Temporary Research Assistant - Human Brain Research Lab (HBRL)

The University of Iowa Department of Neurosurgery is seeking a temporary, hourlyResearch Assistant (RA)to support the Human Brain Research Laboratory (HBRL) by assisting in projects focused on cerebrovascular research. This position would be responsible for assisting in experiment development, preparation, and execution, as well as maintaining and processing of data. This position would work as a part of a large research team, including multiple principal investigators, clinical and research faculty, several postdoctoral scholars, and other support staff.

Duties include:

• Facilitate visit procedures and paperwork associated with outpatient visits (e.g., questionnaires, MRI screening).
• Coordinate with neurosurgery and HBRL staff members to arrange for research activities during participants pre-operative and follow-up visits, including appointment scheduling and escorting patients to their appointments.
• Coordinate with neurosurgery, HBRL, and Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU) staff members to arrange for research activities during participants' stay in the EMU.
• Daily update team members on completed and planned research activities via e-mail during participants' stay in the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit.
• Set up and Participate in HBRL Monday and Wednesday lab meetings.
• Participate in data collection from research participants in the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics and Stead Family Children's Hospital (often weekends, sometimes evenings and nights) and intraoperative experiments in the operating room.
• Assist with equipment setup in Neuro-IR suite
• Assist with collecting clinical data and data from neuro-monitoring devices.
• Maintain and update detailed and accurate records of all data that is collected
• Interact with participants during data collection, including describing study purpose and procedures and ensuring that participants understand tasks and expectations.
• Help maintain laboratory equipment and facilities.
• Conduct preliminary data management tasks (computer entry, database search, proofing, copying, redaction, etc.).
• Perform data preprocessing
• Generate preliminary data visualizations and figures.
• Keep track of research and office supply inventory and coordinate procurement as necessary.
• Perform other administrative activities, such as organizing and maintaining research paperwork.

Please note: This position is expected to last a maximum of six (6) months.

Pay Grade: 3A -https://hr.uiowa.edu/pay/pay-plans/professional-and-scientific-pay-structure

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Degree in neuroscience, cognitive science, computer science, psychology, engineering, speech pathology preferred.
• Comfortable working in a hospital setting with participants who have diverse abilities including those who have cognitive deficits and major medical issues.
• Flexible schedule - occasional weekend, evening and night hours required. Research activities are dependent on clinical schedules and each patient-subject is typically involved in research for 2 consecutive weeks, during which time the Research Assistant must be willing to have day-to-day flexibility in their schedules.
• Demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Office products.
• Ability to work independently.
• Excellent written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills.
• Attention to detail and a high level of organizational skills.

Desired Qualifications

• Ability to program and use computing software (e.g., MATLAB, R, python, C++, Java, Presentation) for experimental design, data processing, and analysis.
• Experience working with clinical dataset.
• Familiarity with data acquisition systems (e.g., TDT, Neuralynx, Biopac, and Eyelink).
• Experience in lab management, research scheduling and coordination.
• Master's degree .
• Research experience in neuroscience, computational science, cell or molecular biology
• Experience working with cerebrovascular pathologies.

Successful candidates will be required to self-disclose any conviction history and will be subject to a criminal background check and credential/education verification. Up to 5 professional references will be requested at a later step in the recruitment process.This position is not eligible for University sponsorship for employment authorization.

For additional questions, please contact Erin Curry at 319-356-7355 or erin-curry@uiowa.edu.