Assistant Researcher
- Employer
- The University of Kansas
- Location
- University of Kansas Lawrence Campus
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- Administrative Jobs
- Academic Affairs, Research Staff & Technicians
- Employment Type
- Full Time
- Institution Type
- Four-Year Institution
Job Details
The Assistant Researcher will assist the PI in upholding high ethical standards, regulatory compliance, and confidentiality of sensitive data and open-science reporting practices. The Assistant Researcher will work on treatment-centered studies that are housed in the COPE (Center for Overcoming Problem Eating) branch of CARE, with a focus on BEST-U, an NIH-funded clinical trial testing a mobile a mobile app based guided self-help Cognitive Behavioral Therapy intervention for college students with binge-spectrum eating disorder. The Assistant Researcher will also work on a treatment trial aimed at testing the preliminary efficacy, feasibility, and acceptability of the Biobehavioral Rhythm Intervention for Targeting binge Eating and Restriction (BRITER). BRITER is a highly novel 10-week mobile health treatment for binge eating that directly targets the regulation of circadian and daily appetitive rhythms by integrating sleep medicine and circadian rhythm regulation techniques into eating disorder treatment.
- STAR: An NIH-funded clinical trial designed to develop a mobile health app that uses machine learning to predict likelihood of relapse in adolescents who are recovering from anorexia nervosa.
- Military Mental Health Study: Department of Defense-funded research that is designed to test a new screening tool for eating disorders and related mental health conditions in a nationally representative sample of active-duty military members.
- EPSI ChAT: A study designed to test and validate a self-report questionnaire assessing eating and feeding disorders in youth and adolescents.
- The research assistant would have the opportunity to conduct independent research utilizing existing datasets, including (but not limited to) a longitudinal dataset of over 30,000 patients with eating disorders in collaboration with Recovery Record, Inc. and a five-wave longitudinal study of over 350 community-recruited adults with eating disorders.
This position will be fully on-site in Lawrence, Kansas. Lawrence is a vibrant community that offers numerous sporting, cultural, shopping, and educational opportunities. We are also located 25 to 45 minutes from metropolitan Kansas City, with a wide range of professional sports, arts, music, food, cultural, and shopping options.
Job Description50% Supervision, Project Management, and Administrative Support:
- Train undergraduate students on data entry, lab policies, and procedures; provide oversight of undergraduate and paid research assistants to ensure timely completion of tasks and training on research tasks
- Develop laboratory schedules for undergraduate students
- Interview potential undergraduate research assistants
- Coordinate team meetings and agendas, take notes, and follow-up on team member task completion
- Develop and maintain IRB protocols, submit IRB amendments, and create reports of new information when applicable
- Assist with preparation of grants, progress reports, and publications
- Ensure team deadlines are met and keep track of project metrics using Asana and REDCap
- Run weekly and monthly reports to update PI and team regarding recruitment and enrollment targets
- Assist with the preparation of reports for the data safety monitoring board, yearly progress reports, and recruitment milestones for funding organization
- Perform simple statistical analyses as needed using SPSS and R
- Oversee recruitment and enrollment flow through our protocols using REDCap
- Coordinating data entry with team of undergraduate research assistants
- Ensure data are saved and kept secure
- Conduct semi-structured clinical interviews to generate mental health diagnoses; conduct semi-structured qualitative interviews to gather feedback from stakeholders
- Administer tests of neurocognition and self-report measures of psychopathology
- Screen participants for inclusion/exclusion criteria using diagnostic measures
- Participate in consensus meetings and present cases to the team
Wakarusa Research Facility; 785-864-8826 and
Dole Human Development Center; 785-864-8830
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in psychology, public health, epidemiology, educational psychology, social work, counseling, or related field by the start date.
- Experience as a research assistant or technician in a research laboratory as evidenced by application materials.
- Master's degree in psychology, public health, epidemiology, educational psychology, social work, counseling, or related field.
- Coursework or prior training in clinical psychology or behavioral health research setting.
- Experience in laboratory management or administration as demonstrated in application materials.
- Experience recruiting, screening, and testing participants in research studies, as demonstrated in application materials.
- Proficient computer knowledge to interface with a variety of database, statistical, and imaging task and processing software, such as SPSS, SAS, R, Qualtrics, REDCap, and Linux, as demonstrated in application materials.
- Demonstrated experience working to a deadline, as evidenced in application materials.
- Demonstrated experience with flexibility and change in a fast-paced environment, as well as working successfully both independently and with a team as evidenced in application materials.
- Demonstrated experience working with a range of cultures, communities, and body sizes, including people with eating disorders, obesity, and related mental-health conditions as evidenced in application materials.
- Resume/CV
- Cover letter explaining how you meet the required qualifications
- Three references from academic mentors
Application review begins Wednesday, February 19, 2025, and will continue until a qualified pool of applicants are identified.
