Candidates are being considered for a Clinical Research Associate position at the San Diego State University (SDSU) Brain Development Imaging Laboratories and Center for Autism and Developmental Disorders, to support clinical research studies using neuropsychological and neuroimaging methods to investigate autism spectrum disorder.
The SDSU Center for Autism and Developmental Disorders (CADD; autism.sdsu.edu) is an interdisciplinary group of autism researchers and clinical scientists from several SDSU departments and colleges, including BDIL. The Center’s mission is to provide access to evidence-based clinical services for individuals with autism and their families, to foster and support outstanding clinical and basic science research on autism and related conditions, and to provide public education on issues surrounding autism services and research.
The SDSU Brain Development Imaging Laboratories (BDIL; bdil.sdsu.edu) is an innovative clinical research collaborative co-directed by Drs. Inna Fishman and Ruth Carper. The BDIL is funded by the National Institutes of Health and other agencies to identify neurobiological (brain-based) and behavioral markers of autism spectrum and other related developmental disorders. We implement developmental, diagnostic, and neuropsychological assessments and state-of-the-art multi-modal brain imaging techniques (anatomical, functional, and diffusion MRI) to understand how ASD manifests across the lifespan, from the 1st years of life through mid- and late adulthood.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Under the direction of Drs. Ruth Carper, Inna Fishman, and Annika Linke, the person in this position will work as part of the research team (which includes faculty, clinicians, research staff and graduate and undergraduate trainees) to:
Conduct psychological (cognitive, psychodiagnostic, developmental, and neuropsychological) assessments with children and/or adults with or without developmental disorders
o These activities will be supervised by a licensed clinical psychologist (Dr. Fishman)
Monitor and supervise data entry and quality assurance through data capturing databases
Lead community outreach efforts aimed at participant recruitment and retention
Other duties in support of the ongoing research:
o Assist with management of IRB protocols and other regulatory compliance
o Train new research personnel
o Administrative tasks
Assist with MRI data acquisition as necessary
o The person in this position may be trained as an MRI Operator
This is a full time position although part-time (minimum of 20 hours a week) may be considered for particularly qualified applicants. The position can start at any time. This is a one-year, 100%-grant funded position, with a strong likelihood for renewal, contingent on performance and continuation of grant funding. The particulars of the title and compensation will depend on the experience and professional training of the applicant.
Minimum Qualifications Required:
MA/MS degree in psychology, allied health sciences, or related field, or BA/BS degree with additional, post-baccalaureate clinical or clinical research experience
Familiarity / experience with standardized psychodiagnostic testing
Ability to communicate clearly and respectfully with community members (children or adults with or without autism, and their family members), individuals with disabilities, service providers, healthcare professionals, state and local agencies, and a multi-disciplinary team of investigators, staff, and trainees
o Excellent interpersonal skills, including strong phone and interview skills
Preferred Qualifications (the ideal candidate would have):
Experience working with individuals with autism or other developmental disorders (adults and/or children)
Prior experience with scientific communication (poster or conference presentations, contributions to grant writing
Experience with project coordination
Experience with database and data capturing software (e.g., REDCap) or electronic health records (EHR)
Experience with data analysis, including working in R
Proficiency in Spanish
Willingness to work a flexible schedule, including occasional weekend and evening hours, to accommodate outreach events and/or data collection
Apply / Contact:
For additional information, contact Drs. Fishman (ifishman@sdsu.edu) and Carper (rcarper@sdsu.edu). To apply, please email a cover letter (in the format of letter of interest), a current CV or resume, and the names and contact information for two references (email to bothifishman@sdsu.edu and rcarper@sdsu.edu). Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.
A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate can be offered a position with SDSU Research Foundation
SDSU is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against persons on the basis of race, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and expression, marital status, age, disability, pregnancy, medical condition, or covered veteran status.