Senior Research Associate

Vanderbilt University•Nashville, TN

About The Position

The Senior Research Associate/ Project Director is a key leadership position within the Peredo Lab in the Department of Special Education at Vanderbilt University. This individual will serve as the Project Director for an NIH Phase 1 clinical trial investigating a naturalistic developmental behavioral intervention (NDBI) approach for Latino families. The Senior Research Associate is a full-time term position responsible for overall research protocol implementation, team leadership, and successful execution of all project objectives in accordance with Vanderbilt Institutional Review Board (IRB) regulations, federal and sponsor regulations and guidelines, NIH guidelines, Vanderbilt Policies, and research protocols. The Senior Research Associate reports directly to the Principal Investigator. The Senior Research Associate will direct all aspects of project operations, including leading and training a multidisciplinary research team (data coders, interventionists, data manager, and assessors), implementing culturally and linguistically adapted intervention protocols, coordinating participant recruitment and retention, conducting caregiver coaching sessions, overseeing data collection and quality assurance, and leading dissemination activities including peer reviewed manuscripts and conference presentations. This position requires advanced expertise in NDBI approaches, bilingual competency in Spanish and English, and demonstrated success in coaching Latino parents on evidence-based early intervention strategies. Note: The anticipated duration of this role is 5 years and is dependent on continuing availability of funding.

Requirements

Doctoral degree (PhD or equivalent) is required.
Degree in fields such as Speech-Language Pathology, Psychology, Special Education, Neuroscience, or related field is strongly preferred.
Certification for human subjects research is required.
Advanced training or certification in NDBI approaches (e.g., Early Start Denver Model, Project ImPACT, Enhanced Milieu Teaching or Enhanced Milieu Teaching en Español or equivalent) is strongly preferred.
Minimum 2 years of experience directing and implementing research projects with demonstrated ability to manage timelines, budgets, and team personnel
Proficiency in bilingual (Spanish-English) communication, with ability to conduct clinical assessments and caregiver coaching in both languages
Demonstrated experience coaching and supporting Latino families and caregivers on evidence-based early intervention strategies
Advanced proficiency with REDCap database management, including database design, data validation, user access management, and troubleshooting
Strong experience with Microsoft Office Suite and statistical software (e.g., SPSS, R, or equivalent)
Demonstrated expertise in NDBI approaches and early childhood intervention with ability to model and train others
Ability to work collaboratively with diverse families and multidisciplinary research teams
Excellent written and verbal communication skills with ability to prepare research reports and present findings
Demonstrated ability to publish peer-reviewed manuscripts
Ability to lift and carry materials, walk across campus daily, and stand for extended periods
Access to reliable personal transportation for participant coordination and materials collection