Research Technician - L-1

Department
 

BSD PSY - King Lab

About the Department
 

To honor our promise to always put our patients first and to be ever mindful of each patients dignity and individuality, we must also be at the forefront of transformative discovery and innovation in psychiatric care.

Job Summary
 

The (CARL) Clinical Addictions Research Laboratory at the University of Chicago, (Director: Andrea C. King, Ph.D.), conducts human laboratory studies of responses to alcohol, cigarette smoking, and vaping, smartphone-based ecological momentary assessment of substance use in the natural environment, and behavioral and pharmacological interventions mainly focused on medically-compromised smokers. The full-time research assistant will provide support in all areas of investigation, including but not limited to: participant recruitment, interviewing and screening; conducting experimental sessions, tracking study progress/completion, database management, and follow-up assessments; providing administrative and infrastructure support in literature reviews, equipment calibration and maintenance, and organizing and filing records and study materials. Knowledge of MS Office (Word, Excel, etc.), communication skills, reliability, and detail-oriented work are necessary. Prior experience in human subjects testing, database and graphical packages, and statistics are desired.

Past research assistants have been accepted to strong PhD programs in clinical and experimental psychology, epidemiology, and medical school.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for all aspects of research projects, including study recruitment and retention, participant screening and enrollment, data entry, and study-related communications among key personnel and participants.

• Developing and disseminating study-specific advertisements, ensuring monthly recruiting and pacing goals are met.

• Screening and scheduling study participants.

• Conducting telephone and video-conferencing interviews with study applicants for eligibility determination and follow-up assessments.

• Facilitates and monitors data collection, including obtaining subjective, objective (e.g. vital sign readings, etc.), biological (e.g. urine, blood, saliva, etc.), and performance (e.g. fine motor tasks, neurocognitive tasks, eye movement tasks, etc.) measures.

• Provides administrative support (i.e. petty cash distribution, equipment inventory and maintenance, scientific literature reviews, etc.) and maintains detailed records of study and lab standard operating procedures.

• Assists in development of data tables, graphs and charts and preparation of material for presentation.

• Conduct screenings and participant interviews as needed, ensure database management, entry and verification of measures not obtained by computer, supervise and schedule sessions, perform clinical interviews as needed, and assist the lab manager on regulatory paperwork, scheduling and management of all disbursements and receipts.

• Managing study supply inventory and ordering.

• Creating subject mailings for materials related to their participation in the trial, including study medications and saliva drug screens.

• Collects and enters data. Assists in analysis of data and with preparation of reports, manuscripts and other documents.

• Complies with institution, state and federal regulatory policies, procedures, directives, and mandates.

• Provides routine or standardized laboratory duties by collecting data in support of research projects under direct supervision.

• Collects and enters data. Assists in analysis of data and with preparation of reports, manuscripts and other documents.

• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications
 

Education:

Minimum requirements include vocational training, apprenticeships or the equivalent experience in related field (not typically required to have a four-year degree).

---
Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through < 2 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

---
Certifications:

---

Preferred Qualifications

Experience:

• Working in a complex academic medical center.

Preferred Competencies

• Excellent professional and written communication skills.

• Familiar with research studies.

• Proficiency in MS Excel and electronic data capture (e.g., Redcap).

• Experience in coding and statistical programs (i.e. R, Python, Java, SPSS, STATA, etc.).

• Experience in interviewing and conducting experimental sessions in behavioral research.

• Strong ver