Research Assistant I

Company Description

By working at Harvard University, you join a vibrant community that advances Harvard's world-changing mission in meaningful ways, inspires innovation and collaboration, and builds skills and expertise. We are dedicated to creating a diverse and welcoming environment where everyone can thrive.

Why join the Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences?

The Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) is the historic heart of Harvard University. It is the home of Harvard's undergraduate program (Harvard College, founded in 1636) as well as all of Harvard's Ph.D. programs (the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, founded in 1872), Harvard Athletics and the Division of Continuing Education. The 40 academic departments and 30+ centers of the FAS support a community unparalleled in its academic excellence across the broadest range of liberal arts and sciences disciplines. Together, the FAS seeks to foster an environment of ambition, curiosity and shared commitment to knowledge and truth that elicits excellence from all members of our community and prepares the next generation of leaders through a transformative educational experience.

Job Description

Job Summary:

The Laboratory for Youth Mental Health (Principal Investigator: Professor John Weisz, Ph.D., ABPP) in the Department of Psychology at Harvard University seeks to hire a full-time Research Assistant (RA). The RA will primarily assist with a randomized clinical trial of a modular mental health intervention called FIRST, designed for treatment of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, and conduct problems in children and adolescents. Opportunities to play a role in additional ongoing projects--including the development and maintenance of a large-scale meta-analysis database of youth psychotherapy research, and the implementation of effectiveness trials of digital mental health interventions--may also be available.

Job-Specific Responsibilities:

Responsibilities may include participant recruitment and consenting, survey administration with participating youths and caregivers, preparation of documents for clinicians based on assessment results, data entry and management, responding to IRB and university administration requests, literature searches, assistance in preparation of grants and manuscripts, qualitative and quantitative coding (e.g., of academic articles for meta-analyses), and other research support activities.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications:

College background or equivalent experience in psychology or a related field, plus at least 1 year volunteer, part-time, or full-time experience working directly with children or adolescents.

Additional Qualifications and Skills:

Bachelor's or master's degree in psychology or a related field, plus at least 1 year volunteer, part-time, or full-time experience working directly with children or adolescents preferred. Strong academic qualifications, previous clinical psychology research experience, and an interest in applying for a graduate degree in psychology are all highly preferred. Strong technical skills, including expertise in Qualtrics, Excel, and statistical software (e.g., SPSS; R) are also preferred. Excellent interpersonal skills, communication, writing, and organizational skills, as well as meticulous attention to detail are required, to meet the needs of the research.

Additional Information

• Standard Hours/Schedule: 35 hours per week
• Visa Sponsorship Information: Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position
• Pre-Employment Screening: Identity
• Other Information:
  This is a grant-funded, one-year term position. Applicants should be able to commit to one year, with the option of additional years contingent on mutual consent and continued funding. The position is full-time and includes some evening and weekend work. More information about the research team and ongoing projects can be found at
  Interested applicants should submit a resume or CV, cover letter, and names and contact information for three (3) references. Additional application materials (e.g., letters of recommendation, GPAs, SAT/ACT scores) may be requested during the interview phase.
  All formal offers will be made by FAS Human Resources.

Work Format Details

This position has been determined by school or unit leaders that all duties and responsibilities must be performed at a Harvard or Harvard-designated location. Certain visa types may limit work location. Individuals must meet work location sponsorship requirements prior to employment.

Salary Grade and Ranges

This position is salary grade level 052. Please visit Harvard's Salary Ranges to view the corresponding salary range and related information.


Benefits

Harvard offers a comprehensive benefits package that is designed to support a healthy work-life balance and your physical, mental and financial wellbeing. Because here, you are what matters. Our benefits include, but are not limited to:

• Generous paid time off including parental leave
• Medical, dental, and vision health insurance coverage starting on day one
• Retirement plans with university contributions
• Wellbeing and mental health resources
• Support for families and caregivers
• Professional development opportunities including tuition assistance and reimbursement
• Commuter benefits, discounts and campus perks

Learn more about these and additional benefits on our Benefits & Wellbeing Page.


EEO/Non-Discrimination Commitment Statement

Harvard University is committed to equal opportunity and non-discrimination. We seek talent from all parts of society and the world, and we strive to ensure everyone at Harvard thrives. Our differences help our community advance Harvard's academic purposes.

Harvard has an equal employment opportunity policy that outlines our commitment to prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, religion, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or identified in the university's non-discrimination policy. Harvard's equal employment opportunity policy and non-discrimination policy help all community members participate fully in work and campus life free from harassment and discrimination.