Research Assistant/Technician 2-2

University of British Columbia•Vancouver, BC

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Research Technician 2 will perform a variety of activities involved in conducting research studies in the area of Psychosis and Schizophrenia. This primarily involves administering cognitive tasks, interviews, and basic psychological measures on individuals with and without psychosis, but may also involve recruiting. The use of SPSS, Excel and Internet applications to organize code and enter data such as psychiatric interviews, cognitive tasks, intelligence measures, and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) tasks will also be required. Additionally, this position requires consultation with the lab coordinator and Principal Investigators. This position is based out of University of British Columbia, Department of Psychiatry, in Vancouver and works as part of Dr. Todd Woodward and Dr. Mahesh Menon’s research team. The position reports to and is supervised by the Dr. Todd Woodward and Dr. Mahesh Menon, and the lab research coordinator. The research projects involve the collection and analysis of data, including functional brain imaging results, cognitive psychology and symptom ratings on patient and healthy populations to better understand the symptoms of psychosis. The data collection will take place in the Brain Dynamics laboratory at the University of British Columbia, Department of Psychiatry, as well as the High Field Imaging Laboratory at UBC, and various community mental health agencies. Data processing (data entry and analysis) will be carried out at Children’s Hospital or UBC. Transportation within the Metro Vancouver Region is required for this position.

Requirements

High school graduation, some additional training in a related field and a minimum two years of related experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own
Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion

Nice To Haves

Ability to work in a respectful and professional manner with research subjects.
Exceptional interpersonal communications skills.
Knowledge of scientific terminology and research methodology.
Proficiency with computer applications such as word processing and spreadsheet software (SPSS, Microsoft Word, Excel), and internet applications and tools.
Experience with data analysis and organization.
Well-developed skills in data coding and data entry.
Ability to handle confidential materials appropriately.
Ability to work independently and as a member of a multi-disciplinary research team.
Transportation within the Metro Vancouver Region is required for this position.

Responsibilities

Primarily conduct interviews with patients including the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI), Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS-6), and Brief Negative Symptom Scale (BNSS), and administer cognitive task testing with outpatients including the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI-II), the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test (HVLT), Digit Symbol Substitution Test and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI).
Administer cognitive tasks using the fMRI with participants with and without psychosis through fMRI Tasks at UBC MRI Research Facility.
Recruit, screen, schedule and test research participants with and without mental illnesses.
Schedule research appointments with participants, research staff and MRI technologists.
Maintain lab petty cash accounts.
Liaise with mental health groups and practitioners at various hospitals and community organizations to recruit study participants.
Recruitment involves regularly travelling throughout various health facilities and post-secondary institutions in the lower maintain to distribute posters and brochures relating to various studies.
Give recruitment presentations to mental health groups about lab research projects for recruitment purposes including creating PowerPoint slides, and presenting to mental health teams ranging from 20-30 people throughout the lower mainland.
Create and enter the collected data into data sheets in Excel and SPSS, as well as the online databases such as REDCap.
Coordinate and schedule appointments with participants and research staff.
Prepare various lab training manuals and protocols.
Prepare Lab finances reimbursement, including requisitions for participant testing, withdrawing cash for participant testing, lab credit card expenses, staff reimbursement, and conferences.
Lab maintenance and management.