Research Technician Associate

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How to Apply

A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position. Please include your GPA and undergraduate institution (if applicable) in your cover letter as well. Note that all of your application materials must be combined into a single document.

In addition to applying online with your cover letter and resume, please send your most recent academic transcript (college transcript if available; unofficial transcript acceptable) and 2 letters of recommendation directly to [email protected].

Summary

The Michigan Neurogenetics and Developmental Psychopathology (MiND) lab, directed by Dr. Luke Hyde, and the Translational and Developmental Neuroscience (TaD) lab, directed by Christopher Monk, are searching for a lab manager/research assistant (Research Technician Associate). These projects examine the development of young adult risk and resilience from multiple levels of analysis (using fMRI, molecular genetics, longitudinal approaches, and psychiatric interviews with young adults from disadvantaged contexts). The Research Technician will help to coordinate and collect data on the SAND project. 

The SAND is a longitudinal study of families from the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study. Study participants are now young adults (age 20 ? 24) and visiting our lab in Michigan where we are examining ecological variables across development that are associated with resilience and risk on neurobehavioral systems.  We are also examining the impacts of structural racism on mental health and resilience outcomes. This study is funded by multiple awards from NIMH. 

These studies include young adults visiting the lab for a full day visit including an MRI scan, psychiatric interview, biospecimen assay (e.g., saliva, blood), and survey measures.
This project currently needs an additional staff member with experience with project management (i.e., recruitment, travel logistics), data management/MRI processing, and/or training and oversight of undergraduate students in the lab. For more information about the MiND lab please visit: https://sites.lsa.umich.edu/mindlab/ and the TaD lab visit: https://sites.lsa.umich.edu/monk-lab/.  For more details on the SAND study see: https://sites.lsa.umich.edu/sand-study/ 

Mission Statement

The mission of the University of Michigan is to serve the people of Michigan and the world through preeminence in creating, communicating, preserving and applying knowledge, art, and academic values, and in developing leaders and citizens who will challenge the present and enrich the future.

The University of Michigan is committed to foster learning, creativity, and productivity, and to support the vigorous exchange of ideas and information, not only in the classroom but in the workplace by: 

• Creating a work environment in which people treat each other with respect and dignity, regardless of roles, responsibilities, or differences. 
• Providing support, direction and resources enabling us to accomplish the responsibilities of our jobs and to reach the goals that are set for professional and personal growth.
• The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.  

Why Work at Michigan?

In addition to a career filled with purpose and opportunity, the University of Michigan offers a comprehensive benefits package to help you stay well, protect yourself and your family and plan for a secure future. Benefits include:

• Generous time off, including vacation time, sick time, holiday and season days
• A retirement plan that provides two-for-one matching contributions with immediate vesting
• Many choices for comprehensive health insurance
• Life insurance
• Long-term disability coverage
• Flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses

In addition, LSA offers:

• Strong commitment to work/life balance
• Flexible work arrangements with respect to campus stakeholder needs
• Enhanced tuition support programs for LSA courses

Being part of something greater, of serving a larger mission of discovery and care that's the heart of what drives people to work at Michigan. In some way, great or small, every person here helps to advance this world-class institution. It's adding a purpose to your profession. Work at Michigan and become a victor for the greater good.

Responsibilities*

• (45%) Testing participants, doing home visits and running children through MRI protocol
• (20%) Analyzing and processing data, organizing data, and archiving data.  Working on projects to effectively manage large amounts of data and working with IT and other labs to design efficient IT systems for the data.
• (12.5%) Participant scheduling and recruitment and visit management (e.g., preparing for family visits)
• (12.5%) Helping coordinate projects (helping other members of the lab, help with IRB submissions, coordinate with other labs, general laboratory maintenance)
• (10%) Train incoming research staff and students in the laboratory and be a resource throughout their employment

NOTE:  The amount of time in some of these activities (e.g., data organization versus preparing for visits) will vary somewhat based on experience, time of the year, and lab needs.
A very successful applicant will have the opportunity to contribute to the writing of empirical papers.  Both labs focus on understanding the impact of adversity on brain and behavioral development and Dr. Monk's lab focuses on internalizing outcomes, whereas Dr. Hyde's lab focuses on externalizing outcomes. Both labs are committed to understanding resilience and identifying factors that promote success among youth and adults who have been marginalized and/or oppressed based on their socioeconomic status and/or ethnoracial identity.  Thus, there are a variety of areas of research focus for applicants to consider. This position is ideal for those interested in pursuing a future PhD in clinical or developmental psychology or neuroscience.

Required Qualifications*

• High school diploma or Associate's degree
• 1 year of research experience
• Excellent communication and writing skills
• Strong organizational, interpersonal, and time management skills
• Experience interacting with families and children
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively

Desired Qualifications*

• Bachelor's degree or higher in in psychology, neuroscience, or a related field, and interest in clinical and developmental psychology or neuroscience
• Experience in several (but not all) of the following areas: psychiatric interviewing, working with underserved families in the community, computer programing experience (e.g., Matlab, R, command line), and experience with fMRI processing and analysis

Additional Information

This is a 12-month term-limited position with the possibility of renewal. However, the aim is to renew the position for at least 2-3 years, as the role will require large amounts of training.  Preference will be given to candidates that are interested in a multi-year commitment.

The anticipated start date is flexible; however, an ideal start date is between May 15th - July 1st, 2024.

The salary range is $31,200 - $33,900. Please note a higher salary may be offered based on equity and the selected candidate's experience.

The MiND and TaD labs value diversity, equity, and inclusion in research, including goals to make the workplace diverse, equitable, inclusive, and supportive and to provide thoughtful interaction with participants that is culturally competent and humble, and meets shared goals between researchers, participants, and communities. We particularly encourage applications from those who identify with under-represented and marginalized identities and who value a lab with members who bring divergent viewpoints and experiences to our work.

As one of the world's great liberal arts colleges, LSA pushes the boundaries of what is understood about the human experience and the natural world, and we foster the next generation of rigorous and empathetic thinkers, creators, and contributors to the state of Michigan, the nation, and the world.

To learn more about diversity, equity, and inclusion in LSA, please visit lsa.umich.edu/lsa/dei.

To learn more about LSA's Mission, Vision and Values, please visit lsa.umich.edu/strategicvision.

Background Screening

The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background checks.  Background checks are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Application Deadline

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. This job may be removed from the posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended.

U-M EEO/AA Statement

The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.