Join the Lab

Position Summary:

The Research Coordinator (RC) will work with research investigators in the Oregon Sleep Lab (OSL) to implement two NIH-funded research projects. The RC will organize, track, and report on recruitment and retention of research participants, the fidelity of data collection, data quality, and protection of human subjects. They will work closely with the study staff and the lab director to ensure that all procedures are completed in an accurate, timely, and professional manner. This will include facilitating training and supervision for new study staff and student research assistants. They will assist with regulatory documentation for IRB and NIH, and data processing and archiving. As needed, they will directly participate in assessment activities (e.g., running fMRI scans). The RC will need to be comfortable and competent in making day-to-day decisions about the implementation of the research projects. They will also need to have some availability during weekends to field urgent issues that may arise during weekend data collection.

The research projects examine the impact of sleep and circadian rhythms on reward- and stress-related brain function and mental health in adolescents and young adults. The projects involve the collection of information about sleep and circadian characteristics, lifetime and daily stressors, reward- and stress-related brain function, and symptoms of depression and alcohol use disorder. Methods of data collection include electroencephalography (EEG), functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), actigraphy, electrocardiography (ECG), blood pressure (BP), saliva samples for melatonin and cortisol, laboratory behavior tasks, questionnaires, and diagnostic interviews.

Minimum Qualifications:                      

• Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Neuroscience, Human Physiology, or a related discipline.
• At least 2 years of research experience with human subjects, including recruitment, data collection, and data management.
• One year of professional experience providing training and oversight for staff and/or students.

Professional Competencies:               

• Capacity for sensitivity, confidentiality, diligence, and persistence with regard to engaging and retaining participants in study.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively manage time, prioritize tasks, and solve problems.
• Demonstrated ability to manage study documentation and data with high efficiency and accuracy.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including a demonstrated ability to work in a team environment that requires participatory decision making and cooperative interactions among study staff.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (e.g., Word, Excel, Outlook, OneDrive, OneNote).
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with management of large multi-method research projects
• Experience with regulatory documentation for human subjects research, clinical trials, and/or funding agencies (e.g., NIH)
• Experience with fMRI data collection
• Statistical training and experience with statistical software (e.g., R, SPSS).
• Experience with web-based survey software (e.g., Qualtrics, Redcap).
• Experience with computer programming (e.g., Python, Matlab)
• Interest and experience in community outreach and engagement, including a commitment to equity and inclusion of people from diverse demographic groups.

Research Assistant Position
40 hours/week, including 2-3 weekend afternoon-evening shifts per week
University of Oregon Sleep Lab

Position Summary:

The Center for Translational Neuroscience (CTN) is seeking a research assistant to work with the Oregon Sleep Lab (OSL; sleeplab.uoregon.edu), headed by Dr. Melynda Casement. The research assistant will help collect and analyze data for two NIH-funded studies that evaluate the effects of sleep and circadian characteristics on reward- and stress-related brain function and mental health in adolescents and young adults. Data collection includes assessment of sleep and circadian characteristics via electroencephalography (EEG), salivary dim-light melatonin onset (DLMO), actigraphy, clinical interviews, and questionnaires. Reward- and stress-related brain function are assessed using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), physiological stress responses (heart rate, blood pressure, salivary cortisol), and behavioral task performance. Mental health, including depressive symptoms and substance use, are assessed using structured clinical interviews, questionnaires, and biosamples (urine, saliva). The research assistant will run laboratory visits on weekend afternoons/evenings and assist with participant recruitment and screening during the week. Additional responsibilities will include assisting with data processing, regulatory procedures, and training and supervision of student research assistants. There will also be opportunities to collaborate on conference presentations and manuscripts for publication. This position requires afternoon and evening hours on weekends and at least a 1-year commitment.

Minimum Qualifications:                      

• Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Neuroscience, Human Physiology, or a related discipline.
• At least 1 year of prior research experience with human subjects

Professional Competencies:               

• Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to maintain professionalism and warmth when working with research participants and study staff.
• Highly organized, efficient, detail-oriented, and thorough.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks, including strong time-management skills.
• Ability to learn quickly, solve problems, and work independently and with a team.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Professional experience working with individuals who have mental health conditions, particularly depression and/or substance use disorders
• Professional experience working with adolescents and/or young adults
• Statistical training and experience with statistical software (e.g., R, SPSS).
• Experience with web-based survey software (e.g., Qualtrics, Redcap).
• Experience with fMRI data collection
• Interest and experience in community outreach and engagement, including a commitment to equity and inclusion of people from diverse demographic groups.

