Research Assistant I - Geriatric Psychiatry

Dr. Warren Taylor in the Center for Cognitive Medicine in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Vanderbilt University Medical Center has an open position for Research Assistant I. This role involves collecting and managing data from clinical participants as part of NIH-funded projects focused on older adults with depression.

The person in this position would be responsible for evaluating and guiding research participants through study procedures while adhering to good research practices. They will also be responsible for assisting with data management and, depending on individual interests, could assist with data quality control and analyses of data.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Screens and schedules study participants, working collaboratively with participants, other staff and trainees, and departments to complete research protocols including behavioral data collection, neuroimaging data collection, and questionnaire and interview data collection. Follows an established protocol faithfully and meticulously to ensure data integrity across all forms of data collection.
• Works to recruit potential study participants by coordinating with other laboratories and/or departments/centers and online social platforms.
• Participates in the ongoing informed consent process, ensuring that participants and involved families clearly understand what is expected of and from them in the course of participating in a research study.
• After training, schedule and guide participants through study procedures, including guiding them through protocols involving MRI (magnetic resonance imaging).
• After training, conduct diagnostic assessments of participants.
• Maintains good rapport with research participants, assuring timely communication and sending follow-up information as needed.
• Monitor quality of study procedures and adherence to institutional and federal requirements.
• Collect samples and submit for processing.
• Participates in study team meetings. Maintains open and positive communication with study investigators, research staff, and participants.
• Helps monitor data quality and prepare data for analysis and upload to sponsor-mandated data-sharing repositories. Assists with data entry and management using REDCap or other tools .
• Depending on the candidate, may engage in quality assurance reviews of MRI data and facilitate analysis of MRI data. May also contribute to the development of research manuscripts.
• Furthers knowledge base by attending a Basic Research 101 within first several months of employment, if not previously attended.

Department Summary:
The Department of Psychiatry provides inpatient and outpatient services to children, adolescents, and adults with mental illnesses. For more information, please visit https://www.vumc.org/schoolbasedprogram/about-us

Bachelor's Degree (or equivalent experience) and < 1 year experience

Licensure, Certification, and/or Registration (LCR):

• Physical Requirements/Strengths needed & Physical Demands:
  
  Movement
  
  • Occasional: Sitting: Remaining in seated position
  • Occasional: Standing: Remaining on one's feet without moving.
  • Occasional: Walking: Moving about on foot.
  • Occasional: Lifting under 35 lbs: Raising and lowering objects under 35 lbs from one level to another
  • Occasional: Push/Pull: Exerting force to move objects away from or toward.
  • Occasional: Bending/Stooping: Trunk bending downward and forward by bending spine at waist requiring full use of lower extremities and back muscles
  • Occasional: Crawling:Moving about on hands and knees or hands and feet.
  • Occasional: Reaching below shoulders: Extending arms in any direction below shoulders.
  • Occasional: Handling: Seizing, holding, grasping, turning or otherwise working with hand or hands.
  
  Sensory
  
  • Occasional: Vision: Clarity of near vision at 20 inches or less and far vision at 20 feet or more with depth perception, peripheral vision, color vision.
  • Occasional: Noise: May include exposure to occupational noise levels which equal or exceed an 8-hr time-weighted average of 85 decibels, requiring enrollment in VUMC's Hearing Conservation Program which includes training, use of hearing protection, and periodic audiometry.
  • Continuous: Communication: Expressing or exchanging written/verbal/electronic information.
  
  Environmental Conditions
  
  • Occasional: Chemicals and Gasses: Medications, cleaning chemicals, oxygen, other medical gases used in work area.
  • Occasional: Pathogens: Risk of exposure to bloodborne pathogens and other contagious illnesses.
  • Occasional: Radiation: May be exposed to occupational radiation, requiring enrollment in VUMC's Radiation Safety Program which includes training, use of personal protective equipment with lead shielding, and personal dose monitoring.
  • Occasional: Climate: Ability to withstand exposure to atmospheric extremes including heat, cold, humidity, and barometric pressure changes.