Technical Research Assistant

McLean Hospital; Belmont (MA); On-site; USD 61,692,000 - 83,326,000; Full time

Job summary

McLean Hospital's Neurobiology of Fear Laboratory in Belmont, MA seeks a Research Assistant to support clinical research studies. The role involves mouse husbandry and rodent behavioral tests, translational biology tasks, and close collaboration with the PI to explore mechanisms of psychiatric disorders such as depression and PTSD.

The successful candidate will have a Bachelor's degree and experience with digital mental health tools, data analytics and lab workflows.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree required.
• Experience working with tools or skills relevant to digital mental health such as app development, programming, data analytics and visualization.

Responsibilities

• Assist on clinical research studies per protocol and guidelines.
• Recruit and evaluate potential study patients.
• Conduct telephone interviews, schedule visits and perform symptom rating scales.
• Interact with patients regarding study and provide education and procedural instruction.
• Maintain patient information databases and record-keeping.
• Input data, run basic analyses and generate reports.
• Monitor equipment and maintain study supplies as needed.

Skills

App development

Programming

Data analytics

Data visualization

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Job description

Site

The McLean Hospital Corporation Mass General Brigham relies on a wide range of professionals, including doctors, nurses, business people, tech experts, researchers, and systems analysts to advance our mission. As a not-for-profit, we support patient care, research, teaching, and community service, striving to provide exceptional care. We believe that high-performing teams drive groundbreaking medical discoveries and invite all applicants to join us and experience what it means to be part of Mass General Brigham.

Job Summary

Work under the general supervision of a Principal Investigator and following established policies and procedures, conducts a variety of routine experiments. Calculates, transcribes and analyzes data using basic statistics.

Essential Functions

• Provides assistance on clinical research studies as per study guidelines and protocols.
• Recruits and evaluates potential study patients.
• Per protocol instruction, conducts telephone interviews, schedules patient for study visits, and performs clinical symptom rating scales.
• Interact with patients/subjects with regard to study, including patient education, procedural instruction, follow-up.
• May serve as a liaison between patient and physician.
• Responsible for collecting data and maintaining patient information database for study.
• May be required to input data, do minimum analysis and run various reports.
• Maintains patients records as part of record keeping function.
• Responsible for mailing various study information or packets to study participants.
• Answers phone calls and inquiries regarding study protocol.
• Refers participants when appropriate to supervisor or clinical staff.
• Monitors and sets up any needed equipment.
• Maintains inventory and orders supplies when necessary.
• All McLean team members are expected to consistently demonstrate our values of integrity, compassion, respect, diversity, teamwork, excellence and innovation in their work activities and interactions.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's Degree required.
• Experience: Experience working with tools or skills relevant to digital mental health such as app development, programming, data analytics and visualization.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Excellent interpersonal skills, professionalism, and respect for subjects’ rights and needs are required for working with the study participants.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to follow and perform clinical research protocols.
• Knowledge of basic computer programs and basic computer skills for communication, clinical, and administrative purposes.
• Excellent organization skills and ability to prioritize a variety of tasks.
• Careful attention to detail.

Additional Job Details

The Neurobiology of Fear Laboratory (PI: Kerry Ressler, MD, PhD) based at McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA seeks a scientifically minded individual with excellent organization skills and attention to detail to join our team as a research assistant (RA). The RA will assist in research investigating the molecular mechanisms of psychiatric disorders to gain further understanding of debilitating human psychiatric disorders such as Major Depression, and PTSD.

The successful candidate will take a role in mouse husbandry and colony maintenance and run rodent behavioral tests for projects related to the molecular, cellular and circuit mechanisms of psychiatric disorders. This position is thus suited for individuals with a translational background, and interest in molecular biology skills (DNA/RNA work, qPCR, RNA-Scope, RNA-seq, protein work) and rodent behavioral assays. Excellent organization and communication skills are required to ensure the success of ongoing projects in the lab.

Work Details

• Remote Type: Onsite
• Work Location: 115 Mill Street
• Scheduled Weekly Hours: 40
• Employee Type: Regular
• Work Shift: Day (United States of America)
• Pay Range: $21.53 - $29.08 / Hourly
• Grade: MRA500

Benefits and Compensation

At Mass General Brigham, we believe in recognizing and rewarding the unique value each team member brings to our organization. Our approach to determining base pay is comprehensive, and any offer extended will take into account your skills, relevant experience if applicable, education, certifications and other essential factors. The base pay information provided offers an estimate based on the minimum job qualifications; however, it does not encompass all elements contributing to your total compensation package. In addition to competitive base pay, we offer comprehensive benefits, career advancement opportunities, differentials, premiums and bonuses as applicable and recognition programs designed to celebrate your contributions and support your professional growth.

EEO Statement

1600 The McLean Hospital Corporation is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religious creed, national origin, sex, age, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation, military service, genetic information, and/or other status protected under law. We will ensure that all individuals with a disability are provided a reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. To ensure reasonable accommodation for individuals protected by Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Vietnam Veteran’s Readjustment Act of 1974, and Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, applicants who require accommodation in the job application process may contact Human Resources at (857)-282-7642.

Mass General Brigham Competency Framework

At Mass General Brigham, our competency framework defines what effective leadership “looks like” by specifying which behaviors are most critical for successful performance at each job level. The framework is comprised of ten competencies (half People-Focused, half Performance-Focused) and are defined by observable and measurable skills and behaviors that contribute to workplace effectiveness and career success. These competencies are used to evaluate performance, make hiring decisions, identify development needs, mobilise employees across our system, and establish a strong talent pipeline.

About Mass General Brigham

Combat disease. Hold a hand. Help people. Impact the world. Mass General Brigham is a passionate, welcoming community where minds meet caring hearts. Come be a part of the world’s most powerful force in medicine, where every role is important in changing lives. Our history includes New England hospitals founded over 200 years ago, some of the first and most prestigious hospitals in the world. Built on the legacy of two leading academic medical centers, we’re more than a system—we’re leaders in the practice of medicine. Mass General Brigham is committed to serving the community. We are dedicated to enhancing patient care, teaching and research, and taking a leadership role as an integrated health care system. We recognize that increasing value and continuously improving quality are essential to maintaining excellence.