"Alerted.org

Research Assistant, Department of Psychiatry

Wayne State University is searching for an experiencedResearch Assistant, Department of Psychiatryat its Detroit campus location.

Wayne State is a premier, public, urban research university located in the heart of Detroit, Michigan where students from all backgrounds are offered a rich, high-quality education. Our deep-rooted commitment to excellence, collaboration, integrity, diversity and inclusion creates exceptional educational opportunities which prepare students for success in a global society.

Essential functions (job duties):

JOB PURPOSE

Under the direction of the Principal Investigator, provide scientific and technical assistance to

complete laboratory based, clinical or population science research. May assist in writing research protocols and in manuscript preparation. Design and perform research protocols independently or

as directed through training in more difficult or specialized procedures to meet the needs of the

research protocol.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Perform laboratory based scientific techniques or clinical/population science (human subjects) research. Design and perform experiments, recruit participants for studies by developing surveys and interviewing candidates. Participate in implementing research objectives, ensuring compliance with all legal, regulatory and protocol guidelines. Assist staff with experiments/research protocols as required. Communicate with principal investigator and Postdoctoral scholars/fellows on the status of research.

Collect and log laboratory results, clinical outcomes and/or survey data. Evaluate and perform data analysis using graphs, charts or tables to highlight the key points of the research results collected in accordance with the research protocols as stipulated. Proofread and edit research data and documents to ensure accuracy.

Assist principal investigator with writing methods and summarizing/organizing data to be used in preparing and presenting presentations for professional, scientific and academic conferences and submittal to academic and scholarly peer-reviewed journals.

Maintain the laboratory work areas including routine maintenance on laboratory equipment as required. Order and organize required research supplies and records. Maintain cleanliness and organization of work station.

Perform other related duties as assigned.

Unique duties:

The Trauma History Investigation of Neurodevelopment in Kids (THINK) Lab (wsuthinklab.com), directed by Dr. Hilary Marusak at Wayne State University, is seeking an experienced full-time Research Assistant to serve as the primary study coordinator for a new collaborative clinical trial in partnership with Drs. Christine Rabinak and Leslie Lundahl. This NIH-funded study investigates whether the FDA-approved cannabidiol (Epidiolex) can enhance the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in individuals with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). The research takes a comprehensive, multimodal approach, including neuroimaging (fMRI), biomarker collection and analysis, clinical assessments, and self-report measures. Ideal candidates will have at least 5 years of experience coordinating clinical research, especially in neuroscience, psychology, or related disciplines. The successful applicant will lead day-to-day study operations, train and manage a research team, and serve as a liaison between participants, investigators, regulatory offices, and clinical partners. This is a unique opportunity to contribute to innovative translational research on cannabinoids, anxiety, and brain development within a highly interdisciplinary team. Recruit, screen, and enroll participants in accordance with IRB-approved protocols Obtain informed consent, schedule study visits, and maintain regular participant communication Oversee day-to-day study operations, including team training and scheduling Administer structured interviews, behavioral assessments, and psychological questionnaires Coordinate MRI scans and biospecimen collection (blood, saliva, urine); process and ship per protocol Prepare and manage IRB submissions, amendments, and continuing reviews Maintain accurate, complete study records and ensure regulatory compliance Maintain detailed logs, spreadsheets, and tracking systems to monitor study progress, enrollment, visit completion, and data collection timeline; proactively identify and address barriers to enrollment Support budget tracking, billing compliance, and communication with administrative staff Develop and update study materials (e.g., consent forms, source documents, recruitment flyers) Participate in lab and sponsor meetings; collaborate with Wayne Health, MR Research Facility, and Lipidomics Core Support additional lab research projects and administrative tasks as needed

Qualifications:

Education Bachelor's degree

Bachelor’s degree in a related field of study, preferred. Requires advanced knowledge predominantly intellectual in character in a field of science or learning acquired by a prolonged course of specialized intellectual instruction.

Experience Entry level (less that a year of job-related experience)

Experience performing basic research techniques or interacting with human subjects, preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Ability to work independently. Ability to analyze, summarize and interpret research findings and data in reports and spreadsheets and communicate results. Knowledge of scientific integrity principles. Excellent time management and organization skills. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and demonstrated ability to work with others in a collaborative environment. Microsoft office software skills.

Preferred qualifications:

Education: Master’s degree in neuroscience, psychology, social work, biology, or related field Interpersonal Skills: Comfortable working with diverse and/or clinical populations Schedule Flexibility: Must be available on-site for early morning, evening, or weekend visits or activities as needed and under direction of the MPIs Leadership: Demonstrated ability to work independently, manage a team, and multitask in a fast-paced research setting Technical Skills: Proficient in Microsoft Office; willingness to learn study software (e.g., REDCap, Ripple) Preferred Experience: Human subjects research and IRB processes Programming/statistical software (e.g., R, SPSS) Research software (e.g., Redcap) Scientific publications or presentations Health Compliance: Must be fully vaccinated and adhere to university health policies Commitment: Priority given to applicants interested in a minimum two-year commitment.

School/College/Division:

H06 - School of Medicine

Primary department:

H0613

Employment type:

+ Regular Employee

+ Job type: Full Time

+ Job category: Research

Funding/salary information:

+ Compensation type: Annual Salary

+ Salary minimum: TBD

+ Salary hire maximum: TBD

Working conditions:

Typical work environment may include a laboratory and/ or office environment. May require working non-standard business hours including evenings and weekends. May be required to travel to scientific conferences. All General Service Support Staff employees are required at the time of initial University appointment to serve a six month period of probation. A three month period of provisional status is required for an employee who has been transferred or reassigned regardless of whether it is a lateral move, a promotion or a demotion. The probationary or provisional status period shall be utilized for evaluating the staff member's ability and willingness to perform the assigned duties. Provisional status may be extended for a period of up to three additional months by mutual agreement between the unit administrator and the Employment Services Department. During the probationary period a staff member may be dismissed, or in case of provisional status returned to previous unit or classification, at any time without a statement of cause and without the right of appeal.

Job openings:

+ Number of openings: 1

Background check requirements:

University policy requires certain persons who are offered employment to undergo a background check, including a criminal history check, before starting work. If you are offered employment, the university will inform you if a background check is required.