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Junior Specialist for the Adolescent Sleep Need Project

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Position description

The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of California, Davis invites applications for a qualified Junior Specialist for the Adolescent Sleep Need project.

RECRUITMENT DESCRIPTION:
This position will be involved in the study of how sleep need changes across late adolescence and into early adulthood. In this longitudinal study, participants’ daytime sleepiness and daytime performance are evaluated after 4 consecutive nights of either 7, 8.5, or 10 hour in bed. All night sleep electroencephalograms (EEG) are recorded on 2 of those nights. Under the direction of the PI and co-investigator, the incumbent will schedule recordings, and provide information to participants and their families regarding study objectives and requirements in person and by telephone. The incumbent will be the main line of communication between the laboratory and participants and their families. The incumbents will be responsible for mentoring undergraduate assistants, running weekend daytime performance testing, and assisting with data analysis and interpretation. About 25% of the effort will be devoted to scoring all night EEG records for sleep stages and scoring daytime multiple sleep latency tests (MSLT). In addition, the incumbent will attend weekly lab meetings and, in collaboration with the PI, prepare manuscripts and presentations. The ideal candidate will have strong interpersonal, communication, and decision-making skills; as well as the ability to work well independently and as part of a team. These candidates will work closely with the co-investigator, Ian G. Campbell, Ph.D. Work week runs from Thursday through Monday with Tuesday and Wednesday off.

General responsibilities include:

RESEARCH ACTIVITY (80% effort)
• Assist with participant recruitment and scheduling of study participants.
• Inform study participants and families regarding study objectives and participant requirements.
• Schedule nighttime EEG recordings and weekend daytime performance testing.
• Mentorship of undergraduate assistants who travel to participants’ home to apply EEG electrodes and assist with weekend performance testing.
• Calibrate EEG recording equipment.
• Download and archive nighttime EEG data, daytime MSLT data, and daytime performance data.
• Use PASS-PLUS software to analyze all night EEG and to score sleep stages.
• Download and analyze actigraphy watch data.
• Accurately enter and track information in study tracking and data entry databases.
• Assist with data processing, data management, and statistical analysis in SAS.

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITY (18% effort)
• Attend weekly lab meetings on study progress.
• Prepare presentations for conferences and the community in collaboration with the PI, including conducting literature reviews, simple statistical analyses, and slide preparations, and, when appropriate, independently presenting to community organizations or agencies.
• Contribute to writing manuscripts for publication, including assisting with data cleaning, literature reviews, and synthesis of information for dissemination of research findings to the public.
• In collaboration with PI and co-investigator, develop individual research questions based on observations made during analyses of EEG and performance data.
• Participate and present during monthly lab journal clubs.

SERVICE ACTIVITY (2% effort)
• Establish and maintain positive relationships with and provide outreach to community groups and schools as part of participant retention and as part of community education.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:
• Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Biology, Physiology, Neurobiology, or a related field by September 2020.
• Experience managing behavior and overseeing children, preferably teenagers.
• Data entry experience.
• Interpersonal skills to calmly and effectively communicate with the participants and their parents.
• Experience with medical or research recording equipment.

*Degree must be awarded by hire date; new graduates may require additional paperwork verifying their degree progress if submitting an application before degree is awarded.

ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS:
• Demonstrated ability to perform detail-oriented tasks with a high degree of accuracy.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a fast-paced setting with composure, courtesy, and professional attitude.
• Ability to participate in discussion of research results and contribute to manuscript preparation, including literature reviews, data cleaning activities, and synthesis of information.
• Excellent communication and written skills to communicate effectively with the interact with the community and research participants, PI, co-investigator, and undergraduate research assistants.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
• Experience applying EEG electrodes according to 10-20 system.
• Experience scoring sleep recordings.
• Experience working with large datasets.
• Ability to assist with data management and conduct simple statistical analyses in SAS.
• Prefer applicants who are willing to stay through the end of the project funding, June 30, 2022

TERM OF APPOINTMENT:
12-month term appointment from start date at 100% time (full time).

SALARY RANGE:
Step 1 - $42,300 annual, or Step 2 - $45,100 annual, commensurate with qualifications and experience.

TO APPLY:
For full consideration, applications must be received by June 12, 2020; however, the position will remain open until filled through June 30, 2021. To apply, please go to the following link: https://recruit.ucdavis.edu/JPF03556

Applicants should submit cover letter, CV or resume, and contact information for at least 3 references. Documents/materials must be submitted as PDF files.

QUESTIONS:
Please direct further questions to Dr. Ian Campbell, igcampbell@ucdavis.edu.

The University of California, Davis commits to inclusion excellence by advancing equity, diversity and inclusion in all that we do. We are an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer, and particularly encourage applications from members of historically underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, women, and individuals with disabilities, veterans, LGBTQ community members, and others who demonstrate the ability to help us achieve our vision of a diverse and inclusive community.

Under Federal law, the University of California may employ only individuals who are legally able to work in the United States as established by providing documents as specified in the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. Certain UCD positions funded by federal contracts or sub-contracts require the selected candidate to pass an E-Verify check. More information is available http://www.uscis.gov/e-verify

UC Davis is a smoke & tobacco-free campus (http://breathefree.ucdavis.edu/)
If you need accommodation due to a disability, please contact the recruiting department.

Application Requirements

Document requirements
  • Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.

  • Cover Letter

Reference requirements
  • 3-5 required (contact information only)
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