Research Program Leader- Psychiatry - Child Division - Posner Lab

School of Medicine

Established in 1930, Duke University School of Medicine is the youngest of the nation's top medical schools. Ranked sixth among medical schools in the nation, the School takes pride in being an inclusive community of outstanding learners, investigators, clinicians, and staff where interdisciplinary collaboration is embraced and great ideas accelerate translation of fundamental scientific discoveries to improve human health locally and around the globe. Composed of more than 2,600 faculty physicians and researchers, nearly 2,000 students, and more than 6,200 staff, the Duke University School of Medicine along with the Duke University School of Nursing, and Duke University Health System comprise Duke Health, a world-class academic medical center. The Health System encompasses Duke University Hospital, Duke Regional Hospital, Duke Raleigh Hospital, Duke Health Integrated Practice, Duke Primary Care, Duke Home Care and Hospice, Duke Health and Wellness, and multiple affiliations.

Research Program Leader – Psychiatry – Child – Posner Lab

Be You.

This will be a Research Program Leader position for a new NIH U01 grant for PI Jonathan Posner. It will involve supervision of 2 CRCs and 2 postdocs and execution of all grant tasks. There will also be tasks associated with grant writing for associated projects. 

This position will be funded by a new U01 grant. The study has been submitted to the IRB and is currently under review.  This study aims to enhance, deploy, and rigorously validate the Duke Predictive Model of Adolescent Mental Health (Duke-PMA), a neural network-based tool designed to identify youth at high risk for psychiatric illness using low-cost, accessible clinical and behavioral measures. The over-arching objective is to address the urgent need for accurate, individualized mental health prediction tools-particularly in rural and underserved communities where access to psychiatric services is limited. It is a multi-site study and Duke is the central coordinating center, statistical center and laboratory and analysis center. There are 3 sites in addition to Duke.

Develops, coordinates, and implements research and administrative strategies essential to the successful management of research programs led by investigator(s) and faculty. Performs and oversees a variety of complex duties involved in the collection and evaluation of research program data to monitor progress toward program and project milestones. Provides guidance on portfolio and project implementation strategy to provide direction for research activities within the portfolio or program. Assists with efforts to obtain and manage study or program funding. Frequently interacts with other research groups or programs, by serving as primary liaison and public relations lead for research program and related projects. Coordinates wider program activities with responsibility for results in terms of costs, methods, and reporting requirements.

 

Minimum Requirements:

• Completion of a Bachelor's degree
• Work requires a minimum of four years of research experience (e.g., research, clinical, interaction with study population, program coordination). A Master's degree may substitute for two years of related experience.

 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Prior team lead or management experience preferred
• Strong background in child, adolescent, or family-focused research, particularly in mental health
• Experience working directly with children, adolescents, and families in research or clinical settings
• Experience with large, multi-site research studies or NIH-funded projects
• Familiarity with structured diagnostic interviews, behavioral assessments, or other standardized tools
• Proven success in grant writing, scientific manuscript preparation, or contributing to funded research proposals
• Experience with statistical software, REDCap, or electronic data capture systems

 

Other Requirements:

• Adaptability to contribute to additional research projects within the lab, depending on timelines and staffing needs
• Strong interpersonal skills to work effectively with adolescents, families, faculty, staff, and collaborating institutions
• Capacity to anticipate program needs, align resources, and contribute to long-term growth
• Ability to mentor and guide research staff while fostering a collaborative team culture

Be Bo