Research Assistant

Site: The McLean Hospital Corporation

Mass General Brigham relies on a wide range of professionals, including doctors, nurses, business people, tech experts, researchers, and systems analysts to advance our mission. As a not-for-profit, we support patient care, research, teaching, and community service, striving to provide exceptional care. We believe that high-performing teams drive groundbreaking medical discoveries and invite all applicants to join us and experience what it means to be part of Mass General Brigham.

Job Summary

Working under the supervision of a Senior Research Assistant, Manager or Principal Investigator and following established policies and procedures, provides assistance on clinical research studies.

Supervisor available to handle unusual situations and regularly reviews progress of work.

Does this position require Patient Care?

No

Essential Functions

• Collects and organizes patient data.
• Maintains records and databases.
• Uses software programs to generate graphs and reports.
• Recruiting patients for clinical trials, conducts phone interviews and schedules patients for visits.
• Obtains patient study data from medical records, physicians, etc.
• Conducts library searches.
• Performs administrative support duties as required.
• Verifies accuracy of study forms.
• Updates study forms per protocol.
• Prepares data for analysis and data entry.
• Assists with formal audits of data.
• Documents patient visits and procedures.
• Assists with regulatory binders and QA/QC procedures.
• Assists with interviewing study subjects.
• Administers and scores questionnaires.
• Provides basic explanation of study and in some cases obtains informed consent from subjects.
• Performs study procedures such as phlebotomy.
• Assists with study regulatory submissions.
• Writes consent forms.
• Verifies subject inclusion/exclusion criteria.

Qualifications

Education

Bachelor's Degree required

Can this role accept experience in lieu of a degree?

No

Licenses and Credentials

Experience

Related experience 0-1 year

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Careful attention to details.
• Good organizational skills.
• Ability to follow directions.
• Good interpersonal and communication skills.
• All employees must possess basic computer skills to use a variety of electronic or online systems for communication, clinical and administrative purposes.
• Working knowledge of clinical research protocols.
• Ability to demonstrate respect and professionalism for subjects' rights and individual needs.
• Works independently under close supervision.

Additional Job Details (if applicable)

Research Assistant - PTSD, EEG, and Clinical Research

Two Positions Available

McLean Hospital is a comprehensive psychiatric hospital committed to providing easy access to superior quality, cost-effective mental health services in the Boston area, Massachusetts, and beyond. Since 1811, McLean Hospital has been a world leader in the treatment of mental illness, research into the causes of mental illness, and the training of generations of mental health care providers.

All McLean team members are expected to consistently demonstrate our values of integrity, compassion, respect, diversity, teamwork, excellence, and innovation in their work activities and interactions.

There are many opportunities for education and professional growth within our multidisciplinary and collaborative research environment at McLean Hospital, which brings together clinicians, psychologists, neuroscientists, engineers, and statisticians.

Job Description

We are seeking two highly motivated Research Assistants to join an NIH-funded research program at McLean Hospital focused on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), treatment response, and multimodal biomarkers.

The Research Assistants will work on the TREAT study (Trauma Recovery via EEG and Actigraphy Tracking), a randomized clinical study investigating treatment response in individuals with PTSD.

The study combines longitudinal clinical assessments of PTSD and depression with EEG and wearable actigraphy to characterize changes during treatment and identify biomarkers associated with treatment response.

Research Assistants will have substantial direct interaction with study participants and will be involved in both clinical research assessments and neurophysiological data collection. Training and supervision will be provided for clinical assessments, EEG acquisition, actigraphy, and all study-specific procedures.

Preferred Education and Experience

Bachelor's or Master's degree in psychology, neuroscience, cognitive science, biology, or a related field.

A background in psychology, clinical research, or mental health research is strongly preferred given the clinical assessment responsibilities of the position.

Prior research or clinical experience is preferred.

Experience in one or more of the following areas is desirable:

• Human-subject research
• Clinical or psychiatric research
• PTSD, trauma, or depression research
• Structured or clinician-administered psychiatric assessments
• EEG or electrophysiology
• Wearable sensors or actigraphy
• Participant recruitment and coordination
• Research databases and data management
• MATLAB, Python, R, or related analytical tools

Prior experience with specific PTSD or depression assessment instruments or with EEG is not required. Appropriate training and supervision will be provided at the beginning of the position and throughout the study.

Professional Development

This position is particularly well suited for individuals interested in gaining intensive clinical research experience before pursuing PhD, PsyD, MD, or other advanced training in clinical psychology, neuroscience, psychiatry, or related fields.

Research Assistants will receive experience in clinical assessment, psychiatric research, EEG and wearable technologies, and longitudinal clinical trials. They will also have opportunities to participate in scientific projects, contribute to abstracts and manuscripts, attend research meetings and seminars, and receive mentorship in developing their research careers.

Working Conditions

Work will be performed in a fast-paced clinical research environment at McLean Hospital. The position involves substantial direct interaction with research participants with PTSD and requires professionalism, reliability, careful attention to study protocols, teamwork, and flexibility.

Some scheduling flexibility may be required to accommodate participant study visits.

Application

Two Research Assistant positions are available.

Interested applicants should submit the following materials:

• A cover letter limited to one page, including one paragraph describing why this position and the TREAT study are a good fit for their future career goals
• Curriculum vitae or resume
• Contact information for three professional references

Remote Type

Onsite

Work Location

115 Mill Street

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

Employee Type

Regular

Work Shift

Day (United States of America)

Pay Range

$21.53 - $29.08/Hourly

Grade

MRA500

At Mass General Brigham, we believe in recognizing and rewarding the unique value each team member brings to our organization. Our approach to determining base pay is comprehensive, and any offer extended will take into account your skills, relevant experience if applicable, education, certifications and other essential factors. The base pay information provided offers an estimate based on the minimum job qualifications; however, it does not encompass all elements contributing to your total compensation package. In addition to competitive base pay, we offer comprehensive benefits, career advancement opportunities, differentials, premiums and bonuses as applicable and recognition programs designed to celebrate your contributions and support your professional growth. We invite you to apply, and our Talent Acquisition team will provide an overview of your potential compensation and benefits package.

EEO Statement:

1600 The McLean Hospital Corporation is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religious creed, national origin, sex, age, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation, military service, genetic information, and/or other status protected under law. We will ensure that all individuals with a disability are provided a reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. To ensure reasonable accommodation for individuals protected by Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Vietnam Veteran's Readjustment Act of 1974, and Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, applicants who require accommodation in the job application process may contact Human Resources at (857)-282-7642.

Mass General Brigham Competency Framework

At Mass General Brigham, our competency framework defines what effective leadership "looks like" by specifying which behaviors are most critical for successful performance at each job level. The framework is comprised of ten competencies (half People-Focused, half Performance-Focused) and are defined by observable and measurable skills and behaviors that contribute to workplace effectiveness and career success. These competencies are used to evaluate performance, make hiring decisions, identify development needs, mobilize employees across our system, and establish a strong talent pipeline.