Recruit

This recruitment will be to potentially hire two junior specialists.

The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of California, Davis invites applications for qualified Junior Specialists to work in a research lab led by Dr. Marjorie Solomon. This position involves work in a NIH-funded project that investigates cognition and mental health issues in autistic children, adolescents and young adults as part of the MIND Institute’s Autism Phenome Project (https://health.ucdavis.edu/mindinstitute/research/autism-phenome-project/index.html). The job also involves assisting an employment support program for autistic adults that is funded by the California Department of Disability Services (DDS).

The Solomon lab invites candidates with strong research interests and quantitative skills in the adolescent to adult developmental period in autism. The successful candidate will be involved in a NIH-funded project investigating depression, cognitive control, memory, and emotion processing in autistic children, adolescents and young adults and a DDS-funded program to evaluate the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) model to promote competitive integrated employment in autistic adults. The successful candidate will support these projects via participant recruitment, data collection, data entry, and data analysis. The successful candidate will also coordinate with local employment agencies for study-related activities. The position includes opportunities to participate in clinically-oriented activities in the Solomon Lab and at the MIND Institute. The position is full time with flexible work hours, and it sometimes requires evening availability. The position also requires on-site availability. The successful 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.

General responsibilities include:

I. RESEARCH ACTIVITY (93% EFFORT)

Study Cohort Recruitment and Coordination 35%

• Recruit study cohorts for ongoing studies: Individuals to be recruited include children, adolescents, and young adults.
• Conduct phone interviews to evaluate eligibility based on medical and psychiatric exclusion criteria.
  
• Participate in outreach activities in the community to identify these children, adolescents, and young adults.
• Screen for psychopathology in typically developing individuals by conducting interviews.
• Organize meetings with other labs and external agencies.

Cohort Batteries Administration and Data Collection 30%

• Administer clinical and cognitive behavioral batteries to study participants who include children, adolescents, and adults with autism and typical development.
• Assist in MRI scan preparation and acquisition.

Data Analysis 13%

• Assist analyzing collected behavioral data and MRI data.
• Participate in discussion/interpretation of the analysis results.

IRB Management 5%

• Assist in maintaining IRB protocols. Ensure IRB and HIPAA compliance.
  

Study Data Management 10%

• Score and manage study data; clinical ratings, medical and demographic information, intelligence assessments, and cognitive performance data.
  

II. PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE AND ACTIVITY (5% EFFORT)

• Participate in activities of professional societies via presentations of research findings of ongoing studies.
• Assist in preparations of research presentations and manuscript preparations.
  
• Attend educational opportunities at the MIND institute, including the Research Seminar Series which provides a forum for the presentation and discussion of research issues and findings by Institute faculty, postdoctoral fellows and graduate students. The successful candidate will also attend the Distinguished Lecturer Series which are invited talks by highly respected scientists from around the world.

III. UNIVERSITY AND PUBLIC SERVICE (2% EFFORT)

• Participate in committees within the MIND Institute, the psychiatry department, college, campus and other University entities, as appropriate.

UC Davis is a smoke and tobacco-free campus (http://breathefree.ucdavis.edu/).

We are an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer, and particularly encourage applications from members of historically underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, women, 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. For the complete University of California nondiscrimination and affirmative action policy see: http://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4000376/NondiscrimAffirmAct

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 UC Davis positions funded by federal contracts or sub-contracts require the selected candidate to pass an E-Verify check. More information is available at: http://www.uscis.gov/e-verify

The University of California, Davis (UC Davis) is committed to inclusive excellence by advancing equity, diversity and inclusion in all that we do. UC Davis celebrates the multi-cultural diversity of its community by creating a welcoming and inclusive environment demonstrated through a variety of resources and programs available to academics, staff, and students. Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging are core values of UC Davis that are embedded within our Principles of Community and are tied with how to best serve our student population. Our excellence in research, teaching, and service can best be fully realized by members of our academic community who share our commitment to these values, which are included in our Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Vision, our strategic plan: “To Boldly Go,” our Principles of Community, the Office of Academic Affairs’ Mission Statement, and the UC Board of Regents Policy 4400: Policy on University of California Diversity Statement. UC Davis is making important progress towards our goal of achieving federal designation as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and an Asian American, Native American, and Pacific Islander-Serving Institution. The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion offers a plethora of resources on their website, and the Office of Health Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (HEDI) has outlined similar goals in their Anti-Racism and DEI Action Plan.” There are a plethora of links available on the About Us webpage where you can learn more about our Administration, Diversity and Inclusion, Rankings, Locations, Native American Land Acknowledgement, Sustainability, Visiting UC Davis, UC Davis Health, and Campus Safety.

The university is consistently ranked among the top institutions in the world for campus sustainability practices by the UI Green Metric World University Rankings. UC Davis is focused on achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions and repeatedly shown its commitment to preserving a healthy and sustainable environment for generations to come.

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.