Lab Manager

Job Detail

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• Job Title: Lab Manager
• Department: Alzheimer's Research Initiative
• Full/Part Time: Full
• Req Number: UHS-30510

Position Summary:

The Pat Summitt Clinic Research Cognitive Neurophysiology Lab represents the evolution of the clinic that bears the name of the late Pat Summitt, the legendary coach of the University of Tennessee Women's Basketball team. After being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, Summitt raised national awareness of the disease and called for more treatment capabilities and research.

The research facility includes a cognitive neurophysiology lab equipped with state of the art EEG/ERP equipment and advanced systems for visual stimulus presentation, an exam room for cognitive testing, research bays, office and administrative space, and a conference room. We also recently acquired a state of the art virtual reality driving simulator to study driving behavior in aging and dementia.

Under the leadership of the Medical Director and Lab Principal Investigator, Dr. Roberto Fernandez MD, MPH, PhD, the team at The Pat Summitt Clinic Research Lab is currently involved in several projects with human subjects, including a longitudinal cohort study to compare different measures of brain structure, function and behavior in research participants with mild cognitive impairment, different forms of dementia, and normal cognition. This will allow researchers to better understand where and how changes occur within the brain with normal aging and in conditions like Alzheimer's disease and to track those changes over time.

The team at The Pat Summitt Clinic Research Lab has also established collaborations with multiple research partners within the University of Tennessee Medical Center, through the region and nationwide, all with the focus of advancing the field of Alzheimer's disease.

The Lab Manager will schedule and run experiments and evaluations of human subjects under the supervision of Dr. Roberto Fernandez Romero at the Pat Summitt Clinic Cognitive Neurophysiology Lab. Additionally, the incumbent will be responsible for supporting the administrative functions of the lab, and training and leading undergraduate student researchers. This person will assist with data management and analyses of a large-scale study involving multimodal data.

Responsibilities

• Schedule and run experiments with adult human subjects.

• Use lab computers and software to develop experimental stimuli and procedures, perform basic data analysis, management, storage and protection

• Serve as work lead for student researchers and provide training in the performance of experiments and lab procedures

• Assist with subject recruitment and community relations

• Assist with human subject protocol requirements

• Assist with data management using already established Red Cap system

• Conduct descriptive and basic statistical analyses

• Help prepare conference poster presentations and create figures for paper publication

• Set-up and maintain website for PI/lab.

• Assist with preparation, submission and maintenance of Institution Review Board (IRB) materials and basic aspects of grant applications

• Order supplies and equipment, including computing equipment

• Coordinate reimbursements for lab personnel

• Manage lab accounts and grant budgets

• Assist the Principal investigator in any tasks related to the preparation of manuscripts, research presentations and grants

• Provide any additional support related to lab operations as requested by the Principal Investigator

Position Qualification:

Required qualifications

• A strong candidate will have academic research experience working with adult human subjects in research or clinical settings with exposure to and/or training in diagnostic and cognitive assessments. Additional experience conducting research with or interviewing vulnerable populations or those with mental illness is preferred

• Must have knowledge of data management principles or ability to learn.

• Ability with standard software (Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, databases)

• Must have experience with graphics software such as Powerpoint or ability to learn

• Have experience with or ability to learn basic computer programming and/or MATLAB

• Have experience with or ability to learn how to conduct EEG/ERP studies

• Ability to handle fluctuating priorities and deadlines

• Must be organized, responsible, punctual, with ability to pay close attention to details

• Strong interpersonal skills and proven leadership abilities

• Experience with ethics board (IRB) correspondence and principles, or willingness to learn these skills

• Excellent verbal and written communication abilities

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in neuroscience, psychology, biomedical engineering and/or equivalent combination of experience and training