The Cohen Laboratory in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, directed by Dr. Jessica Cohen, is seeking a full-time research assistant beginning Summer 2022 (specific start date flexible). We investigate how functional brain networks dynamically interact and reconfigure when confronted with changing cognitive demands, when experiencing transformations across development, and when facing disruptions in healthy functioning due to disease. The lab uses behavioral, neuroimaging, and clinical approaches taken from neuroscience, psychology, and mathematics to address our research questions.
The primary ongoing project you will be involved with is an NIMH-funded longitudinal neuroimaging study following youth with ADHD across the transition from childhood into adolescence. The goal of the project is to identify trajectories of structural and functional network development that may serve as biomarkers indicating increased risk (or, conversely, decreased risk) for negative outcomes in adolescence. Primary responsibilities include recruiting and scheduling participants (typically developing youth and youth with ADHD), data collection (diagnostic interviews, neuropsychological assessments, behavioral testing and MRI scans), data management, and maintaining the IRB protocol. If interested, you will have the opportunity to assist with writing up clinical evaluation reports and interfacing with a new ADHD clinic at UNC. You will be encouraged to take on an independent project that can result in a conference poster presentation and/or authorship on a manuscript.
Necessary qualifications include: 1) a BA/BS in Psychology, Neuroscience, or related field; 2) experience working with children and/or adolescents; 3) research experience collecting, organizing or analyzing MRI or behavioral data; and 4) excellent organizational, interpersonal and communication skills. Experience with unix, python, matlab or another programming language is encouraged.
Position is for one year, with the possibility of extension pending satisfactory performance.
Interested applicants should submit a cover letter describing their research interests and career goals, their CV, their transcript with relevant coursework (unofficial is fine), and contact info for 2-3 references in a single PDF file to Dr. Jessica Cohen.
Additional information can be found at: http://cohenlab.web.unc.edu/
For questions, please contact Dr. Jessica Cohen (jrcohen@unc.edu).