Alzheimer Staff Research Associate - Hybrid - 135418

UCSD Department of Psychiatry is one of the most innovative and productive academic departments in the country, offering challenging career opportunities in the diverse areas of advanced educational programs, cutting-edge research, and state-of-the-art clinical services. The department is committed to offering a dynamic learning environment and growing opportunities to its talented and dedicated employees.

Under supervision, the incumbent will work as a Staff Research Associate 1 assisting the MPIs with multiple studies on Alzheimer's disease using neuroimaging, neuropsychological assessment, and structured interviews within the Department of Psychiatry. The incumbent will spend entire sessions with research participants (older adults). Primary responsibilities include acquiring and processing of MRI data as well as administering and scoring of comprehensive neuropsychological test batteries; database management; coordinating and training undergraduate volunteer research assistants in data entry, neuropsychological test scoring, and other lab tasks; developing and amending study protocol documents; and assistance with data analysis. The incumbent will also provide research administrative assistance as well as perform computer and office duties such as preparing, organizing, and maintaining project testing materials and grant submissions and manuscript preparation respectively. Duties also include obtaining informed consent/HIPAA; collecting, scoring, and uploading study data; and scheduling study participant appointments. General lab assistance duties including maintaining equipment and supplies and preparing data collection packets. Assist with other project and miscellaneous duties as required.

• Theoretical knowledge in Psychology or related field.

• Demonstrated proficiency in neuropsychological test administration and scoring.

• Demonstrated experience administering detailed structured interviews including socioeconomic status, academic achievement, medical history, and current/past substance use information.

• Previous experience in a research setting involving older adults.

• Excellent interpersonal skills to effectively work as a team with other staff members and faculty, and to recruit, test, and motivate research subjects.

• Strong computing skills using Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and database software (SPSS).

• Experience with Linux in order to process neuroimaging data.

• Strong communication skills (both verbal and written) needed to interact professionally and effectively in the work environment, including ability to conduct psychosocial interventions and assessment of research participants.

• Effective and diplomatic oral and written communication and interpersonal skills and ability to develop collaborations and professional relationships between research staff and community agencies serving older adults.

• Ability to use tact, diplomacy, and confidentiality in relation to research subjects (e.g., maintain HIPAA privacy and rights of human research subjects).

• Demonstrated ability to pay attention to details, keep accurate records, file, update computerized administrative files, and conduct computerized library searches.

• Proven ability to provide research administrative assistance to Investigators as needed and participate in weekly administrative and scientific meetings

• Demonstrated experience scoring cognitive tests accurately and reliably, scoring medical and lifestyle questionnaires, and recording scores from the assessment session in a timely fashion.

• Proven ability to administer computer-based and paper-and-pencil standard neuropsychological assessments that measure basic intellectual aptitude, working/episodic memory, processing speed, visual-spatial ability, etc. in English.

• Ability to maintain participant tracking database and maintain all subject records.

• Demonstrated experience collecting MRI scans and processing MR imaging data.

• Working knowledge of MRI safety. Ability to maintain current MRI Safety Training and operation certification.

• Experience in screening participants for MRI contraindications and operating the MRI scanner, transfer MRI data from Center to server, and processing imaging data in Linux.

• Theoretical knowledge of statistics and data analysis.

• Working knowledge of blood draw sampling and plasma Alzheimer's disease biomarker phenotyping assessment.

• Leadership skills to assist the PI with undergraduate students volunteering in lab.

• Employment is subject to a criminal background check and pre-employment physical.

• Ability to safely work near a strong magnetic field.

• Must be willing to work overtime, weekends, and evenings as needed.