Apply now Job no:495976
Work type:Staff Part-Time
Location:Denver, CO
Categories:Research

The Department of Psychology at the University of Denver is research-oriented, valuing a collaborative and integrative approach to psychological science that fosters intellectual curiosity and innovation and invests in people in a supportive and inclusive environment. Our mission is to advance psychological science by generating and sharing new knowledge through collaborative scholarship, educating and mentoring student scholars, and contributing to the public good.

The College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences and the Psychology department are strongly committed to building a diverse and inclusive educational environment, which is in full accord with the value that DU places on its commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Candidates must demonstrate ability to integrate content and issues relating to, and to work effectively with, ethnically/racially diverse populations. The University of Denver endeavors to be a great university dedicated to the public good and to uphold the values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice. The University recognizes that its success is dependent on how well it lives these values, including how we engage, support, and champion members both at DU and in the greater community. DU is situated in the Denver metro area, a vibrant urban center in the Rocky Mountain region, home to more than 3 million people. Our metropolitan location supports collaboration across local universities. DU, ranked in the top 100 universities in the country, is comprised of 5800 undergraduates (600+ psychology majors), 8000 graduate students (55 Psychology graduate students), and 700+ full-time faculty.  The University recently received recognition as an R1 by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.

Position Summary

The Research Assistant part-time position will assist with a grant-funded research project investigating associations between exposure to air pollution and the development of depression in teenagers and their parents. This project also considers the role of social factors (such as close relationships), biological factors (such as changes to the immune system), and contextual factors (such as socioeconomic characteristics) in risk for mental health symptoms. Specific duties include recruiting and scheduling participants, leading research study visits, conducting structured clinical interviews, collecting, and preparing biological samples (blood and cardiovascular data), making phone calls, overseeing lab purchasing and budgets, coordinating administrative approvals (e.g., IRB and biosafety), leading community recruitment efforts, entering data into spreadsheets, and managing undergraduate research assistants.  Research Assistant will work very closely with other project staff and participants, and therefore must have excellent interpersonal skills. This project is a collaboration between the Biology, Environments, and Mood Studies (BEAMS) Lab at the University of Denver (https://liberalarts.du.edu/psychology/biology-environments-mood) and researchers at the National Center for Atmospheric Research.

This is a part-time position (20 hours per week) that comes with DU’s full benefits package, and the funding for this position is contingent on grant funding. The schedule is 20 hours per week, which will require afternoon hours and evening/weekend availability.

Essential Functions

• Under the direct supervision of the Principal Investigators, the research assistant will assist with a research project that involves biological, medical, environmental, and psychological data from parents and their children. The research assistant will assist with data collection, recruitment, phone calls, appointment scheduling, administration of questionnaires and interviews, collection and preparation of blood samples and non-invasive health measures (e.g., blood pressure), clerical tasks such as filing and photocopying, and tracking of data collection with families. This will include assisting with management of IRB protocols.
• Working with human subjects: protocol requirements, phone calls, scheduling, questionnaire, and interview administration, coordinating data collection with families, observations and assisting the PIs with study administration.
• Preparation of subject data, assisting with data entry, filing, etc.
• Research Administration.
• Participation as a member of the research team: various meetings with investigators.
• Research Assistant will need to make judgements regarding safety and protocol fidelity during research visits, for example, deciding to stop blood collection if a participant discloses feeling queasy, to implement safety protocols in cases of potential suicidality while awaiting consultation with PI, and to gather additional information during instances of suspected child abuse.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Fluency in English
• Basic math ability
• Critical thinking skills along with ability to discuss and solve problems and issues that may arise.
• Ability to work with children, adolescents, and adults.
• Walking; sitting for long periods of time. Willingness to learn and then perform blood draws, including fine motor abilities necessary for phlebotomy.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Biology, or related
• Experience working with families in clinical or research context.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong organization and administrative skills to include scheduling, data/file management, word processing (MS Word), spreadsheets (Excel), copying, phone skills and data entry, budget management.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience coordinating research projects. Experience in psychology or public health conducting interviews or standard assessments. Experience with biological methodologies, such as phlebotomy.
• Phlebotomy Certification
• Statistical knowledge. Knowledge of psychological symptoms and disorders. Clinical interviewing skills.
• Bilingual in Spanish and English

Working Environment

1. Standard office environment.
2. Unexpected interruptions occur often and stress level is moderate to high.
3. Noise level is quiet to moderate.

Physical Activities

1. Ability to sit in front of a computer for an extended period of time.
2. Occasionally required to move about the office/campus with the capability of transporting objects up to 20 lbs.

Work Schedule
The schedule is 20 hours per week, which will require afternoon hours and evening/weekend availability.

Application Deadline
For best consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) February 1, 2023.

Special Instructions
Candidates must apply online through jobs.du.edu to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted.

Salary Grade Number:
The salary grade for the position is 6.

Hourly Range:
The hourly rate for the position is $20.00.

Benefits:
The University of Denver offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO pass. The University of Denver is a private institution that empowers students who want to make a difference. Learn more about the University of Denver .

Please include the following documents with your application:
1. Resume
2. Cover Letter

The University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer.  The University of Denver prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age (40 years and over in the employment context), religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, marital status, veterans status, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance in any of the university's educational programs and activities, and in the employment (including application for employment) and admissions (including application for admission) context, as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended in 2008; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; and any other federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or ordinances that prohibit discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation. For the university's complete Non-Discrimination Statement, please see non?discrimination?statement .

All offers of employment are contingent upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history background check.

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