Research Assistant Position @ The Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research (NKI)

The Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research (NKI) is seeking a Research Assistant to work on projects investigating brain function and behavior in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and related disorders under the direction of Drs. Emily Stern and Mohammed Milad. The person in this position will be involved in organizing and running a foundation-funded fMRI project investigating threat conditioning and avoidance in OCD patients and healthy controls. Assistance with other behavioral and neuroimaging studies being run by the investigators will also be expected. Main duties involve recruiting and screening research participants, and running them in psychological experiments both in and out of an MRI scanner. The person will also be involved in data organization and management, data analysis, and administrative lab duties, including assisting with grant and IRB applications and budgeting. The position is intended to start in Fall of 2022 and a two-year commitment is requested.

This is an excellent position for a recent college graduate who wants to obtain research experience in preparation for graduate school. In addition to the primary responsibilities listed below, there would be opportunity for a motivated individual to be involved in aspects of study design and/or scientific presentations and publications.

NKI is a research facility of the New York State Office of Mental Health, one of only two state-funded research institutes in the U.S. dedicated entirely to investigating biological mechanisms and treatments for psychiatric disorders. NKI was founded in 1952 by Dr. Nathan Kline, whose pioneering research into psychopharmacological management of schizophrenia and major depression revolutionized treatments for serious mental illness. The named investigators are part of the Clinical Research Department (CRD) and Center for Biomedical Imaging and Neuromodulation (CBIN) at NKI, which contains several investigators, trainees, and staff working on studies examining treatments and biomarkers in a variety of psychiatric disorders. NKI’s academic affiliate is the New York University School of Medicine (NYUSoM) located in midtown Manhattan, and investigators and trainees at NKI have access to many of NYUSoM’s research tools and resources. NKI is located in suburban Rockland County, home to many beautiful hiking and cycling trails overlooking the Hudson River. Located approximately 20 miles north of New York City in Orangeburg, New York, NKI is a short drive away from Westchester County, northeastern New Jersey, and northern points in Manhattan.

Duties of the position include:

• Carry out extensive recruitment of patients for research studies, including posting study advertisements, engaging in outreach activities to increase awareness of the study and facilitate recruitment, conducting phone screens and in-person or virtual screenings
• Administration of clinical interviews including the SCID, MINI, and C-SSRS
• Run subjects in behavioral and brain imaging studies
• Enter, manage, organize, and analyze data using RedCap, Microsoft Excel, and SPSS
• Assist in the programming of experimental tasks using E-prime and/or PsychoPy
• Maintain detailed database of subject information and participation, with particular sensitivity to issues of privacy, confidentiality, and informed consent
• Prepare and maintain IRB applications and help with grant applications
• Assist with grant budgeting and the preparation of new grant applications
• Literature reviews and summaries as necessary
• Maintain and order lab supplies, work with business office and other administrative offices to manage resources
• Train volunteers and junior lab members as necessary

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Neuroscience, or a related field.
• Minimum of one year of experience in conducting human subjects research.
• Computer literacy: proficiency using Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, Power Point, and Outlook. Comfort with both PC and Mac environments.
• Strong interpersonal skills; this position entails heavy interaction with the public, and the applicant should be comfortable and enjoy interacting with patients and members of diverse NYC-area populations.
• Effective oral and written communication skills.
• Effective time management skills and ability to work well under pressure.
• Exceptional organization skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to work and make decisions both independently and collaboratively with the study team.
• Interest in psychiatry, psychology, and/or cognitive neuroscience.
• The possession and maintenance of a car with valid driver’s license are required as certain research activities require going into the local community

Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. RAs would be employed by the Research Foundation for Mental Health (RFMH), which offers a full benefits package with medical and dental benefits. To apply please send a cover letter, CV/resume, and the names and contact information for 3 references to Nicolette Recchia and Pearl Kravets at pnclab@nki.rfmh.org.