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Assistant Researcher

Position Overview

The Cofrin Logan Center for Addiction Research and Treatment at the University of Kansas seeks a full-time post-baccalaureate Research Assistant (title: Assistant Researcher). The successful candidate will work closely with Principal Investigator Dr. Jessica Powers in the Pain, Addiction, and Translational Health (PATH Lab: https://pathlab.ku.edu/) on clinical trials and treatment research investigating pain and substance use among individuals with cancer or chronic medical illness.
Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Adhere to research protocols and complete daily research-related tasks to run the lab efficiently.
Communicate with the IRB and draft IRB submissions/amendments.
Manage participant recruitment, enrollment, and other study procedures.
Enter data collected via online survey platforms and manage data security.
Assist in the analysis and interpretation of study data.
Conduct literature reviews and documents to support manuscript preparation, oral presentations, poster presentations, and grant writing.
Oversee research assistants, organize lab meetings, and ensure that research programs run smoothly and effectively.

The successful candidate will be provided with training in clinical assessment, laboratory paradigms, behavioral treatment methodology, and analysis of national data. They will also gain experience in general research administration and the preparation of grants and manuscripts. Additional independent research opportunities, such as conference and manuscript submissions, will be available based on interest and experience. This position is well-suited for individuals interested in pursuing graduate/doctoral training in medicine, public health, clinical/health psychology, and other health-related fields.

Employees in this position can expect to receive benefits such as generous vacation, holidays, and paid time off; competitive insurance and savings accounts; and retirement benefits.

Job Description

30% - Supervision and Administrative Support:

Train and oversee undergraduate research assistants.
Communicate with IRB and manage IRB submissions/amendments.
Manage participant recruitment, enrollment, consent and tracking.

30% - Data Management and Analysis:

Collect and organize participant data.
Oversee data entry and security.
Assist with data preparation for annual review documents and progress reports.

30% - Data Collection and Study Start-Up:

Assist with creation and editing of study documents, such as protocols, consent forms, and subject communications.
Screen participants for study eligibility.
Document participant visits and procedures.
Adhere to research protocols and study procedures.

10% - Other Responsibilities:

Assists PI with the preparation of posters and analyses for publication.
Conduct literature searches.
Communicate professionally and effectively with internal and external study collaborators, including investigators, sponsors, and monitors.
Perform varied administrative support duties as required.

Position Requirements

This position is fully on-site at the University of Kansas Lawrence campus and does not offer remote or hybrid work options.

Required Qualifications

High school diploma/GED and four years of related experience OR Bachelor’s degree in psychology, public health, pre-medical studies, or other related field.
Experience in research settings as evidenced by application materials.
Previous experience requiring excellent verbal skills, written communication skills and attention to detail as evidenced by application materials.
Previous experience requiring learning new skills, concepts, methods, and techniques as evidenced by application materials.

Preferred Qualifications

Previous coursework or prior training in clinical psychology or behavioral medicine/health research as evidenced by application materials.
Previous research or professional experience in pain, substance use, and oncology research as evidenced by application materials.
Previous experience requiring efficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, and learning and developing additional computer skills related to data management and preparation of data for analysis as evidenced by application materials.
Previous experience requiring strong attention to detail and functioning autonomously in a collaborative multidisciplinary team involving medical, research and behavioral medicine care as evidenced by application materials.
Previous experience working in a fast-paced environment as evidenced by application materials.

Additional Candidate Instructions

A complete application consists of:

An updated CV
A cover letter
Contact Information for three references

Apply online.

For more information, please reach out to Elizabeth Sekarski (esekarski@ku.edu) with the subject line "Powers Post-Back Position".

To ensure consideration apply before the application review starts on Tuesday, 3/31/2026. A review of applications will continue and is ongoing until a pool of qualified candidates is identified.