Job Description

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Overview

The Pain and Addiction Interaction Neuroscience (PAIN) Lab, housed within the Yale Department of Psychiatry, seeks a Research Assistant 1 to support recruitment and implementation of multiple NIH-funded human laboratory studies and clinical trials conducted at the Clinical Neuroscience Research Unit (CNRU) at the Connecticut Mental Health Center in New Haven, CT. The PAIN Lab combines human behavioral pharmacology, multimodal pain assessment, and randomized controlled trial methods to develop non-opioid therapeutics for people with chronic pain and addiction.

The Research Assistant 1 will work on studies in which non-opioid compounds, such as cannabinoids and psychedelics, are administered under controlled conditions to healthy volunteers and to people with substance use disorders and chronic pain.

Responsibilities include participant recruitment and scheduling; screening for eligibility using standardized instruments; obtaining informed consent; administering baseline and post-intervention assessments, including quantitative sensory testing and other pain and behavioral measures; assisting with drug administration sessions alongside CNRU nursing and medical staff; entering and maintaining study data in REDCap; and preparing IRB submissions and maintaining regulatory documentation.

The Research Assistant 1 will work under the supervision of the Principal Investigator and Lab Manager and will be responsible for conducting study activities in accordance with study protocols, Good Clinical Practice, and applicable human subjects research regulations. The position offers hands-on training in human psychopharmacology, pain assessment, and clinical trial conduct, with opportunities to contribute to conference presentations and publications.

Required Skills and Abilities

1. Proven experience in a research or clinical setting.
2. Adept at collecting and managing data with the ability to handle sensitive information confidentially and professionally.
3. Excellent attention to detail and the ability to follow study protocols and regulatory requirements precisely. Ability to work on multiple projects at different stages, independently and as part of a team.
4. Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to work in a professional, nonjudgmental manner with participants who have substance use disorders and chronic pain.
5. Intermediate to advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word).

Preferred Skills and Abilities

1. Education: A Bachelor's degree in psychology, neuroscience, public health, or a related field and two years of experience in clinical or human subjects research; or an equivalent combination of experience and education.
2. Research Experience: Experience in addiction, pain, or psychopharmacology research is a plus. Preferred experience with IRB submissions.
3. Proven experience with REDCap or similar data-capture software.
4. Proven experience with participant recruitment and ability to obtain informed consent.

Principal Responsibilities

1. Researches and collects data through site or home visit intakes; library research; structured interviews; or through other means for designated research assignments. 2. Records and compiles information related to research data. Codes data accordingly to research specifications. Uses a computer terminal to input and retrieve data and to generate reports. 3. Processes and summarizes data using scientific or statistical techniques. Assists in data interpretation and analyses. Reports on status of research activities. 4. Recruits study participants and ensures that subject recruitment and follow-up are completed per protocol procedures. 5. Orders and maintains inventory of supplies. May assist in designing, developing, and modifying research experiments, procedures, or survey instruments. May assist research and support staff. 6. Performs additional functions incidental to research activities. Required Education and Experience Six years of related work experience, four of them in the same job family at the next lower level, and high school level education; or four years of related work experience and an Associate's degree; or little or no work experience and a Bachelor's degree in a related field; or an equivalent combination of experience and education.

Job Posting Date

11/03/2026

Job Category

Technician

Bargaining Unit

L34

Compensation Grade

Labor Grade C

Compensation Grade Profile

Hourly Range

$28.43

Benefits

A general description of the benefits to be offered with this Clerical and Technical position is available at:

Yale Benefits

Time Type

Full time

Duration Type

Staff Fixed Duration (Fixed Term)

Work Model

On-site

Background Check Requirements

All candidates for employment will be subject to pre-employment background screening for this position, which may include motor vehicle, DOT certification, drug testing and credit checks based on the position description and job requirements. All offers are contingent upon the successful completion of the background check. For additional information on the background check requirements and process visit "Learn about background checks" under the Applicant Support Resources section of Careers on the It's Your Yale website.

Health Requirements

This role is a healthcare worker position. Healthcare workers (HCW) are defined as university employees working a healthcare setting who have the potential for direct or indirect exposure to patients, human research subjects or infectious materials including body substance, contaminated medical supplies, devices and equipment, surfaces, or air. HCW have specific health requirements that must be met prior to starting work, including MMR vaccine or immunity, varicella (chickenpox) vaccine or immunity, TB screening, COVID vaccine according to University policy, hepatitis B vaccine or immunity, and annual flu vaccination.

Posting Disclaimer

The hiring rate of a role is determined in accordance with the provisions outlined in the respective collective bargaining agreement.

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the essential functions that will be required of the position and should not be construed as a declaration of specific duties and responsibilities of the position. Employees will be assigned specific job-related duties through their hiring department.

The University is committed to basing judgments concerning the admission, education, and employment of individuals upon their qualifications and abilities and seeks to attract to its faculty, staff, and student body qualified persons from a broad range of backgrounds and perspectives. In accordance with this policy and as delineated by federal and Connecticut law, Yale does not discriminate in admissions, educational programs, or employment against any individual on account of that individual’s sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, age, disability, status as a special disabled veteran, veteran of the Vietnam era or other covered veteran.

Inquiries concerning Yale's Policy Against Discrimination and Harassment may be referred to the Office of Institutional Equity and Accessibility (OIEA).

Note

Yale University is a tobacco-free campus.