Contact Information to ApplicantsWulfe Wulfemeyer; wulfe@ku.eduAdvertised Salary Range$37,000 - $42,000Work ScheduleM-F; 9-5Application Review BeginsWednesday February 19, 2025Anticipated Start DateTuesday April 1, 2025Apply to Job
Organization
Working at the University of Kansas
Join the University of Kansas, and you’ll become part of a Jayhawk family that spans the globe. Wear your KU shirt in London, Istanbul, Buenos Aires, Nairobi or anywhere else, and you will likely hear a resounding “Rock Chalk!” from a stranger. Of course, the appropriate response is an enthusiastic “Jayhawk!” Because, after all, they’re not really strangers, they’re family.
The Jayhawk community is united by more than 150 years of tradition and by our commitment to pushing the boundaries of knowledge, transforming the academic experience, and creating solutions through innovative research. KU’s mission is to lift students and society by educating leaders, building healthy communities and making discoveries that change the world.
The University of Kansas is the state’s flagship university and one of just 66 invited members of the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU). We consistently earn high rankings for academics and recognition as a premier research university.
KU faculty and staff embrace our role as the state’s flagship university, AAU member and R1 institution that serves the state, nation and world. We celebrate the energy and compassion that infuse the Jayhawk spirit; and, we remain true to KU’s historic values: the elevating force of education, the transformative power of research and the healing power of service.
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The University of Kansas is committed to a learning and workplace environment that is representative of our nation and global society, accepts and values everyone, appreciates our common humanity and understands that our multiple differences are the cornerstone of academic preparation, professional excellence and distinction. KU must be a place where all people feel they belong and have access to resources and support that help them attain their educational and professional goals.
We recognize there are inequalities and privileges generated by historical and persistent intersecting differences by race, ethnicity, gender identities, gender expressions, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, age, abilities, religion, regional background, veteran status, citizenship status and nationality. And we hold ourselves accountable for policies, processes and programs that appreciate these and other differences and create more fair, safe and just learning, working and living environments for KU students, faculty and staff.
Instruction
KU offers a broad array of undergraduate and graduate study programs, and we fulfill our mission through academic and research programs of international distinction, coupled with outstanding libraries, teaching museums and information technology. These resources enrich the academic experience for students from all 50 states and 112 countries, and provide enrichment resources for KU faculty and staff.
Research
The university attains high levels of research productivity and recognizes that faculty are part of a network of scholars and academicians that shape a discipline as well as teach it. KU staff are integral to our research success, participating in and supporting discoveries that expand knowledge and improve lives.
Service
The university and our employees serve society through research, teaching and the preservation and dissemination of knowledge. KU's academic programs, arts facilities and public programs provide cultural enrichment opportunities for the larger community. And, KU offers educational, research and service programs throughout the state. KU employees are encouraged to participate in and serve the campus and surrounding communities in a way that is meaningful to them.
International Dimension
KU offers more than 100 programs of international study and cooperative research for KU students and faculty at sites around the world. The university offers teaching and research that draw upon and contribute to the most advanced developments throughout the United States and abroad. At the same time, KU's extensive international ties support economic development in Kansas.
Values
The University of Kansas, our students and employees are committed to excellence. We foster a multicultural, inclusive environment in which the dignity and rights of individuals are respected. Intellectual diversity, integrity and disciplined inquiry in the search for knowledge are of paramount importance.
Our City and State
KU sits atop Mt. Oread in the center of Lawrence, a town full of natural beauty and culture. In fact, Rolling Stone magazine named Lawrence one of the best college towns in the United States. Lawrence is home to more than 100,000 people, and has a charming, Midwestern friendliness that welcomes visitors and celebrates diversity. In addition to KU, Lawrence is home to Haskell Indian Nations University, the premiere tribal university in the United States.
Lawrence’s historic and thriving downtown features restaurants, nightlife and local shops offering unique finds that you won’t find anywhere else. The town has more than 50 parks, an encompassing mixed-use trail, and quick access to biking/hiking trails along the Kansas River and around Clinton Lake. A five-minute drive from Lawrence, Clinton Lake offers fishing, boating, beaches, camping and other outdoor activities.
Located just 40 minutes west of Kansas City, Lawrence offers the appeal of a mid-size, suburban town with quick access to the amenities of a large city, including an international airport. The Kansas City metro area is home to world-class museums and cultural activities, Jazz clubs and other nightlife venues, expansive shopping options, and exciting professional sports with the Kansas City Chiefs, Kansas City Royals and Sporting KC.
Kansas is in the center of the country, making it convenient and cost effective to fly or drive to destinations throughout the United States. Far from flat, the Flint Hills, just 90 minutes from Lawrence, offer panoramic vistas that showcase the breathtaking beauty of America.
Making KU Your Home
Something about Lawrence is magnetic. Long-time residents are never surprised when a KU student or employee from out of state decides to make Lawrence their permanent home. And, even those who do leave often find themselves returning to “the nest” at some point in the future. In fact, Lawrence has been named by several publications as one of the best places to retire.
At the University of Kansas, you’ll join a global Jayhawk family and find a place to call home.
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