Department: Center for Translational Neuroscience
Rank: Research Assistant (Type B)
Annual Basis: 12 Month

Review of Applications Begins

Immediately; applications will be reviewed as needs arise

Special Instructions to Applicants

Please include CV

Department Summary

The Center for Translational Neuroscience (CTN) is a center within the Department of Psychology whose mission is to translate knowledge from basic neuroscience and apply it to improve well-being, promote resilience, and mitigate the effects of early adverse experiences. The CTN employs successive iterations of neuroscience research, theory building, and practice to drive the scientific knowledge base forward and promote evidence-based policy.

Position Summary

The Center for Translational Neuroscience (CTN) at the University of Oregon is seeking qualified applicants for its open research pool. Positions are limited duration appointments potentially renewable for up to a total of three years. In limited circumstances, there is the possibility of renewal beyond three years based on programmatic need, funding, and performance. Appointments may be as research assistants, conducting research under the direction of a principal investigator, or as a research associate, conducting research with only general guidance. In exceptional circumstances, we may hire ongoing career faculty out of this pool.

Research assistant/associate and postdoctoral scholar opportunities frequently arise in the CTN. These positions are primarily funded by federal grants with research aims related to translating knowledge from basic neuroscience and applying it to improve well-being, promote resilience, and mitigate the effects of early adverse experiences. Candidates with professional or academic interests in any of these areas are encouraged to apply; applicants will be screened as needs arise. Successful candidates will have professional experience and a commitment to working effectively with research participants and staff from diverse backgrounds. Bilingual candidates of all language backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.

Examples of the types of positions that arise include:

Interviewer/Assessors who work with adults, families, and children to gather complete and accurate data through standardized personal interviews, questionnaires, standardized tests, semi-structured interviews, fMRI scanning, parent-child interaction tasks, child and adult diagnostic interviews and video recorded observations;

Microsocial video editors who watch video of caregiver-child interactions and create edited films using basic video editing software for use in caregiver interventions;

Interventionists who implement video feedback caregiving program in home or other community-based settings;

Research assistants who support lab activities in a variety of ways, including: recruiting, scheduling, and communicating with research participants, entering and cleaning research data, providing logistics and technology to research and implementation teams;

Data Managers who oversee the tracking, cleaning, formatting and compiling of computerized datasets; and

Recruiters who develop and execute a recruitment strategy for identifying families who might be eligible for participation in clinical translational research, maintain project databases with family contact information, and coordinate recruitment and retention mailings and other strategies.

Due to the broad nature of the available research positions, please indicate if you have experience with any of the following: standardized assessments, standardized surveys & interviews, behavioral coding, working with families and children, working with high-risk families, working with foster families, working with children with special needs, experience with home interviews, recruitment and retention of research participant pools; utilizing search techniques to locate lost families for longitudinal studies; and experience collecting neurobiological measures (i.e., RSA & PEP, high density EEG/ERP, blood draws, fMRI).

Minimum Requirements

To qualify for the rank of research assistant:
• Bachelor's degree in related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

To qualify for the rank of Postdoctoral Scholar:
• PhD in related field by start of position.
• Experience in the field of research.

To qualify for the rank of Research Associate:
• PhD or equivalent terminal degree in related field by start of position.
• Directly relevant research experience.

Professional Competencies

• Skill in troubleshooting difficult or persistent recruitment issues independently, with assistance from Principal Investigator and Investigative team as needed.
• Skill in liaising with collaborating staff outside the University.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with standardized assessments, surveys & interviews.
• Experience with behavioral coding.
• Experience working with children and families.
• Experience working with high-risk families.
• Experience working with foster families.
• Experience working with the Department of Human Services and/or Child Welfare system.
• Experience working with children with special needs.
• Experience with home interviews.
• Experience with recruitment and retention of participants.
• Experience maintaining database of participant contacts.
• Experience collecting neurobiological measures (i.e., cortisol genetic data, RSA & PEP, high density EEG/ERP, blood draws, fMRI, etc.).

The University of Oregon is proud to offer a robust benefits package to eligible employees, including health insurance, retirement plans and paid time off. For more information about benefits, visit http://hr.uoregon.edu/careers/about-benefits.

The University of Oregon is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution committed to cultural diversity and compliance with the ADA. The University encourages all qualified individuals to apply, and does not discriminate on the basis of any protected status, including veteran and disability status. The University is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. To request an accommodation in connection with the application process, please contact us at uocareers@uoregon.edu or 541-346-5112.

UO prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, national or ethnic origin, age, religion, marital status, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression in all programs, activities and employment practices as required by Title IX, other applicable laws, and policies. Retaliation is prohibited by UO policy. Questions may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, Office of Civil Rights Compliance, or to the Office for Civil Rights. Contact information, related policies, and complaint procedures are listed on the statement of non-discrimination.

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