Mindfulness-Based Research Lab Manager – UC San Diego – San Diego, CA

UCSD Department of Psychiatry is one of the most innovative and productive academic departments in the country, offering challenging career opportunities in the diverse areas of advanced educational programs, cutting-edge research, and state-of-the-art clinical services. The department is committed to offering a dynamic learning environment and growing opportunities to its talented and dedicated employees.

NIH funded, 5 year randomized, controlled trial examining the long-term effects of exercise, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, or the combination to health education among 290 older adults reporting stress. Outcomes include neurocognitive, clinical, biomarker, and neuroimaging variables.

Under the general supervision of the Principal Investigator, the incumbent is responsible for working independently on the coordination and management of the San Diego site for a study comparing Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, exercise, and health education to improve neural plasticity and cognitive function in older adults. The incumbent will be responsible for recruiting and retaining study participants and coordinating their participation in study procedures. The incumbent will serve as the primary point of contact for assigned research subjects, helping them navigate through the assessment and intervention process for the duration of their participation. The incumbent will collect neuropsychological, clinical, and biomarker data and will perform functional and structural MRI. The incumbent will conduct clinical interviews, neuropsychological testing, questionnaires, and assessments with older adult (age 65-85) participants in the study. The incumbent will conduct blood draws with the participants. The incumbent will enter and maintain data in REDCAP and other study databases. The incumbent will oversee the study budget and purchasing, contribute to and provide support on grant and protocol submissions and communication with granting agencies and regulatory bodies; contribute original ideas in relation to approach to research questions as they are related to current or planned research/evaluation studies, including issues related to sampling, retention, and data analysis. The incumbent will coordinate the work of laboratory staff and volunteers. The incumbent will develop collaborative relationships with physicians, other researchers, and community agencies in order to recruit and retain appropriate subjects for this project, as well as to carry out project tasks. The incumbent will also work closely with staff at the study Coordinating Center at Washington University in St. Louis in order to ensure consistency of study procedures across sites.

• Theoretical knowledge of Psychology, Neuroscience, Gerontology, or other related fields essential to the successful performance of the duties assigned to the position.

• 
  Must have an active phlebotomist license.

• Demonstrated experience collecting and storing biomarker samples.

• Demonstrated experience with managing longitudinal clinical research studies.

• Demonstrated experience with research studies involving individuals aged 65-85.

• Demonstrated experience with research consenting process.

• Demonstrated ability to take medical and psychiatric history and perform clinical assessments, including but not limited to the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 and neuropsychological assessments such as the Stroop Color Word Interference Test and paragraph and list recall measures.

• Strong computer skills including, but not limited to, REDCAP, MS Word/Excel/PowerPoint/ACCESS, SAS, SPSS, and Endnote. Demonstrated ability to maintain and use various databases.

• Strong demonstrated experience in contributing to and providing support on grant and protocol submissions and communication with granting agencies and regulatory bodies.

• Strong written, telephone, and face-to-face communication skills.

• Excellent organizational skills and demonstrated ability to prioritize work and work within deadlines.

• Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality.

• Demonstrated knowledge of physical performance assessments such as the Short Physical Performance Battery, Standing Balance Test, and 9-hole Pegboard Dexterity Test.

• Proven ability to contribute original ideas in relation to approach to research questions as they are related to current or planned research/evaluation studies, including issues related to sampling, retention, and data analysis.

• Demonstrated experience with research involving exercise interventions.

• Training and experience performing MRI and fMRI protocols with research subjects.

• Demonstrated knowledge of psychiatric diagnoses and assessment tools such as the SCID

• Proven experience in conducting clinical interviews, neuropsychological testing, questionnaires, and assessments with older adult (age 65-85) participants in the study, which include diagnostic interviews, rating scales, physiological measurements, and clinical labs on research subjects for various analyses

• Proven experience in conducting collection and storage of samples, including salivary cortisol and blood samples as required per protocol. Perform shipping and handling of specimens as required by protocol.

• Experience with ecological momentary assessment tools.

Job offer is contingent on successful engagement in the UC COVID-19 Vaccination program (fully vaccinated with documented proof or approved exception/deferral).

UC San Diego Health is the only academic health system in the San Diego region, providing leading-edge care in patient care, biomedical research, education, and community service. Our facilities include two university hospitals, a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, Shiley Eye Institute, Sulpizio Cardiovascular Center, and several outpatient clinics. UC San Diego Medical Center in Hillcrest is a designated Level I Trauma Center and has the only Burn Center in the county. We invite you to join our dynamic team!

Applications/Resumes are accepted for current job openings only. For full consideration on any job, applications must be received prior to the initial closing date. If a job has an extended deadline, applications/resumes will be considered during the extension period; however, a job may be filled before the extended date is reached.

UC San Diego Health is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, gender identity or sexual orientation. For the complete University of California nondiscrimination and affirmative action policy see: http://www-hr.ucsd.edu/saa/nondiscr.html

UC San Diego is a smoke and tobacco free environment. Please visit smokefree.ucsd.edu for more information.