Undergraduate Research assistants (UGRAs) will assist data collection by working 1-2 lab visit shifts per week, up to 8 hours per shift. UGRAs will have free time during Dim Light Melatonin Onset (DLMO) shifts while participants are collecting saliva samples, but they must remain in the lab to assist the participants as needed. This position involves evening shifts that may extend past midnight, and includes weekdays and weekends. UGRAs will be assigned lab visit shifts based on their usual availability. Additional UGRA responsibilities will include, but are not limited to, quality checking, participant correspondence, and lab equipment cleaning and maintenance. UGRAs are also invited to participate in a sleep research journal club. We are looking for applicants who can commit to the position for a minimum of 3 academic terms. We will provide training in study procedures. UGRAs must complete and maintain appropriate safety training and certifications, including bi-annual CITI training in Protection of Human Research Participants, Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR), and Good Clinical Practice (GCP). Lab research projects examine the impact of sleep and circadian rhythms on reward- and stress-related brain function and mental health in adolescents and young adults. The projects involve collection of information about sleep and circadian characteristics, lifetime and daily stressors, reward- and stress-related brain function, and symptoms of depression and alcohol use disorder. Information about the lab and our research projects is available at https://sleeplab.uoregon.edu and https://sleepstudy.uoregon.edu. The Oregon Sleep Lab (OSL) is in Straub Hall on the University of Oregon campus.

Minimum Qualifications:

Evidence of high scientific aptitude (for example, mostly A and B grades in college science courses and/or strong recommendation from a research mentor)

Professional Competencies:

• Interest in psychology, physiology, neuroscience, and/or related sciences
• Discretion and tact when handling sensitive and/or confidential information
• Professionalism and customer service skills
• Attention to detail, organizational skills, and ability to follow lab procedures
• Ability to communicate and work effectively in a professional team environment that requires participatory decision making and cooperative interactions among study staff

Preferred Qualifications:

• Previous research experience, especially psychophysiological research and/or research with human subjects
• Experience working with adolescents and/or young adults
• Communication and outreach skills, including social media savvy

Research assistants (RAs) will assist with data collection for research on sleep and mental health in adolescents and young adults. RAs will work with study staff to implement a laboratory social stressor task. Additional RA responsibilities may include assisting study staff with participant recruitment, questionnaire data collection and cleaning, collection of biosamples (saliva, urine, blood pressure, heart rate), and lab equipment cleaning and maintenance. RAs are also invited to participate in a sleep research journal club. RAs must be available on afternoons and evenings 1-3 days per week. Shifts may be scheduled on weekdays or weekends. RAs will be assigned to shifts based on their usual availability. We are looking for applicants who can commit to the position for a minimum of 3 academic terms. We will provide training in study procedures. RAs must complete and maintain appropriate safety training and certifications, including bi-annual CITI training in Protection of Human Research Participants, Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR), and Good Clinical Practice (GCP). Lab research projects examine the impact of sleep and circadian rhythms on reward- and stress-related brain function and mental health in adolescents and young adults. The projects involve collection of information about sleep and circadian characteristics, lifetime and daily stressors, reward- and stress-related brain function, and symptoms of depression and alcohol use disorder. Information about the lab and our research projects is available at https://sleeplab.uoregon.edu and https://sleepstudy.uoregon.edu. The Oregon Sleep Lab (OSL) is in Straub Hall on the University of Oregon campus.

Minimum Qualifications:

Evidence of high scientific aptitude (for example, mostly A and B grades in college science courses and/or strong recommendation from a research mentor)

Professional Competencies:

• Interest in psychology, physiology, neuroscience, and/or related sciences
• Discretion and tact when handling sensitive and/or confidential information
• Professionalism and customer service skills
• Attention to detail, organizational skills, and ability to follow lab procedures
• Ability to communicate and work effectively in a professional team environment that requires participatory decision making and cooperative interactions among study staff

Preferred Qualifications:

• Previous research experience, especially psychophysiological research and/or research with human subjects
• Experience working with adolescents and/or young adults
• Communication and outreach skills, including social media savvy