HBCD Research Assistant

About the Job

HBCD Research Assistant Position Description

Title:

HBCD Research Assistant

Job code: 8351SM

Employee Group:
Civil Service

Full/Part Time (FTE): 100%

Regular/Temporary:
Regular

About the Job:

The Minnesota Center for Twin and Family Research (MCTFR) seeks to hire one HBCD Research Assistant (8351SM: Research Professional
1) responsible for executing all tasks associated with the HBCD (Healthy Brain & Child Development) Study protocol (heal.nih.gov/research/infants-and-children/healthy-brain). The HBCD Study is recruiting people during pregnancy and following their infants through the first five years of their lives. HBCD Study protocol tasks include recruitment and retention, scheduling study assessments, and conducting parent interview/questionnaire assessments designed to assess eligibility criteria, substance use, psychopathology, medical health, and psychosocial functioning;

parent interview/questionnaire, neurocognitive, and observational assessments designed to assess infant/child development, temperament, and psychopathology; parent interview/questionnaire and parent/infant/child biospecimens (e.g., blood, saliva, nails, urine) designed to assess medical health and environmental exposures; and collecting infant/child MRI and EEG data. In addition to these responsibilities, the HBCD Research Assistant will review data to assure quality, will provide the HBCD Site Coordinator with regular reports, and will transfer data to the HBCD Data Informatics Center.

The HBCD Research Assistant will work closely with HBCD parent/infant/child participants assessing infant/child development and complex psychological traits so required qualifications include: a bachelor's degree in Psychology, Human Development, Cognitive or Affective Neuroscience, or a related field; a flexible work schedule (including evenings and weekends, with an expected 3 nights per week conducting MRI assessments); and the ability to work onsite at the Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain (MIDB), Center for Magnetic Resonance Research (CMRR), Institute of Child Development, and Elliott Hall.

Preferred qualifications include: HBCD or MCTFR research experience; experience working with infants and/or young children in a research context; prior research experience; excellent attention to detail, organizational, interpersonal, communication, and problem-solving skills.

Applications with cover letters addressing an individual's match to the qualifications will be prioritized.

Primary Responsibilities:

● Assesses research participants - 30%

o Through familiarity with the entire HBCD Study protocol, the HBCD Research Assistant conducts study assessments with parent and infants/children, at MIDB/CMRR, participant homes, or elsewhere;

o Completes in-person, phone, and remote video conference assessments;

o Conducts interviews and questionnaires in-person, via phone, and via remote video conference;

o Conducts neurocognitive assessments;

o Understands emergency procedures and responds to clinical alerts.

● Assists with collecting neurohealth data from research participants - 30%

o The HBCD Research Assistant collects neurohealth data from parents and infants/children;

o Collects biospecimens (blood, saliva, nails, urine, other possible biospecimens; assists in collection of blood draws) as required by HBCD protocol;

o Assists with collecting MRI data with infants/children, including acting as second-chair at MIDB/CMRR during MRI protocol alongside a trained scanner operator;

o Helps infants fall asleep for their MRI scan, remains with infant during the scan

o Assists with collecting EEG data with infants/children;

o Executes E-Prime tasks;

● Acts as a research representative of the HBCD Study - 25%

o HBCD Research Assistant contacts study participants; describes study goals, assessment tasks, confidentiality limitations and potential risks; plus schedules assessment appointments;

o Greets study participants;

o Describes study procedures thoroughly;

o Obtains informed consent;

o Answers participant questions and conducts a family de-briefing at the end of the visit;

o Maintains required recruitment and assessment documentation;

● Schedules…