Neuro Imaging Research Technician II – Psychiatry

St. Louis, MO          ·          Full time

Location: Washington University Medical Campus

Time type: Full time

Job requisition id: JR73843

Scheduled Hours: 40

Position Summary

The Laboratory for Child Brain Development (LCBD-PI: Dr. Susan Perlman) currently has an opening for a Neuro Imaging Research Tech to work on NIH-funded studies of temperament, the parent-child relationship, and biological stress unfolding during early childhood.

The applicant’s main appointment will be in the Laboratory for Child Brain Development (LCBD; http://www.childbrainlab.com) in the Department of Psychiatry in the Washington University, School of Medicine, William Greenleaf Eliot Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (https://childpsychiatry.wustl.edu/). The LCBD is dedicated to using the multi-modal methodology to understand the trajectories of emotional development from infancy to middle childhood (with a strong preschool focus).

Currently, the LCBD has several ongoing projects including:

• Biological changes in children experiencing stressful life events;
• Longitudinal development of preschool irritability as a predictor for psychopathology;
• Interpersonal brain synchronization in early childhood psychopathology, including autism spectrum disorder;
• The impact of treatment for disruptive behavior on brain development and;
• Brain development in preschool children who were born dependent on opioids, in addition to several local and national collaborations.

The Neuro Imaging Research Tech will primarily be working on two studies. The first is a longitudinal study investigating the biological unfolding of stress and how it predicts the onset of psychopathology in 4-7 year-old children. This study, funded by the National Institute of Mental Health employs intensive, state-of-the-art, multi-modal, neurodevelopmental measurement including functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), HPA axis measurement (hair and salivary cortisol), and inflammatory markers.

The second is a NIH funded, longitudinal study investigating the transmission of anxiety from parent to child through dyadic interaction and biological synchrony.

This study is also multi-modal and includes fNIRS, EEG, eye-tracking, and behavioral coding. The Neuro Imaging Research Tech will also be aiding with data preprocessing and analysis from previously collected studies. Additionally, multi-modal studies within the laboratory employ eye tracking, facial expression and behavioral coding, and sleep actigraphy, hair cortisol.

Job Description

This position will require some flexibility in scheduling during weekend and evening hours.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

• Assist PI/Postdoc fellow with running study participants through magnetic resonance imaging experiments.
• Transfer files to appropriate server.
• Review study database to make sure all data has been entered.
• Run developed scripts from image processing and analysis under PI and Postdoc fellow supervision.
• Assess basic cognitive function and behaviors with testing.
• Provide routine data entry ensuring accuracy and completeness.
• Maintain study database.
• Provide the testing questionnaires to study participants.
• Prepare cognitive testing packets.
• Score cognitive testing and questionnaires for PI and Postdoc fellow.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with a brain imaging modality (fMRI, EEG, fNIRS) and/or psychophysiology (heart rate, skin conductance, pupillometry) along with experience in computer programming languages (R, Matlab, Python).
• Experience working with children.
• A strong background in psychology or neuroscience research.

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent high school certification.
• Some college.
• One year of related experience in imaging research.

Grade: R06-H

Salary Range: $16.08 – $25.12 / Hourly

The salary range reflects base salaries paid for positions in a given job grade across the University. Individual rates within the range will be determined by factors including one’s qualifications and performance, equity with others in the department, market rates for positions within the same grade and department budget.

Accommodation

If you are unable to use our online application system and would like an accommodation, please email CandidateQuestions@wustl.edu or call the dedicated accommodation inquiry number at 314-935-1149 and leave a voicemail with the nature of your request.

Pre-Employment Screening

All external candidates receiving an offer for employment will be required to submit to pre-employment screening for this position. The screenings will include criminal background check and, as applicable for the position, other background checks, drug screen, an employment and education or licensure/certification verification, physical examination, certain vaccinations and/or governmental registry checks. All offers are contingent upon successful completion of required screening.

Benefits Statement

Washington University in St. Louis is committed to providing a comprehensive and competitive benefits package to our employees. Benefits eligibility is subject to employment status, full-time equivalent (FTE) workload, and weekly standard hours. Please visit our website at https://hr.wustl.edu/benefits/ to view a summary of benefits.

EEO/AA Statement

Washington University in St. Louis is committed to the principles and practices of equal employment opportunity and especially encourages applications by those from underrepresented groups. It is the University’s policy to provide equal opportunity and access to persons in all job titles without regard to race, ethnicity, color, national origin, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, protected veteran status, or genetic information.

Diversity Statement

Washington University is dedicated to building a diverse community of individuals who are committed to contributing to an inclusive environment – fostering respect for all and welcoming individuals from diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. Individuals with a commitment to these values are encouraged to apply.

Applicant Instructions

When you are ready to apply, creating an account only takes a minute. Your account creates a candidate home page which we will use to communicate with you and allows you to apply for jobs and view your application statuses. The first page of the application offers two “Quick Apply” options. Quick Apply allows you to either use a previous application or create a new application using a resume to populate the work experience and education sections of your job application. If using a resume to populate your application, check to ensure the application fields populated accurately. You may skip the “Quick Apply” page by clicking “Next” at the bottom of the page. Documents may be uploaded in the My Experience section of the application. You also have the option to apply with a LinkedIn feature, which allows you to apply by using your LinkedIn profile to populate some of the job application fields.

Please click here to apply.