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We are looking for a Research Specialist to provide support to three NIH-funded research projects examining sleep, brain function, and emotional health in young people. The RAM study focuses on how sleep-circadian rhythms and neural reward processing relate to mood disorder risk in youth ages 16-24. The SleepChart study focuses on age-related changes in sleep physiology across development in individuals ages 9-26. The SleepLife study focuses on understanding how sleep patterns in teens can affect their future emotional health and well-being.

The Research Specialist will assist with participant recruitment and data collection for these three projects. The Research Specialist will recruit and screen participants; run standardized clinical, functional MRI, behavioral, and sleep/circadian assessments; and aid in data processing and management. This individual will work closely other research staff, data managers, and staff of the Sleep and Behavioral Neuroscience Center and Magnetic Resonance Research Center.

This is a Regular Full-Time position with daytime hours primarily Monday-Friday. Evening and/or weekend hours will be required to accommodate research participants’ schedules. This is a hybrid position with an expected minimum of 3 in-person days per week at our lab in Western Psychiatric Hospital.

This position is grant funded.

Responsibilities:

+ Recruit, screen, schedule, and compensate adolescent and young adult participants

+ Conduct standardized study assessments involving screening interviews, questionnaires, sleep-circadian measures, and computer tasks.

+ Able to maintain a flexible schedule including morning and evening hours to accommodate participant assessments.

+ Assist with data-related duties (data entry, quality control, processing, management) in collaboration with a data manager and systems analyst.

+ Ensure accurate, efficient, and complete data collection and study documentation.

+ Assist, as needed, with project administrative tasks.

+ Provide supervision and oversight to undergraduate directed research students working on the protocol.

+ Demonstrate respect and sensitivity to study participants. Interact skillfully with adolescent, young adult, and clinical populations.

+ Handle sensitive clinical and research data in compliance with University, State, and federal requirements.

+ Bachelor's degree required, preferably in Psychology, Neuroscience, Sociology or related research field.

+ Minimum of one year of work experience in a research project and/or related clinical setting is required.

+ Familiarity with computers and common software packages required.

+ Working knowledge of research methodology strongly preferred.

+ Complete and pass on-line ethics and research practice training modules as required by the University of Pittsburgh and the National Institutes of Health. Completes other trainings as required by the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

+ Perform in accordance with system-wide competencies/behaviors.

Licensure, Certifications, and Clearances:

+ Act 31 Child Abuse Reporting with renewal

+ Act 33 with renewal

+ Act 34 with renewal

+ Act 73 FBI Clearance with renewal

UPMC is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran