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Work where *every moment* matters. Every day, more than 40,000 Hartford HealthCare colleagues come to work with one thing in common: Pride in what we do, knowing every moment matters here. We invite you to become part of Connecticut’s most comprehensive healthcare network. The Institute of Living, one of the first mental health centers in the U.S., remains one of America’s leading not-for-profit centers for patient care, research and education in the fields of behavioral, psychiatric and addiction disorder. Through our dedicated, experienced and skilled clinicians, we provide patients and their families with the highest quality of personalized care. Programs are offered for children, adolescents and adults struggling with mental illness as well as offering services specializing in Anxiety, Eating Disorders, and Geriatric Services. *_Job Summary_* Directed by Dr. Joshua Wortzel, the HEAT-MIND Laboratory is a new research program started at Hartford HealthCare through funding received by the Wellcome Trust. The lab's mission is to study how rising temperatures and extreme heat affect mental health outcomes, especially in young adults, a particularly vulnerable group. The goal is to develop interventions that improve mental health resilience with the rise of global temperatures. Over the next 5 years, Dr. Wortzel's team will conduct two studies to help understand how heat affects mood and identify targets for intervention: The first is a 1,000-person study in young adults across the US experiencing summer depression. For one month, participants will wear small devices to continuously measure temperature and humidity around them, as well as sleep and activity trackers. They'll take regular phone surveys on their mood, depression symptoms, and cognitive performance. For the first time, we’ll see how temperatures people experience relate to mental health symptoms, sleep quality, ability to think, and physical activity in real-world settings. In the second study, we'll do the same month-long monitoring in 50 young adults with depression, but we'll also bring them into a controlled lab environment for two weekends and randomly expose them to moderate and high temperature conditions while monitoring their brain activity, sleep patterns, body temperature, physical activity and mental health symptoms. This controlled approach will help us understand the direct effects of temperature on mental health and figure out whether daytime or nighttime heat exposure has a bigger impact on mood. A Clinical Research Assistant is needed to help with these studies. The role includes responsibilities such as recruiting, screening, and consenting subjects, data collection and data entry, mailing and maintaining wearable devices for the study, and regularly checking in with study subjects remotely. This role may also help conduct qualitative interviews and data analysis, with the opportunity to be on publications. The position reports to Dr. Wortzel. This is an ideal position for individuals aspiring to a professional career in clinical psychology, psychiatry, or neuroscience research, especially those planning to apply for graduate or medical school within the next several years. * Bachelor Degree in a field such as neuroscience, psychology, sociology, or a related subject in healthcare and psychiatry. A degree in environmentalism and climatology fields will also be considered, especially if interest in how these topics relate to mental health. * Experience in human subject research, including knowledge of human subject ethics, informed consent, research protocols, and procedures. * Previous experience using wearable devices (e.g., Fitbit) and social media platforms is preferred * Familiarity with data software programs such as SPSS, Dedoose/NVivo, and REDCap is also preferred * Minimum commitment of 2 years highly preferred As a Hartford HealthCare entity, The Hartford Hospital Institute of Living provides eligible employees with an extensive benefits package and all the benefits of working in a thriving centrally located urban community: * *Medical and dental benefits* * *401(k) plan with employer match* * *Generous paid time off with accrual starting on the date of hire* * *Additional voluntary benefits as well as employee discount programs* * *Located on the Institute of Living’s historic park-like grounds designed by Frederick Law Ohlmsted* With locations around the state, Hartford HealthCare offers exciting opportunities for career development and growth. Here, you are part of an organization on the cutting edge – helping to bring new technologies, breakthrough treatments and community education to countless men, women and children. We know that a thriving organization starts with thriving employees – we provide a competitive benefits program designed to ensure work/life balance. Every moment matters. And this is your*moment*. /As an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action employer, the organization will not discriminate in its employment practices due to an applicant’s race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, and veteran or disability status./ **Job:** **Research* **Organization:** **Hartford Hospital* **Title:** *Clinical Research Assistant - Behavioral Health* **Location:** *Connecticut-Hartford-HH Research Bldg (10075)* **Requisition ID:** *25162255*