Please note: This is a full-time, term role.
This full-time, term research assistant position is part of the Mood, Emotion, and Development Lab housed in the Department of Psychology and Human Development at Peabody College at Vanderbilt University and is responsible for overseeing the implementation of studies of neural and physiological predictors of depression and intervention outcomes in youth and families. Responsibilities will include scheduling and running study sessions with research participants, submitting IRB protocols and reports, assisting with grant submissions, organizing and analyzing study datasets, and overseeing study administration. The research assistant will report to the lab manager and lab director and supervise students assisting with research projects.
About the Work Unit
With a genealogy dating to a one-room Nashville schoolhouse in 1785, Peabody College today is a world-class college of education and human development. Our mission is to enhance the human condition, with a particular focus on children’s learning and development. We do this as we always have, through the preparation of teachers and leaders; through cycles of research, implementation, and refinement; through service to families, schools, and communities; and through external engagement with professionals, leaders, and policy-makers. Peabody’s focus on learning differences has helped to define the college, as has a reputation for empirical rigor in educational neuroscience; child, family, and community development; special education; the learning sciences; and educational leadership and policy. Peabody is devoted to creating opportunity in an increasingly diverse society and to solving large societal problems.
NOTE: A Term position is a staff position that exists for a period longer than six months but is not expected to last beyond one year. Although a position may exist for a specified or indefinite period, staff who accept term positions are not guaranteed employment for the entire period; they are employed for indefinite periods within the limit of the appointment. There are no guarantees of continued employment, either within the term or when the term ends.
Duties and Responsibilities
Lead study sessions with research participants (including administration of clinical interviews, questionnaires, EEG, fMRI, and cognitive assessments) Train students in study procedures and lab expectations Ensure all lab members are up to date on IRB and university requirements (e.g., Protection of Minors, CITI training, fingerprinting and background checks) Assist with organization and analysis of datasets Supervise scheduling of appointments with research participants and internal lab scheduling (clinical supervision, lab meetings, etc.) Oversee data entry; create and maintain REDCap surveys for study measures and clinical interview data Prepare and submit IRB applications, as well as modifications or continuing review for existing studies Closely monitor and appropriately document all payments made to research participants Maintain organization of lab spaces and lab servers
Supervisory Relationships
This position does have supervisory responsibility over undergraduate research assistants; this position reports administratively and functionally to the Lab Director.
Qualifications
A bachelor’s degree in psychology, neuroscience, cognitive studies, or a related field is required Previous research experience working with human subjects (especially an undergraduate research project or honors thesis) is required. Experience working with children is required. Experience preparing and submitting IRB documents and/or grant applications is preferred. Proficiency in Microsoft Office is necessary. Experience training and supervising others is preferred. Experience working with data in SPSS, R, or other statistical software is preferred. Experience with programming in Python, Presentation, or E-Prime is preferred. Experience with EEG or fMRI methods is preferred. Experience with and detailed knowledge of REDCap is preferred.
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