Clinical Research Asst II

A Research Assistant position is available within McLean Hospital - Harvard Medical School’s Affective Neuroscience of Trauma and Resilience Lab, directed by Elizabeth Olson, PhD (https://antareslab.mclean.harvard.edu/). The lab is part of the Center for Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Research at McLean Hospital (http://cdasr.mclean.harvard.edu/). The ANTARES lab at McLean Hospital conducts research on social, cognitive, and affective processes in psychopathology and resilience, with our work currently focusing on stress and trauma, reward processing, and social engagement. Broadly, our group is interested in changes in affective, cognitive, and social processing in people who have been exposed to stress, trauma, and/or childhood maltreatment, including individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A two-year commitment from the candidate is requested. Renewal of the appointment is contingent upon performance, continued funding, and successful completion of a required period of evaluation. This position offers an excellent opportunity for graduating seniors looking for clinical research experience before applying to graduate school in psychology (particularly clinical psychology programs) or medical school. While this position primarily involves working standard business hours, some flexibility with running occasional evening/weekend participant visits is expected.

For full consideration for this position, please upload (1) your resume or CV; (2) a cover letter addressing the following:

• Your interest in research, including an explanation of your specific interest in working in this lab
• Previous relevant experience
• Any relevant coursework
• Anything else you would like us to know about you

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

• Initiate and maintain contact with study participants. Responsible for screening applicants, ensuring they meet appropriate criteria, making independent judgment as to the suitability of their participation, and scheduling their study visits.
• Conduct data collection activities with patients/participants, such as: obtaining informed consent and administering questionnaires and experimental tasks. Prepare participants for MRI scans, including explaining scan procedures and performing urine pregnancy tests and drug screens.
• Develop, organize, and/or maintain the study database. Responsible for data validation and quality control.
• In conjunction with Principal Investigator, develop and implement new research protocols, institutional review board applications (IRB), and grant applications.
• Assist PIs with literature searches, preparation of slide presentations, poster presentations, and written published articles, as requested.
• Participates in the training of newly hired staff, as requested.
• Performs all other miscellaneous research and administrative duties as assigned.

• Knowledge of basic statistical analysis methods and use of statistical software package(s) (e.g., R, SPSS, SAS). Though not required, a programming background is a plus.
• Knowledge of clinical research methods and design
• Excellent interpersonal skills are required for working with study participants and research collaborators
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Careful attention to detail (required for data entry and processing of neuroimaging data)
• Analytical skills, the ability to resolve technical or research problems, and the ability to critically check data to prevent errors
• Ability to work as part of a team (e.g., share duties with another research assistant when recruiting and running study participants; complete components of data analysis, slide presentations and manuscript preparations with the PI)
• Excellent planning, organization, and prioritization skills, with the ability to independently monitor and complete a variety of complex tasks
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Powerpoint)
• Ability to demonstrate professionalism in the workplace
• Ability to demonstrate respect for participants’ rights and individual needs
• All employees must possess basic computer skills to use a variety of electronic or online systems for communication, clinical and administrative purposes

It is the policy of McLean Hospital to affirmatively provide equal opportunity to all qualified applicants for employment and existing employees without regard to their race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, ancestry, protected veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy or a condition related to pregnancy including, but not limited to, lactation or the need to express breast milk for a nursing child, or any other basis that would be in violation of any applicable law or regulation.