Georgetown University comprises two unique campuses in the nation’s capital. With the Hilltop Campus located in the heart of the historic Georgetown neighborhood, and the Capitol Campus, just minutes from the U.S. Capitol and U.S. Supreme Court, Georgetown University offers rigorous academic programs, a global perspective, and unparalleled opportunities to engage with Washington, D.C. Our community is a close-knit group of remarkable individuals driven by intellectual inquiry, a commitment to social justice, and a shared dedication to making a difference in the world.
Requirements
This is a full-time position for a Research Specialist 3 at the Center for Brain Plasticity and Recovery in the Medical Center at Georgetown University. The Research Specialist 3 will work on our Pediatric Stroke Project, which studies the long-term reorganization of language and cognitive abilities after stroke in children. The project is funded by a large NIH grant with $1M per year budget and includes a team of researchers (faculty, staff, graduate students, and postdocs) working on an assessment of language and cognitive abilities several years after the stroke, using neuropsychological and other behavioral testing and also functional and structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Participants are recruited from a rare patient population who suffered a stroke in infancy or childhood, compared with age-matched controls who have no neurological conditions. Our aim is to determine how long-term outcomes of pediatric stroke change, depending on the age at which the stroke occurred.
The Research Specialist 3 will work with another more senior Research Specialist and with faculty on the project; the Research Specialist 3 will recruit appropriate participants with a recruiting team, arrange and book their families’ visits to the Center, conduct testing and scanning over a 3-day visit, and then analyze the behavioral and brain imaging data. This process includes searching, reading, and assessing medical records of several thousand patients from two major children’s hospitals in order to identify potential participants (done with subsequent review by our neurologists); obtaining past and current medical histories from prospective families; participating in design of our test materials as needed; conducting testing, scanning, and data analyses for behavioral and fMRI data; participating in recruitment from other sites in the Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia; and producing final data analyses and results for publication.
Additional duties include, but are not limited to:
Reading medical records to find appropriate participants for our studies
Contacting families to determine their interest in participating
Booking participant family visits to our Center
Testing participants over a 3-day visit
Scoring and analyzing test and imaging data
Producing data analyses for publication
Work Interactions
Operating with minimal supervision, the Research Specialist 3 reports to a senior faculty member (Dr. Newport) in the Center for Brain Plasticity and Recovery, works alongside a more senior Research Specialist and facilitates the research of other participating faculty members, other staff members, postdocs, and graduate students, and interacts with faculty and clinical coordinators from other research sites (MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital, Childrens National Medical Center, Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia). CBPR is engaged in a long-term research enterprise investigating the basic science and translational mechanisms of stroke and brain plasticity. As part of this endeavor, the Research Specialist 3 directly impacts multiple research programs; other projects and investigators rely on the data collected, managed, and/or analyzed by the Research Specialist 3. Thus, the position-holder greatly facilitates CBPR’s critical research, the positive impact of which will reach beyond the boundaries of Georgetown University.
Requirements and Qualifications
Master’s degree in psychology, neuroscience, cognitive science, or a related field (only Bachelor’s degree possible but not preferred), plus 5-7 years related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience
Academic knowledge of and experience with recruiting and testing neuropsychological populations including children and adults; clinical and medical background in stroke or brain injury; and academic and working knowledge of statistical analyses and experimental design.
Must operate with the highest level of professionalism, demonstrate excellent judgment and problem-solving, be highly organized and reliable, have excellent abilities in time management, possess exemplary written and oral communication skills, and be able to work with minimal supervision
Excellent skills in interacting with children and patients and their families, including maintaining rapport and compliance during neuropsychological assessments that can be lengthy and at times frustrating for the participants.
Must be able to safely work in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) environment, i.e. must not have a pacemaker, aneurysm clip, non-removable ferromagnetic object in or on the body, or have any other condition that would pose a safety risk
Prior experience designing and conducting neuroimaging and behavioral research, but training in neuroimaging can be given for candidates with outstanding qualifications and experience in behavioral research is preferred
Work Mode Designation
This position has been designated as On-Campus. Please note that work mode designations are regularly reviewed in order to meet the evolving needs of the University. Such review may necessitate a change to a position’s mode of work designation. Complete details about Georgetown University’s mode of work designations for staff positions can be found on the Department of Human Resources website:https://hr.georgetown.edu/mode-of-work-designation
Pay Range:
The projected salary or hourly pay range for this position which represents the full range of anticipated compensation is:
$47,586.00 - $87,558.13
Compensation is determined by a number of factors including, but not limited to, the candidate’s individual qualifications, experience, education, skills, and certifications, as well as the University’s business needs and external factors.
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Need Assistance:
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EEO Statement:
GU is an Equal Opportunity Employer All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply, and will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, citizenship, color, disability, family responsibilities, gender identity and expression, genetic information, marital status, matriculation, national origin, race, religion, personal appearance, political affiliation, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law
Benefits:
Georgetown University offers a comprehensive and competitive benefit package that includes medical, dental, vision, disability and life insurance, retirement savings, tuition assistance, work-life balance benefits, employee discounts and an array of voluntary insurance options. You can learn more about benefits and eligibility on the Department of Human Resources website
