collection (e.g., saliva), neuropsychological testing, and/or brain scans. Ensure research assistants effectively understand and can explain the scientific goals and significance of studies to participants in engaging and understandable ways. Supervise research assistants who schedule assessments and maintain contact with participants prior to appointments to ensure assessment completion and handle rescheduling as necessary. Oversee recruitment logistics that may include making hotel and food service arrangements, preparing welcome information packets, and helping participants troubleshoot scheduling and technology issues. Develop and maintain computer records to track recruitment information such as visit dates and participation status, and train research assistants to update these systems.

Collect Data from Study Participants:

Greet study participants and describe study goals, assessment tasks, confidentiality limitations and potential risks. Thoroughly explain study, answer participant questions, and obtain informed consent or assent. Maintain required assessment and consent documentation. Conduct formal assessments of study participants in-person (and, if necessary, over zoom), including structured interviews assessing psychopathology, personality questionnaires, and neuropsychological testing. Collect and store biospecimens (e.g., saliva) following pre-established study protocols.

Participation in Data Analysis and Quality Control:

Meet with Professor Schaefer and any co-investigators to evaluate data validity and reliability and implement feedback as needed. Review, code, and score interviews, questionnaires, neuropsychological tests post assessment to assure completeness and readiness for data entry. Assist with the development and/or alteration of the Study Protocol by conducting literature reviews on key topics and summarizing findings.

IRB and Regulatory Management:

Serve as the main point of contact for IRB-related matters, preparing and submitting IRB applications, amendments, continuing reviews, and adverse event reports. Maintain comprehensive knowledge of human subject protection regulations and ensure all research protocols adhere to these standards. Prepare and maintain IRB documentation, including consent forms, recruitment materials, and protocol documentation.

Other Responsibilities:

Organize and implement training sessions and regular lab meetings to ensure all team members are up-to-date on project progress and protocols. Create, upload, and manage study questionnaires and tasks in REDCap or similar platforms, ensuring proper implementation of study protocols in electronic systems. Assist in grant and proposal development by providing sample text, reviewing draft proposals, and compiling preliminary data as needed. Interface with investigators for the development, revision, and publication of manuscripts resulting from the lab's research. Study coordinator will also assist in other laboratory and research functions, as assigned.

Supervisory Relationships: The Research Coordinator will assist in the screening and hiring of the students. This position will also be tasked with supervising and coordinating the activities of undergraduate research assistants and other research staff, reporting directly to Professor Schaefer.

Education and Certifications: A Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution of higher education is necessary, Master's degree is preferred.

Essential Qualifications:

Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to work independently Excellent communication skills and demonstrated aptitude for conducting careful, detailed-oriented work Ability to conduct assessments on-site at Wilson Hall, in addition to conducting remote phone and video-conference (Zoom) interviews as needed Ability to work some weekend hours as needed Must be comfortable speaking on the phone during recruitment and assessment calls Proficiency in R and basic statistical methods

Preferred Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in psychology or related field, or an equivalent combination of psychology-related education and research experience totaling at least two (2) years Experience conducting structured clinical interviews and neuropsychological testing with study participants Experience recruiting research participants and/or supervising recruitment efforts Experience with IRB submissions and knowledge of human subject protections in research Proficiency in REDCap or similar electronic data capture (EDC) systems, with particular emphasis on form creation and editing in REDCap, Qualtrics, or similar platforms Experience using AI tools for research data analysis, visualization, or administrative tasks Ability to complete programming tasks in Python, Linux, and/or other programming languages Coursework in psychopathology and/or demonstrated familiarity with psychiatric diagnostic systems Experience supervising student researchers in a laboratory setting Enthusiasm for learning new skills, especially new technologies related to the aims of the study (e.g., exposure assessment, information management, data analysis, etc.)