Genetics Staff Research Associate - Psychiatry - 140326

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.

Under supervision of the Principal Investigator, the incumbent will assist in assessment efforts for the San Diego site of a collaborative clinical research study on the genetics of psychiatric disorders within the Department of Psychiatry. Duties will include maintaining weekly schedule of locating and scheduling follow-up assessments of previously studied subjects, assisting with conducting structured diagnostic interviews and psychological assessments, and assisting in creating datasets for primary measures based on coding strategies. The incumbent will contact by telephone research participants who were originally from San Diego communities, will obtain informed consent for research participation, and assist with conducting individual assessments. The assessments include structured psychiatric interviews and psychological surveys. The incumbent will locate and schedule participants, prepare research forms, maintain research records and study materials, coordinate with staff from two other research laboratories, and order supplies as needed. General duties also include data entry and assisting in interpreting the data under the supervision of the study investigators. The incumbent will regularly attend and contribute to research meetings and will assist with other duties and administrative tasks as needed.

• Theoretical knowledge in Psychiatry, psychology or related field.

• Proven ability to interact with participants including those with psychiatric diagnoses.

• Demonstrated ability to administer structured psychiatric interviews and solid understanding of the process and procedures of structured interviews and psychological assessments.

• Experience working in a clinical setting and ability to locate participants whose location is unknown, contact participants, and schedule follow-up interviews.

• Strong communication skills (both verbal and written) needed to interact professionally and effectively in the work environment, including ability to conduct structured psychiatric interviews and assessment of research participants.

• Effective and diplomatic oral and written communication and interpersonal skills and ability to develop collaborations and professional relationships between research staff.

• Demonstrated accuracy in work habits with close attention to detail in all aspects of the job.

• Demonstrated experience with the operation of a personal computer and software applications, such as Microsoft Word and Excel.

• Good organizational skills to file and maintain participant tracking. Ability to organize and maintain assessment materials, both paper and electronic versions. Demonstrated skill in accurate record keeping and ability to organize data.

• Demonstrated ability to maintain participant confidentiality.

• Ability to assist with coordinating and implementing recruitment strategies of participants for research study and screen database to evaluate their eligibility for study participation.

• Experience scoring/coding outcome data based on structured strategies.

• Ability to evaluate participant risks in conjunction with Principal Investigator.

• Employment is subject to a criminal background check.

• Must be able to work various hours and locations based on business needs.