Job Description

The Department of Psychology is one of the largest departments within the College of Liberal Arts, and is a highly ranked department nationally. Currently, the department has 50 core faculty, 70+ staff, 130 graduate students, and it supports the largest number of undergraduate majors of any academic program on the UMN Twin Cities campus. Additionally, the department has $50 million or more in active research funding at any given time (the majority from NIH), spread across 70 or more projects. In its 100 plus year history, the Department of Psychology has been marked by distinction and excellence. For additional information, please go to our website:  psych.umn.edu . 

The  Brain and Behavioral Processes Laboratory in the Department of Psychology at the University of Minnesota seeks to identify neural and neurochemical substrates of behaviors such as reward sensitivity, executive functions, learning and memory in adolescents, young adults, and older adults. We are particularly interested in how these functions develop over the life course and how they are impacted by the use of substances such as alcohol and cannabis. Study participants include individuals with and without clinical conditions. They are involved in a variety of assessments including: interview-based assessments of psychopathology, assessments of neuropsychological function, assessments of personality and motivation, MRI-based measures of neural structure and function, and the collection of biological samples to quantify substance exposure.

NeuroHealth Research Assistants are appointed and supervised by the laboratory director. This position is 100%-time and classified as a civil-service appointment. It is contingent upon the availability of funds and/or work for the position. The appointment will provide health, dental, vacation and sick-time benefits plus is covered by Social Security and Minnesota State Retirement System. The position requires a background check and applicant must verify authorization to work in the United States. The appointment is renewable with acceptable performance.

Job Duties/Responsibilities: 

• Collect and store Neuro-Health data (70%) 
  • Collect MRI data by serving as the primary tech (completed all required certifications). Primary tech role requires detailed knowledge of Sieman software interface to adjust Prisma 3T magnet to safely collect both structural and functional MRI data
  • Collect a variety of biospecimens â“ including: blood, breath, and urine samples using lancets, phlebotomy needles, vacutainer tubes, plus various collection kits
  • Conduct paper/pencil and computerized cognitive assessments
  • Accurately store collected data across various networks and servers
• Process Neuro-Health data (15%)
  • Retrieve data across various networks and servers
  • Screen and review MRI, biospecimen and cognitive data for quality assessment and refer cases requiring radiological or quality control follow ups
  • Remove artifacts from and standardize MRI recordings using MRI processing tools such as Freesurfer and FSL
  • Process blood, breath and urine samples according to standardized instructions and deliver specimens to other locations on campus
  • Parameterize data in preparation for data analysis
• Participate in the recruitment and interviewing of research participants (15%)
  • Assist the coordinator in scheduling adult participants for on-site visits and monthly phone interviews; remind participants of their upcoming appointments
  • Assist the coordinator in conducting participant interviews and self-report surveys
  • Understand and follow study emergency procedures
  • Obtain informed consent; Describe study goals, assessment tasks, confidentiality limitations and potential risks, and study procedures to participants; answer participant questions
  • Attendance at weekly staff meetings will be required seeks to identify neural and neurochemical substrates of behaviors such as reward sensitivity, executive functions, learning and memory in adolescents, young adults, and older adults.
    Budgeted pay range for this position:
    42,016 annually (20.20/hr) to 45,988.80 annually (22.11/hr)

Required Qualifications: 

• Bachelor's degree in psychology or neuroscience, or an equivalent combination of psychology related education and/or research experience to equal at least 4 years
• Must be comfortable drawing blood and other biospecimens from adults between the ages of 35 and 65
• Must have strong oral communication skills and be able to interact effectively with research participants in the context of collecting safety information and study data
• Must be able to work evenings and weekends with the ability to accommodate a flexible work schedule
• Must be able to work onsite at Elliott Hall, the Center for Magnetic Resonance Research (CMRR), and the Department of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology
• Prior research experience interviewing research participants, conducting interviews, and/or administering neuropsychological testing

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Previous experience collecting MRI, and/or biospecimens is strongly preferred; training will be provided
• Good attention to detail
• Prior experience with Freesurfer, FSL, BASH scripting
• Knowledge of neuroanatomy
• Prior experience with data management/statistical software such as R, Matlab, SPSS
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion

About University of Minnesota Twin Cities

The University of Minnesota, founded in the belief that all people are enriched by understanding, is dedicated to the advancement of learning and the search for truth; to the sharing of this knowledge through education for a diverse community; and to the application of this knowledge to benefit the people of the state, the nation, and the world.

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