Career Center

Department: Med-DevSci
Salary/Grade: NEX/13

Job Summary:

About the Institute for Innovations in Developmental Sciences

Northwestern University’s Institute for Innovations in Developmental Sciences (DevSci) brings together the rich and diverse community of scholars at Northwestern focused on how early development shapes lifespan health and wellbeing. DevSci provides a scientific platform for transdisciplinary research and training bridging NU’s biomedical and social sciences campuses. DevSci provides specialized infrastructure, resources, and training to over 150 faculty, students and staff from disciplines ranging from pediatrics, developmental psychopathology, prevention, developmental science, education, neuroscience, and population health. It also oversees the Neurodevelopmental Core at Northwestern University which enables the integration of state of the art developmentally-sensitive neuroimaging, physiologic and performance-based developmental assessment methods into diverse research programs.

Position Description

The Institute for Innovations in Developmental Sciences (DevSci) at Northwestern is seeking an individual with expertise in child psychology (or related fields).  This is an hourly, full-time position for a person with experience/training in administering developmentally-based child assessments and coding of behavioral data who will work on sponsored research projects as well as within DevSci’s Neurodevelopmental Core. This position requires a combination of both clinical expertise as well as a strong administrative and organizational skills.

The ideal candidate for this position will have experience working with young children administering standardized developmental assessments (for example., PAPA, Bayley, DAS,NIH Toolbox, Mullen), developing coding protocols and procedures, and behavioral coding, but will also receive on the job training, certification, and supervision. Importantly, the candidate will be comfortable both administering/coding these assessments and training other staff to follow the guidelines of these assessments.

We seek an enthusiastic, self-directed individual who is interested in a position that will offer flexibility (with a remote option but some in-person activity will be required).   This position would require 40 hours per week and may include evening and weekend hours.   This is an outstanding position for an individual with interest in growing developmental assessment skills within a dynamic research environment.  Occasionaly travel to Evanston is required.

Expectations of the Senior Research Study Coordinator

The candidate should have experience working with children and conducting developmentally-based child assessments. The candidate should also have experience in coding and developing protocols and be comfortable with supervisory and/or administrative duties as assigned.

Key responsibilities include:

• Developing program-wide behavioral coding protocols/SOPs
• Creating, leading, and organizing behavioral coding teams
• Coding behavioral data
• Administering developmental assessments and training other staff to follow the guidelines of these assessments
• Providing ad hoc administrative support for the Neurodevelopmental Core

Please note: Flexible working hours, including evening and weekend hours and off-site data collection. A cover letter is required for consideration.

Specific Responsibilities:

Technical

• Participates in the planning & conduct of research studies.
• Reviews project & protocol & recommends strategies to expedite study. 
• Obtains informed consent.
• Administers tests &/or questionnaires following protocols
• Collects, compiles, tabulates &/or processes responses.
• Gathers information.
• Monitors & maintains systems for effective participant and data flow for studies. 

Administration

• Manages study databases which may include ensuring that data is collected & entered correctly.
• Reviews & analyzes data.
• Creates computer models, graphs, reports & summaries for use in publications, professional journals, & grant applications.
• Creates & maintains study manuals regarding operating, safety, etc. procedures.
• Ensures that all study documents associated with current local, state, & federal regulatory guidelines, requirements, laws & research protocols are completed in a timely manner.

Finance

• Processes payments for research participants per study protocol. 
• Creates lab financial plan & budget/audit expenses.
• Obtains sales quotes for lab equipment & supplies.
• Reviews & adjusts expenses to decrease costs. 
• Oversees repair & maintenance of all lab equipment & ensures that lab supplies are ready & available when necessary. 
• Administers budget including negotiating with grant sponsors. 
• Maintains & reconciles expenditures & balances in regard to research accounts & budgets.

Supervision

• Trains, directs, assigns duties to & may supervise research staff, students, residents &/or fellows. 
• Acts as a mentor in regard to education of junior coordinators.

Miscellaneous

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in clinical psychology, educational psychology, school psychology, social work, or speech & language pathology, OR another license-eligible Master’s degree.
• Must complete NU's IRB CITI training before interacting with any participants & must re-certify every 3 years.

Minimum Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities.)

• Experience working with young children administering standardized developmental assessments
• Ability to work in a team-based environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working in a psychological research lab is preferred.
• 1-3 years of Administrative experience.
• Experience with behavioral coding and leading/organizing coding teams

Preferred Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities)

• Knowledge in child development is preferred.
• Strong administrative and organizational skills. 

Benefits:
At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts and more! Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness:
Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life’s challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.
We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html to learn more.

Professional Growth & Development:
Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you’re interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more.

Northwestern requires all staff and faculty to be vaccinated against COVID-19, subject to limited exceptions. For more information, please visit our COVID-19 and Campus Updates website.

The Northwestern campus sits on the traditional homelands of the people of the Council of Three Fires, the Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Odawa as well as the Menominee, Miami and Ho-Chunk nations. We acknowledge and honor the original people of the land upon which Northwestern University stands, and the Native people who remain on this land today.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Click for information on EEO is the Law.
  

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About Northwestern University

Northwestern University is a major private research university with 12 academic divisions located on three campuses in Evanston, Chicago, and Education City in Doha, Qatar. We have approximately 2,500 full-time faculty members, 17,000 graduate and undergraduate students, and over 5,700 full and part-time staff. Northwestern University combines innovative teaching and pioneering research in a highly collaborative environment. It provides students and faculty exceptional opportunities for intellectual, personal and professional growth.

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