Research Assistant V

Job Title

Research Assistant V

11

$46,021.52 – $50,000 per year

The Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, Inc. is currently seeking a qualified candidate to fill a full‑time position of Research Assistant (RA) in the Center for OCD and Related Disorders, a clinical research program directed by Dr. Blair Simpson whose mission is to advance the understanding of and treatments for OCD and related disorders (e.g., anxiety disorders). The Center is in the New York State Psychiatric Institute, affiliated with Columbia University Irving Medical Center.

This RA position will provide unique training experiences in patient‑oriented research for those considering, in the future, applying to either medical or graduate school in psychology or neuroscience. The anticipated start date is May or June 2026.

The RA will be responsible for helping to run clinical research studies under the supervision of Dr. Simpson and her team. The job will expose one to a wide range of patient‑oriented research, while also providing in‑depth experience with participants with OCD and anxiety disorders.

• Assisting with participant recruitment, screening for study eligibility and scheduling
• Administering neurocognitive tasks, accompanying participants to the MRI and/or PET unit, and helping with imaging procedures
• Managing data and IRB applications
• Preparing blood and biological samples and performing blood draws
• A two‑year commitment is requested due to the training involved

• BS or BA in Biology, Neuroscience, Psychology (with an emphasis on neuroscience), or another related field.
• Academic excellence (above 3.2) in relevant college classes.
• Living in or willingness to move to the tri‑state area.

• Six (6) months or more relevant job or volunteer experience (e.g., prior research experience).
• Deep curiosity about the brain mechanisms underlying human behavior; excellent organizational, interpersonal, and technology skills; thrives on a multi‑disciplinary team and in a fast‑paced environment creatively solving problems. Salary commensurate with experience.

1051 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10032

Submit an application through our website at . Please note only applications submitted through our website will be considered.

The Mission of the Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, Inc. (RFMH) is to promote the mental health of all New Yorkers, with a focus on providing hope and supporting recovery for adults with serious mental illness and children with serious emotional disturbances. Applicants with lived mental health experience are encouraged to apply. RFMH is deeply committed to supporting underserved individuals, organizations, and communities.

To this end, RFMH is focused on implementing activities and initiatives to reduce disparities in access, quality, and treatment outcomes for underserved populations. A critical component of these efforts is ensuring that RFMH is a diverse and inclusive workplace where all employees' unique attributes and skills are valued and utilized to support the mission of the Agency.

Excellent Benefits Package.

Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer - Disabled/Veteran, 41 CFR 60‑741.5(a) and 41 CFR 60‑300.5(a) compliant.

RFMH is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. The Research Foundation is a private not‑for‑profit corporation and is not an agency or instrumentality of the State of New York. Employees of the Research Foundation are not state employees, do not participate in any state retirement system, and do not receive state fringe benefits.