The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of California, Davis invites applications for a qualified Junior Specialist for the Miller Lab at the UC Davis MIND Institute.
This position will be involved in interdisciplinary studies focusing on the early detection of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) among infants/toddlers at familial risk. MAJOR RESPONSIBLITIES
The incumbent for this position will be involved in interdisciplinary studies focusing on questions related to the early detection of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) among infants/toddlers at familial risk. Under the direction of the PI, the incumbent will assist with participant recruitment and visit scheduling and provide information to families regarding study objectives and requirements in person and by telephone. The incumbent will communicate instructions to study participants regarding a variety of study related issues, answer questions as they arise, and obtain informed consent for study participation. Associated tasks include coordinating the flow of study visits between PI and staff members, administering and scoring questionnaires and behavioral measures, conducting eye-tracking during study visits, performing behavioral coding using BORIS software, managing psychophysiological data acquisition, helping coordinate a team of undergraduate volunteers, and entering information in an Access database to track visits and study procedures. 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. This candidate will work closely with Meghan Miller, Ph.D.
General responsibilities include: I. RESEARCH ACTIVITY (80% EFFORT)
Assist with participant recruitment and scheduling of study participants
Brief study participant families regarding study objectives and obtain informed consent
Coordinate activities during study visits between participating families and staff members
Facilitate communication between team members including clinicians, examiners, camera operators, and the PI regarding any special circumstances pertaining to study visits
Use BORIS software to code behavioral data obtained during lab visits using coding systems for early social communication development and early ADHD-related behaviors
Manage progress of behavioral coding projects including training, managing, and maintaining reliability with more junior lab volunteer coders
Accurately enter and track information in study tracking and data entry databases and train others to perform data entry
Assist with data processing and data management in R and REDCap
Assist with statistical analysis in R and SPSS for poster and paper presentations and manuscripts
Capture, digitize, and edit videotape footage obtained from families using specialized audiovisual equipment and train others in the use of this equipment
Coordinate a team of undergraduate research assistants
II. PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE AND ACTIVITY (15% EFFORT)
Attend weekly lab meetings and MIND Institute study coordinator meetings
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
As needed, assist PI with preparation of grant applications, including conducting literature searches and simple analyses of pilot data
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
Develop individual research question in collaboration with the PI and perform relevant statistical analyses of data collected as part of the research study to be presented at internal and/or professional conferences once per year, including the Society for Research in Child Development, International Meeting for Autism Research, or American Psychological Association (or one of APA's regional conferences)
Participate and present during monthly lab journal clubs, including leading the journal club on occasion (selecting a journal article, presenting to the group, and leading discussion)
Attend research presentations at the MIND Institute, including biweekly Research Seminar Series talks and Monthly Distinguished Lecture Series presentations
III. UNIVERSITY AND PUBLIC SERVICE (5% EFFORT)
Establish and maintain positive relationships with, and provide outreach presentations to, community and neurodevelopmental disorder advocacy agencies (e.g., CHADD of Sacramento), schools, and service providers for participant recruitment purposes
UC Davis is the home of the Aggies — go-getters, change makers and problem solvers who make their mark at one of the top public universities in the United States. Since we first opened in 1908, we’ve been known for standout academics, sustainability and Aggie Pride as well as valuing the Northern California lifestyle. These themes are woven into our 100-plus-year history and our reputation for solving problems related to food, health, the environment and society.Our 5,300-acre campus is in the city of Davis, a vibrant college town of about 68,000 located in Yolo County. The state capital is 20 minutes away, and world-class destinations such as the San Francisco Bay Area, Lake Tahoe and the Napa Valley are within a two-hour drive.