Project Coordinator

Position Overview:

The Luciana Laboratory in the Department of Psychology seeks to hire a project coordinator (8351SM, Research Professional 1 - Social Sciences Multi-Discipline) who will be responsible for executing a newly funded study. The study, which is a collaboration between the Department of Psychology and the Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, involves a behavioral and neuroimaging assessment of adults with chronic pain who do and do not use medical cannabis for treatment. Participants will be recruited from the general community and from area clinics. Participants will complete neuroimaging protocols, neurocognitive assessments, clinical interviews and self-report measures designed to assess eligibility criteria, psychopathology, medical health, social relationships, personality, risk-taking behaviors, and substance use. Participants will also provide blood and urine samples for the quantification of cannabinoid levels.

Major areas of responsibility are as follows:
Data Documentation and Management (35%)

• Review data to assure quality and accuracy; conduct routine quality control checks.
• Ensure data files are accurately labeled stored in their proper locations on the lab's dedicated server to facilitate access and analysis.
• Process electronic data files from cognitive task administration paradigms to extract relevant variables of interest.
• Create spreadsheets through which data can be entered and/or integrated.
• Develop and implement data entry protocols and procedures.
• Supervise data entry by undergraduate research assistants.
• Ensure data collection and documentation deadlines are met in advance of grant submissions, conference presentations, and publication efforts. Ensure milestones and deadlines are met.
• Responsible for accurate documentation of study visits, including recording of completion dates, completion checklists, and documentation of any deviations from protocol that occurred; also includes documentation of participant payments
• Assure that biological specimens are properly handled and stored according to protocol instructions; this involves supervision of team members who will execute this task.
  

Data Collection (25%)

• Administer paper-pencil and computerized neurocognitive assessments to collect behavioral data (i.e., examining aspects of learning, memory, executive functioning and language skills); paper-pencil measures include self-report questionnaires that are completed by the participants.
• Assist with data collection during MRI sessions.
  

Participant Recruitment and Scheduling (20%)

• Responsible for overseeing all participant recruitment.
• Maintain a secure recruitment database that includes private information. Help ensure compliance, access, and security in accordance with applicable policies and procedures.
• Contact participants by phone for recruitment; screen study participants using detailed phone scripts.
• Schedule participants' research study sessions, including coordination among several team members and research centers outside of the department (e.g., UMN Center for Magnetic Resonance Research); arrange logistical support (e.g., payment, parking).
  

Undergraduate Research Assistant Supervision (10%)

• Hire, onboard, train, and manage performance of undergraduate research assistants.
• Ensure adherence to study protocols.
  

Lab Operations (10%)

• Assist with ordering lab supplies.
• Monitoring lab computer systems to assure continued full operation.
• Printing lab documents, as needed.
• Attend weekly lab meetings and meet weekly with project directors.

Required Qualifications:

• BA/BS in psychology or related field, or a combination of related education and work experience to equal 4 years.
• Prior coursework or work experience in the area of abnormal psychology/psychopathology.
• Prior research experience in an academic research setting that included interviewing research participants, conducting participant recruitment, and neuropsychological testing.
• Ability to maintain a flexible work schedule (some evenings and weekends required for data collection).
• Proficient with Excel, SPSS and/or R programming.
• Ability to work onsite at the Center for Magnetic Resonance Research (CMRR) and Elliott Hall.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Prior supervisory experience.
• Detail-oriented.
• Ability to work independently.
• Experience working with substance-using populations.
• Experience working with older adults.
• Interest in learning how to collect neuroimaging data and blood samples.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Knowledge of University of Minnesota IT systems.
• Knowledge of University of Minnesota IRB requirements and Ethos system.

About the Department of Psychology

The Department of Psychology is one of the largest departments within the College of Liberal Arts, and is a highly ranked department nationally. Currently, the department has 50 core faculty, 70+ staff, 130 graduate students, and it supports the largest number of undergraduate majors of any academic program on the UMN Twin Cities campus. Additionally, the department has $50 million or more in active research funding at any given time (the majority from NIH), spread across 70 or more projects. In its 100 plus year history, the Department of Psychology has been marked by distinction and excellence. For additional information, please go to our website: http://www.psych.umn.edu/.

About the College of Liberal Arts

Home to the arts, social sciences and humanities disciplines and programs, the College of Liberal Arts is the largest college in the University of Minnesota and comprises 31 academic departments, and over 20 interdisciplinary research centers and administrative/support units. CLA has over 1,300 faculty and staff spanning research, teaching, advising, outreach, and administrative functions. CLA units reside in over twenty buildings on the East Bank and West Bank of the Twin Cities campus. CLA enrolls nearly 13,000 undergraduate students, over 40% of the undergraduate enrollment on the Twin Cities campus, 1,400 graduate students, and has an annual all-funds budget of $290 million.

CLA is a destination for curious, compassionate individuals who are committed to making our increasingly interdependent and diverse global community work for everyone. That foundational commitment begins in our CLA Constitution. CLA is committed to increasing enrollment of underrepresented and under-resourced students, diversifying our faculty across all disciplines, recruiting, and retaining a diverse staff, and promoting the expression and exploration of diverse perspectives and viewpoints-so that we all gain the background knowledge and analytical skills we need to understand and respect differences.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in CLA

Working in CLA

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program
• Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and employer-paid life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity
• Financial counseling services
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost
• Employee Transit Pass with free or reduced rates in the Twin Cities metro area

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will be given the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume.

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8647.

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by the Star Tribune as a Top Workplace for 2021, as well as by Forbes as Best Employers for Women and one of America's Best Employers (2015, 2018, 2019, 2023), Best Employer for Diversity (2019, 2020), Best Employer for New Grads (2018, 2019), and Best Employer by State (2019, 2022).