Research Assistant I (General Psychiatry)

Discover Vanderbilt University Medical Center : Located in Nashville, Tennessee, and operating at a global crossroads of teaching, discovery, and patient care, VUMC is a community of individuals who come to work each day with the simple aim of changing the world. It is a place where your expertise will be valued, your knowledge expanded, and your abilities challenged. Vanderbilt Health is committed to an environment where everyone has the chance to thrive and where your uniqueness is sought and celebrated. It is a place where employees know they are part of something that is bigger than themselves, take exceptional pride in their work and never settle for what was good enough yesterday. Vanderbilt's mission is to advance health and wellness through preeminent programs in patient care, education, and research.

Organization:
Psychiatry Central Admin

Job Summary:
JOB SUMMARY
Clinically Oriented Research Assistant in the Vanderbilt Psychiatric Neuromodulation Lab
Full-time research assistant to join a laboratory within the Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital focused on the study of neuromodulation (i.e. brain stimulation) interventions for substance use and psychotic disorders. Under direct supervision, the research assistant will be responsible for recruiting research subjects into clinical research studies and assisting investigators in the collection and analysis of study data.


In particular, the research assistant will work alongside the principal investigator to conduct a randomized, controlled trial of a neuromodulation intervention (repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, rTMS) for nicotine dependence in people with schizophrenia and healthy individuals. This will require a desire to work directly with individuals who experience psychosis and nicotine dependence as well as excellent organizational and data management skills.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Recruiting research participants into research studies (independently or in conjunction with other clinical research staff)
• Assessing the participant's eligibility for research studies
• Discussing informed consent with research subjects
• Scheduling research study visits
• Conducting clinical interviews of psychiatric symptoms and substance use
• Administering cognitive tests
• Carrying out neuroimaging study protocols
• Administering rTMS with supervision
• Using PsychoPy, EPrime, and Matlab to collect and analyze data
• Checking and maintaining data quality

The research assistant will be an integral part of the study team, will regularly attend clinical meetings and will assist with recruitment in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Additional responsibilities include assisting with the management of Institutional Review Board approvals, database management, analysis of behavioral and brain imaging data, and assisting with manuscript preparation.

The ideal candidate should be highly motivated and capable of working independently. Individuals interested in mental health, interventional psychiatry, neuromodulation, psychosis, addiction, and clinical trials are especially encouraged to apply. The position requires a high level of interpersonal skills, organization, attention to detail, and problem-solving abilities. It is ideal for individuals interested in pursuing an MD or PhD in neuroscience, psychology, or a related field.

Minimum qualifications include a bachelor's degree in biology, chemistry, neuroscience, psychology, or a related field. Experience in clinical research is highly desirable. Training in administration of rTMS, clinical interviewing, cognitive testing, and neuroimaging data analysis will be provided.

TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES

Our Academic Enterprise is one of the nation's longest serving and most prestigious academic medical centers. Through its historic bond with Vanderbilt University and integral role in the School of Medicine, Vanderbilt Health cultivates distinguished research and educational programs to advance a clinical enterprise that provides compassionate and personalized care and support for millions of patients and family members each year.


World-leading academic departments and comprehensive centers of excellence pursue scientific discoveries and transformational educational and clinical advances across the entire spectrum of health and disease.


Aligning with Vanderbilt Health's Strategic Directions, the Office of Research provides shared research resources, administrative expertise and professional guidance to enable the trans-disciplinary environment and highly collaborative culture that advances discovery and training for all the research faculty, trainees, students and staff.


Core Accountabilities:

Organizational Impact: Delivers job responsibilities that impact own job area/team with some guidance. Problem Solving/ Complexity of work: Uses existing procedures, research and analysis to solve standard job related problems that may require some judgement. Breadth of Knowledge: Requires subject matter knowledge within a professional area to meet job requirements. Team Interaction: Individually contributes to project/ work teams.

Core Capabilities :

Supporting Colleagues: - Develops Self and Others: Continuously improves own skills by identifying development opportunities.- Builds and Maintains Relationships: Seeks to understand colleagues priorities, working styles and develops relationships across areas. - Communicates Effectively: Openly shares information with others and communicates in a clear and courteous manner. Delivering Excellent Services: - Serves Others with Compassion: Invests time to understand the problems, needs of others and how to provide excellent service. - Solves Complex Problems: Seeks to understand issues, solves routine problems, and raises proper concerns to supervisors in a timely manner. - Offers Meaningful Advice and Support: Listens carefully to understand the issues and provides accurate information and support. Ensuring High Quality: - Performs Excellent Work: Checks work quality before delivery and asks relevant questions to meet quality standards.- Ensures Continuous Improvement: Shows eagerness to learn new knowledge, technologies, tools or systems and displays willingness to go above and beyond. - Fulfills Safety and Regulatory Requirements: Demonstrates basic knowledge of conditions that affect safety and reports unsafe conditions to the appropriate person or department. Managing Resources Effectively :- Demonstrates Accountability: Takes responsibility for completing assigned activities and thinks beyond standard approaches to provide high-quality work/service. - Stewards Organizational Resources: Displays understanding of how personal actions will impact departmental resources. - Makes Data Driven Decisions: Uses accurate information and good decision making to consistently achieve results on time and without error. Fostering Innovation: - Generates New Ideas: Willingly proposes/accepts ideas or initiatives that will impact day-to-day operations by offering suggestions to enhance them.- Applies Technology: Absorbs new technology quickly; understands when to utilize the appropriate tools and procedures to ensure proper course of action. - Adapts to Change: Embraces changes by keeping an open mind to changing plans and incorporates change instructions into own area of work.

Position Qualifications:

Responsibilities:

Certifications :

Work Experience :
Relevant Work Experience

Experience Level :
Less than 1 year

Education :
Bachelor's

This role offers the opportunity to make a meaningful impact within Vanderbilt Health, supported by a comprehensive benefits package which may include health, disability, retirement and/or wellness offerings to enhance your well-being and professional growth.

Vanderbilt Health is committed to fostering an environment where everyone has the chance to thrive and is committed to the principles of equal opportunity. EOE/Vets/Disabled.