Research Study Assistant

Department: MED-Psych & Behavioral Science

Salary/Grade: NEX/9

Job Summary:

Assists in tasks and procedures involved in launch of a new academic neurotechnology lab focused on targeting brain stimulation technologies using functional neuroimaging for therapeutics in mental health. Tasks include recruiting participants for research studies, administering transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) treatments in clinical trials, administering behavioral phenotyping to participants with intracranial implants, processing neuroimaging data using computational pipelines on high-performance computing infrastructure, and maintaining regulatory compliance.

Completes all activities by strictly following Good Clinical Practices (GCP) & all relevant current local, state, & federal laws, regulations, guidance, policy & procedure developed by the NU Institutional Review Board (IRB), Food & Drug Administration (FDA) Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), & the International Conference on Harmonization (ICH).

Specific Responsibilities:

Technical

• Recruits study participants.
• Reviews & obtains informed consent.
• Schedules study visits with participants.
• Administers behavioral tasks and questionnaires.
• Delivers transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) treatments.
• Processes functional neuroimaging data using computational neuroimaging pipelines

Administration

• Maintains detailed records of results which may include collecting, extracting & entering data; &/or preparing basic charts & graphs.
• Performs scientific literature searches in support of research.
• Completes portions of grant applications &/or documents associated with current local, state, & federal regulatory guidelines, requirements, laws & research protocols. 20

Finance

• May process reimbursements for travel expenses.
• Monitors & distribute petty cash.
• Processes invoices &/or purchase requisitions.
• Coordinates fund distribution among multiple sponsors and clinical sites.

Supervision

• May train other research staff to interview/test participants.

Miscellaneous

Perform other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications: (Education, experience, and any other certifications or clearances)

• Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelors or higher degree in a major such as neuroscience, psychology, biomedical sciences, computer science, or related field; OR appropriate combination of education and experience.
• Must complete NUs IRB CITI training before interacting with any participants & must re-certify every 3 years.

Minimum Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities.)

• Strong interpersonal skills, comfortable interacting with patients with neuropsychiatric disorders
• Knowledge of fundamental principles of neuroscience and/or psychology
• Excellent organizational skills
• Proficiency in data analysis

Preferred Qualifications: (Education and experience)

• Prior experience with administering transcranial magnetic stimulation or other clinical therapeutic technologies
• Prior experience with computational neuroimaging, particularly resting-state functional MRI analysis
• Prior experience in clinical trial documentation and regulation

Preferred Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities)

• Proficiency in principles of clinical research
• Delivery of neuronavigated TMS treatments
• Data analysis in MATLAB and/or Python

Target hiring range for this position will be between $18.67 - 20.69 per hour. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.

Benefits:

At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful and competitive benefits. The available benefits package for this position will include health, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance; paid vacation and holidays; paid medical/sick and parental leave; tuition benefits for the employee and dependents; pre-tax and flex spending accounts for commuting and dependent care; generous retirement savings options; and wellness programs. For a comprehensive overview of available benefits, including eligibility details, visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness:

Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life's challenges and opportunities and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.

We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html to learn more.

Professional Growth & Development:

Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you're interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics, including disability and veteran status. View Northwestern's non-discrimination statement. Job applicants who wish to request an accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance. View additional information on the accommodations process.

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