Job Openings

 

TCAN Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience Junior Specialist

The Translational Cognitive and Affective (TCAN) Laboratory studies the neural mechanisms of cognitive dysfunction in psychotic illness. This position is to serve a multi-faceted role as a study coordinator for several newly funded and ongoing grant-funded research projects under the direction of Dr. Cameron Carter. These ongoing grants include an investigation of inflammatory factors in the etiology of psychotic illness, MRI predictors of treatment response, the effect of brain stimulation on cognition and symptoms, and optimizing of cognitive tasks to better understand the impact of psychosis across diagnoses.

These projects utilize multiple cognitive neuroscience methodologies, including electrophysiology (EEG), transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to examine high-level cognitive processing in both healthy adults and in individuals with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depression. As such, this position will provide training and the opportunity to gain proficiency in a variety of cognitive neuroscience data collection techniques as well as clinical interviewing.

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. Previous experience with programming, data collection, and processing, particularly with tDCS, EEG and/or MRI, is desirable for more technically oriented applicants. Clinical interviewing interest and experience is desirable for more clinically oriented applicants. The incumbent will join a large team of fellow research assistants involved in coordinating these projects and will coordinate a variety aspects of the research study, in collaboration with the team.

Please see the specific job duties in more detail on the application web page and apply by Friday May 12 at 11:59pm PDT for consideration in the first round of applicants https://recruit.ucdavis.edu/JPF05635

 

Joiner Lab Psychosis Study Coordinator Junior Specialist

The Department of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior at the University of California, Davis invites applications for qualified Junior Specialists (JPF05660) to serve as the study coordinator for the Defining the Neural Circuitry of Agency Deficits in Psychotic Disorders study at UC Davis Medical Center.

This study is under the direction of Dr. Wilsaan Joiner and in collaboration with Dr. Cameron Carter’s Translational Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience (TCAN) Laboratory. The goal of the study is to use tools from cognitive neuroscience to explore how disruptions in a person’s ability to distinguish external versus self-initiated actions may influence visual perception and contribute to positive symptoms of psychosis (e.g., hallucinations and delusions). The incumbent will benefit from the opportunity to take part in research that spans two laboratories with expertise in sensorimotor integration and psychosis. Office space and the majority of daily research activities will take place at the UC Davis Imaging Research Center in Sacramento with visits to the Sensorimotor Integration Laboratory in Davis as needed.

The incumbent will coordinate many aspects of the research study. The incumbent will use knowledge of mental health conditions to conduct phone evaluations to determine study eligibility of potential participants. The incumbent will also consent study participants and schedule all of their research appointments. The incumbent will conduct clinical interviews for research purposes under the supervision of a faculty member and will conduct behavioral and MRI testing sessions. The incumbent will manage the study IRB protocols, adhering strictly to privacy and confidentiality laws. The incumbent will also manage data collection and organization, including mentoring undergraduate volunteers in the input of data to multiple databases. Depending on their contribution and role in the lab the incumbent may have the opportunity to contribute to writing and review of relevant manuscripts. Furthermore, the incumbent may have the opportunity to creatively contribute to the research project by proposing alternative analysis strategies, generate novel projects with existing data, and review literature for manuscript preparation. The incumbent will be actively and significantly involved in publishable research activities, including reviewing journal articles and engaging in discussions on research and the interpretation of research results with PI and others in the lab.

Please see the specific job duties in more detail on the application web page and apply by Friday May 12 at 11:59pm PDT for consideration in the first round of applicants https://recruit.ucdavis.edu/JPF05660