Study Coordinator

Department
 

SSD Psychology: Staff and Temporary Employees - Bakkour

About the Department
 

The Department of Psychology within the Social Sciences Division is a vibrant intellectual community. The psychology faculty have a long history of collaboration both within the department and across divisions with the Division of Biological Sciences and the Medical Center. The department has excellent graduate training programs in Cognition, Computational Cognitive Neuroscience, and Integrative Neuroscience and is a draw for highly qualified candidates.
The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience within the Biological Sciences Division (BSD) is at the forefront of psychiatric and mental health services serving the diverse communities in the city of Chicago and its surroundings. The Department houses The University of Chicago Eating Disorders Program, which is recognized internationally as a leader in eating disorders treatment and research. The program's comprehensive outpatient program provides state-of-the-art assessment and treatment services to children, adolescents, and adults with a broad range of eating- and weight-related problems.

Job Summary
 

The job performs routine assignments related to scientific research projects. Ensures compliance of research activities with institutional, state, and federal regulatory policies, procedures, directives and mandates. Analyzes possible solutions using standard procedures. Writes articles, reports and manuscripts. Assists in drafting presentations on research findings.
The Eating Disorders Program in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience at the University of Chicago (PI: Jennifer Wildes) and the Bakkour Memory and Decision Laboratory in the Department of Psychology (PI: Akram Bakkour) are seeking a full-time Study Coordinator for a NIMH-funded project that seeks to uncover cognitive and neural mechanisms that contribute to maladaptive food-choice behavior in anorexia nervosa.Using novel behavioral tasks, eyetracking, fMRI, and computational models, the project aims to determine how individuals with anorexia nervosa construct the subject value placed on foods and whether this process can be altered to normalize food-choice behavior

Responsibilities

• The Study Coordinator will be responsible for the day-to-day management and administration of the project.

• Assist in preparing IRB protocols and amendments, coordinate participant recruitment (individuals with anorexia nervosa and healthy controls), maintain participant records (e.g., consent forms, screening forms).

• Responsible for data collection (i.e., scheduling and conducting participant interviews, administering behavioral tasks, coordinating medical exams and labs, setting up and assisting with fMRI scans).

• Prepare study reports, and perform other day-to-day study management tasks.

• The Study Coordinator also will assist with data analysis and manuscript preparation and will have the opportunity to present research findings and/or conduct an independent research project, under the supervision of the PIs, postdoctoral fellows, and/or graduate students in Dr. Wildes’ and Dr. Bakkour’s labs.

• Installs, sets up and performs experiments; interacting with students and other laboratory staff under the direction of the principal investigator.

• Maintains recruiting and scheduling research subjects; assisting with developing or amending study protocols; assisting with developing data collection tools; assisting with building databases; and providing general administrative support. Has general awareness in research techniques or methods, regulatory policies and procedures, and relevant scientific field.

• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications
 

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

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Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through < 2 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

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Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree (or higher) in psychology, neuroscience, cognitive science, or a related field.

Experience:

• Have a working knowledge of statistics (running basic statistical tests in R, Python, Julia).

• Fluency in office productivity software (word processor, slide presentations, spreadsheets).

• Prior research experience (especially in a psychopathology lab and/or a cognitive neuroscience lab).

Technical Knowledge or Skills:

• Proficiency in programming (e.g., Python, JavaScript, MATLAB).

• Knowledge of human research protocols (IRBs, consent forms, HIPAA).

Preferred Competencies

• Candidates must be organized and detail-oriented.

• Exercise good judgement and take initiative.

• Work independently as well as collaboratively, and possess excellent communication skills.

Working Conditions

• The initial appointment is for one year, with the possibility of renewal.

• The start date is flexible.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)

• Cover letter describing your research interest, your technical skills, your past research experience (if any), and why this position is right for you. (required)

• References, 2, former research mentors, professors (required)

When applying, the document(s) MUST  be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family
 

Research

Role Impact
 

Individual Contributor

FLSA Status
 

Non-Exempt

Pay Frequency
 

Biweekly

Scheduled Weekly Hours
 

37.5

Benefits Eligible
 

Yes

Drug Test Required
 

No

Health Screen Required
 

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required
 

No

Posting Statement
 

The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

 

Staff Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

 

We seek a diverse pool of applicants who wish to join an academic community that places the highest value on rigorous inquiry and encourages a diversity of perspectives, experiences, groups of individuals, and ideas to inform and stimulate intellectual challenge, engagement, and exchange.

 

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history.  A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment.  Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

 

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