Posting: Research Assistant Positions – University of Oregon Sleep Lab
April 27, 2022
Special Instructions to Applicants:
Submit a cover letter, vita, and the names and contact information for three professional references to the Pro Tem Research Assistant/Associate/Postdoc Open Pool at the University of Oregon. Mention the Oregon Sleep Lab and/or Dr. Casement in your cover letter. You can also contact Dr. Casement directly at casement@uoregon.edu.
Position Summary:
The Center for Translational Neuroscience (CTN) is seeking two research assistants to work with the Oregon Sleep Lab (OSL; sleeplab.uoregon.edu), headed by Dr. Melynda Casement. The research assistants will work on NIH-funded studies that evaluate the effects of short and late sleep on reward- and stress-related brain function and mental health in adolescents and young adults. The project(s) will collect information about: i) sleep and circadian characteristics measured via polysomnography (PSG), dim-light melatonin onset (DLMO), actigraphy, sleep diary, clinical interviews, and questionnaires; ii) lifetime and daily stressors assessed by questionnaires; iii) reward-related brain function assessed using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and behavioral responses during monetary incentive tasks; iv) stress-related brain function assessed via electrocardiography (ECG), blood pressure, cortisol response, and self-report during a laboratory social stressor task; and v) patterns of alcohol use and symptoms of alcohol use disorder and depression assessed using structured clinical interviews and questionnaires. The research assistants will assist with multiple aspects of the study, including study start-up, participant recruitment and screening, data collection and processing, and IRB and data safety monitoring procedures. They will also interact extensively with Dr.
Casement and her co-investigators at the University of Oregon and the University of Pittsburgh. Research assistants may also have opportunities to assist with training and supervision of other study staff (e.g., student research assistants) and collaborate on analysis and dissemination of study results via conference presentations and manuscripts for publication. We are looking for highly motivated, reliable, and resourceful individuals who are very organized and detail-oriented and can maintain a high level of professionalism and warmth when working with study participants and staff.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Neuroscience, Human Physiology, or a related discipline.
- Prior research experience, particularly with clinical studies, studies of adolescents and young adults, and/or studies that utilize fMRI or sleep PSG/EEG.
Professional Competencies:
- Interest in how sleep and stressors contribute to brain function and mental health in adolescents and young adults.
- Highly organized, efficient, detail-oriented, and thorough.
- Ability to manage multiple tasks, including strong time-management skills.
- Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to maintain professionalism and warmth when working with research participants and study staff.
- Ability to learn quickly, solve problems, and work independently and with a team.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Some experience conducting research with clinical populations, particularly experience working with adolescents and young adults and/or training and experience in clinical assessments (e.g., Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia, Structured Clinical Interview for the DSM-5).
- Some experience and interest in collecting, processing, analyzing, and interpreting biobehavioral data, especially sleep PSG/EEG, fMRI, and/or ECG.
- Strong statistical training and experience with statistical software (e.g., R, SPSS).
- Some experience with web-based survey software (e.g., Qualtrics, Redcap).
- Some experience with computer programming (e.g., Matlab, Python, E-prime)
- Interest and experience in community outreach and engagement, including a commitment to equity and inclusion of people from diverse demographic groups.