Senior Research Assistant - Full-time, Term

Please note: This is a full-time, term position.

The Research Assistant II is part of the Brain Development Laboratory in Psychology and Human Development Department at Vanderbilt University and is responsible for conducting research. This position will be supported by a grant that aims to investigate the neural basis language in children. We are broadly interested in how the brain changes over development and in individual differences (including disability) in cortical organization (https://lab.vanderbilt.edu/boothlab/). This position involves leading various aspects of the project including participant recruitment and outreach, administering cognitive testing, collecting neuroimaging data, data management and analysis, supervising undergraduate assistants, various administrative duties and assisting with reports. The position reports to the Laboratory Director.

 

NOTE: A Term position is a staff position that exists for a period longer than six months but is not expected to last beyond one year. Although a position may exist for a specified or indefinite period, staff who accept term positions are not guaranteed employment for the entire period; they are employed for indefinite periods within the limit of the appointment. There are no guarantees of continued employment, either within the term or when the term ends.

 

About the Work Unit

The Department of Psychology and Human Development at Vanderbilt University is a group of scholars who work to increase understanding of basic psychological functioning and neuropsychological development in various contexts. The department offers a doctoral degree in Psychological Sciences jointly with the Department of Psychology in the College of Arts and Science, with concentrations in clinical science, cognition in context, cognitive neuroscience, developmental science, neuroscience, and quantitative methods. The department also offers master’s degrees in cognitive psychology in context, child studies and quantitative methods as well as undergraduate majors in child development, language science and cognitive studies. The department maintains strong collaborative ties with various units on campus including Advanced Computing Center for Research and Education, Bill Wilkerson Center, Brain Institute, Institute of Imaging Science, and Kennedy Center, as well as Department of Hearing and Speech, Department of Special Education and the Department of Teaching and Learning.

 

Duties and Responsibilities

• PARTICIPANT SCHEDULING AND COORDINATION: Leading the publicizing of the study, scheduling and consenting participants, attending various events in the community to advertise our work.
• ADMINISTERING COGNITIVE TESTING: Leading the conduct of experiments as well as standardized ability and achievement testing. Requires use of protocols for psychoeducational measures, use of specialized computer software to collect behavioral data and use of mock MRI to familiarize participants.
• COLLECTING NEUROIMAGING DATA: Leading the coordination of participants in neuroimaging experiments and collecting Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) data at imaging center.
• DATA MANAGEMENT AND ANALYSIS: Learning data scoring and entry, data management, basic analysis and data quality checks.
• SUPERVISING UNDERGRADUATE ASSISTANTS: Leading hiring and evaluating temporary employees, training and coordinating assistants that aid in various lab duties, such as recruitment and data collection.
• VARIOUS ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES: Leading the maintenance of information technology and social media, purchasing, bookkeeping, coordinating visitors, facilitating and attending meetings.
• ASSISTING WITH REPORTS: Leading the management of Institutional Review Board and helping with periodic review reports for granting agencies. Depending on experience, participating in writing research articles.

 

Supervisory Relationships

This position has supervisory responsibility managing undergraduate assistants. This position reports administratively and functionally to the Laboratory Director.

 

Qualifications

• A Bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders, Linguistics, Neuroscience, Psychology, Special Education or a related field from an accredited institution of higher education is necessary.
• A Master’s degree or higher in Communication Sciences and Disorders, Linguistics, Neuroscience, Psychology, Special Education or a related field from an accredited institution of higher education is preferred.
• Experience in recruiting participants into studi