The Michigan Neurogenetics and Developmental Psychopathology (MiND) lab, directed by Dr. Luke Hyde, and the Translational and Developmental Neuroscience (TaD) lab, directed by Christopher Monk, are searching for a lab manager/research assistant (Research Technician Associate) for two projects. These projects examine the development of adolescent and young adult risk and resilience from multiple levels of analysis (using fMRI, molecular genetics, longitudinal approaches, and psychiatric interviews with families and young adults from low-income neighborhoods). The Research Technician will help to coordinate and collect data on multiple projects including the MTwiNS project and the SAND project.
MTwins is a longitudinal study of families with twins ages 10 – 18 living in lower-income neighborhoods funded by NIMH and NICHD. The goals of the study are to understand the impact of neighborhood impoverishment on neural and behavior development related to antisocial behavior, as well as to identify factors that promote resilience.
The SAND is a longitudinal study of families from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study. Study participants are now young adults (age 20 – 24) and visiting our lab in Michigan where we are examining ecological variables across development that are associated with resilience and risk on neurobehavioral systems. This study is funded by NIMH.
Both studies include families or young adults visiting the lab for a full day visit including an MRI scan, psychiatric interview, family interaction tasks, biospecimen assay (e.g., saliva, blood), and survey measures.
These projects currently need an additional staff member with experience with project manager (i.e., recruitment, travel logistics), data management/MRI processing, and/or training and oversight of undergraduate students in the lab. For more information about the MiND lab please visit: https://sites.lsa.umich.edu/mindlab/ and the TaD lab visit: https://sites.lsa.umich.edu/monk-lab/. Duties for this position will include coordinating projects (e.g., training undergraduate students on their projects and tasks, scheduling and recruiting participants, organizing and cleaning data), doing in-home and in-lab visits with children, families, and young adults (including psychiatric interviews, administering self-report measures, and supervising undergraduate assistants), running participants through MRI scans, and processing and analyzing MRI data. As some of these projects are being done jointly with other labs, the position will entail coordinating with these other labs. Thus, much of the position will include collecting data from and interacting with families and young adults and the other portion will include logistics and data management.
This position is ideal for those interested in pursuing a future PhD in clinical or developmental psychology or neuroscience. A successful applicant will have a Bachelor’s degree in psychology, neuroscience, or a related field, and interest in clinical and developmental psychology or neuroscience. Successful applicants are likely to have experience in several (but not all) of the following areas: psychiatric interviewing, working with underserved families in the community, computer programing experience (e.g., Matlab, R, command line), and experience with fMRI processing and analysis. Applicants must have strong organizational, interpersonal, and time management skills.
A very successful applicant will have the opportunity to contribute to the writing of empirical papers. Both labs focus on understanding the impact of adversity on brain and behavioral development and Dr. Monk’s lab focuses on internalizing outcomes, whereas Dr. Hyde’s lab focuses on externalizing outcomes. Both labs are committed to understanding resilience and identifying factors that promote
success among families and youth who have been marginalized and/or oppressed based on their socioeconomic status and/or identify. Thus there are a variety of areas of research focus for applicants to consider.
How to apply
A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position. Please include your GPA and undergraduate institution (if applicable) in your cover letter as well. Note that all of your application materials must be combined into a single document.
To apply, go to https://careers.umich.edu/job_detail/197465/research_technician_associate
In addition to applying online with your cover letter and resume, please send your most recent academic transcript (college transcript if available; unofficial transcript acceptable) and 2 letters of recommendation directly to mindlaboratory@umich.edu.
Additional Information
These positions are term-limited to one year, however, the aim of the position is to be for at least 2 -3 years as the position will require large amounts of training (within funding likely beyond 2 years).
Start date is flexible depending on applicant availability but would ideally be during June or July of 2021, so that the new lab manager can overlap with departing lab managers for training.
The MiND and TaD labs value diversity, equity, and inclusion in research including goals to make the workplace diverse, equitable, inclusive, and supportive and to provide thoughtful interaction with participants that is culturally competent and humble and meets shared goals between researchers, participants, and communities. We particularly encourage applications from those who identify as under-represented and marginalized and value a lab with members who bring divergent viewpoints and experiences to our work.
The mission of the University of Michigan is to serve the people of Michigan and the world through preeminence in creating, communicating, preserving and applying knowledge, art, and academic values, and in developing leaders and citizens who will challenge the present and enrich the future.
The University of Michigan is committed to foster learning, creativity and productivity, and to support the vigorous exchange of ideas and information, not only in the classroom but in the workplace by:
– Creating a work environment in which people treat each other with respect and dignity, regardless of roles, responsibilities or differences.
– Providing support, direction and resources enabling us to accomplish the responsibilities of our jobs and to reach the goals that are set for professional and personal growth.
– The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.
Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. This job may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended. This posting is likely to only be posted for 2 – 3 weeks, so applicants should apply soon.
