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Department Overview

The HEALthy Brain and Child Development (HBCD) Study will recruit a large cohort of pregnant women from regions of the country significantly affected by the opioid crisis and follow them and their children through early childhood. The study will collect information beginning at birth and continuing through early childhood, including structural and functional brain imaging; anthropometrics; medical history; family history; biospecimens; and social, emotional, and cognitive development. Knowledge gained from this research will be used to better understand and ultimately prevent or attenuate the harms of prenatal and postnatal exposure to drugs or other adverse environmental conditions, including risk for early substance use, mental disorders, and other behavioral and developmental problems. It will also identify resilience factors that may mitigate some of these adverse outcomes.

Function/Duties of Position

The HEALthy Brain and Child Development (HBCD) Study at OHSU is conducting studies with pregnant people and their children in the areas of neurodevelopment, behavior, learning, environmental factors, substance exposure, and cognitive functioning under the direction of Principle Investigators, Alice Graham, Ph.D., Elinor Sullivan, Ph.D. and Bonnie Nagel, Ph.D. We have an opening for an energetic and highly motivated full-time Senior Clinical Research Assistant.

The incumbent will be responsible for neuroimaging data collection and processing for the HBCD study, involving pregnant and postpartum people and their infants and young children. The study includes neuroimaging, biological sample collection, questionnaire measures and behavioral observations. This individual will be primarily involved in the neuroimaging aspects of the study, including data collection, quality assurance, and transfer. In this role, they will assist in overseeing other staff, volunteers and graduate students involved in these areas. They will interface with personnel at the imaging center on a regular basis. They will also play a role in organizing data and supporting computing needs of HBCD study staff, volunteers and students. They will communicate with HBCD consortium members responsible for MRI data quality, transfer and processing at the consortium level. This position will require adopting a flexible schedule, with evening and weekend hours for data collection. Research aims are subject to change and therefore priority in duties may change over time.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in relevant field AND 1 year of relevant experience OR

• Associate's AND 3 years of relevant experience OR

• 4 years of relevant experience OR

• Equivalent combination of training and experience.

• Effectiveness in organizing tasks and setting priorities, communicating with others, working efficiently with minimum oversight, interacting constructively with faculty and staff.

• The ability to be adaptable, creative, and a quick learner

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree (4 yr) with major courses in psychology, neuroscience, biology, math, computer science, engineering, physics, or related technical disciplines and 1-3 years experience conducting neuroimaging studies.

• Experience operating an MRI.

• Experience processing or analyzing neuroimaging data.

• Experience working with infants, children and families.

• Experience with computer programming.

• Ability to operate an MRI in a research context.

• Background in neuroscience and neuroimaging.

• Linux/Unix command line proficiency and/or some experience with computer programming.

• Ability to speak Spanish conversationally preferred.

Additional Details

To apply, submit cover letter, resume and/or CV.

All are welcome

Oregon Health & Science University values a diverse and culturally competent workforce. We are proud of our commitment to being an equal opportunity, affirmative action organization that does not discriminate against applicants on the basis of any protected class status, including disability status and protected veteran status. Individuals with diverse backgrounds and those who promote diversity and a culture of inclusion are encouraged to apply. To request reasonable accommodation contact the Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Department at 503-494-5148 or aaeo@ohsu.edu.