Research Associate ETUDES Center

This is a multi-faceted position in the ETUDES Center. The combined goals of the position at the ETUDES Center are to assist with an accelerated program aimed at developing effective technological interventions to address adolescent and young adult depression and other mental health symptoms in pediatric primary care and community mental health settings.

The position involves 3 different types of skill sets of monitoring the work flow of research protocol, working effectively in data management, as well as conducting semi-structured clinical assessment interviews to ensure the timetable of project interviews is followed. This position is ideal for someone interested in complex systems, overcoming institutional and relational challenges aimed at organizational change in large health care systems, and constant iteration of products and project goals as stakeholders of the Center identify problems and needs and the research investigators pivot to provide their expertise to address these needs.

This position is grant funded.

Responsibilities:

• Responsible for engagement with the recruitment clinics to assure youth are ethically recruited into the study who meet the inclusion/exclusion criteria.

• Attend and participate in all project-related meetings, including regular staff meetings, clinical supervision calls and meetings, and research team meetings.

• Conduct semi-structured clinical assessment interviews with depressed and suicidal youth

• Contact and schedule potential participants from a designated pool of individuals who have agreed to be contacted for research studies.

• Conduct subject searches to locate subjects who are unable to be contacted.

• Explain research protocol and obtain informed consent from participants.

• Conduct on-line and/or library searches as needed by the PI as necessary.

• Perform phone interviews for research project protocol(s) as needed.

• Maintain and update subject information database.

• Conduct interviews with research participants under supervision as needed.

Communication with Research and Clinical Faculty/Staff

• Extensive interaction with the research team to ensure recruitment, treatment, and data collection proceed according to schedule.

• Interact as needed with private app developers, to assure phone app development and maintenance are occurring as planned and on schedule.

• Interface effectively with research staff (both in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia) to maintain efficient communication about data collection, entry, quality control issues and reports.

• Coordinate follow-up sessions with youth and the blinded study Independent Evaluator

• Establish effective relationships with recruitment clinics including but not limited to developing positive working relationships with the social workers, residents, attending physicians, and support staff, especially related to risk management of research participants.

• Provide safety updates to clinical supervisor and investigators.

Tracking and Data Flow

• Maintain records of subject contact, subject interviews, and clinical assessments.

• Prepare narratives of clinical assessments and attend regular consensus and clinical supervision meetings.

• Screen, consent, and conduct assessments

Spanish Translation of Study materials

• Develop and determine process to translate and back translate participant facing study related documents

• Work with Institutional Review Board (IRB) to submit for ethical approval

• Develop procedures to engage Spanish speaking research participants from current recruitment clinics, screen, schedule, and conduct study assessments with research participants.

• Conduct risk management procedures in Spanish with research participants and communicate with caregivers next steps to maintain participant safety.

• Performs in accordance with system-wide competencies/behaviors.

• Performs other duties as assigned.

• Bachelors Degree in Psychology, Neuroscience, Counseling, Sociology or related research field or current enrollment in a related Bachelor's Degree program with direct experience in a research environment required.

• Familiarity with computers and common software packages required.

• Prior related work experience in a research setting preferred.

• Working knowledge of research methodology strongly preferred.

• Fluency in all aspects of Spanish language.

• Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills.

• Excellent grammar, written and verbal communication, and proofreading skills in English

• Effectively and diplomatically interact with professionals, subjects, and their families.

• Flexible working hours (some Saturdays and evenings).

Licensure, Certifications, and Clearances:

• Act 31 Child Abuse Reporting with renewal

• Act 33 with renewal

• Act 34 with renewal

• Act 73 FBI Clearance with renewal

UPMC is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran