Research Assistant I - Center of Excellence on Mood Disorders

The UTHealth Houston Psychiatry and Behavioral Health Sciences' Center of Excellence on Mood Disorders is looking for a strong candidate with excellent communication and interpersonal skills to recruit, see subjects, and manage regulatory and scheduling aspects of a longitudinal, observational study in Bipolar Disorder among families. The Greater Houston Area Pediatric Bipolar Registry follows children affected by Bipolar Disorder as well as children of parents affected by Bipolar Disorder in an effort to uncover genetic ties in the disease. Under general direction of senior research staff, this candidate will conduct activities to support research projects and exercise judgment within defined procedures and practices. The ideal candidate will be an independent problem-solver with GCP and IRB/IEC regulatory experience, a background in psychology, experience with children and adolescents (ages 6-17 years) and their parents, as well as strong written and oral communication skills. This is a full-time onsite position with a minimum two-year project, working in a fast-paced lab with a large group at the UTHealth Houston Department of Psychiatry inpatient and outpatient facilities. This candidate must be able to perform or willing to learn phlebotomy (drawing blood). This is an integral part of the position that will be required regularly.

What we do here changes the world. UTHealth Houston is Texas’ resource for healthcare education, innovation, scientific discovery, and excellence in patient care. That’s where you come in.

Once you join us you won't want to leave. It’s because we reward our team for the excellent service they provide. Our total rewards package includes the benefits you’d expect from a top healthcare organization (benefits, insurance, etc.), plus:

• 100% paid medical premiums for our full-time employees
• Generous time off (holidays, preventative leave day, both vacation and sick time – all of which equates to around 37-38 days per year)
• The longer you stay, the more vacation you’ll accrue!
• Longevity Pay (Monthly payments after two years of service)
• Build your future with our awesome retirement/pension plan!

We take care of our employees! As a world-renowned institution, our employees’ wellbeing is important to us. We offer work/life services such as...

• Free financial and legal counseling
• Free mental health counseling services
• Gym membership discounts and access to wellness programs
• Other employee discounts including entertainment, car rentals, cell phones, etc.
• Resources for child and elder care
• Plus many more!

Position Summary:

Under close direction of senior research staff, conducts activities to support research projects.

Position Key Accountabilities:

• Under close supervision, conducts research activities according to research protocol. Research activities may include some or all of the following: patient recruiting and screening, traditional laboratory experiments and activities, informatics, field interviewer recruiting, screening and training and/or animal laboratories.
• May maintain clean laboratory equipment and/or work area to ensure a safe and efficient work environment.
• Collects, evaluates, and interprets research data to provide needed information to principal investigators and other researchers. Updates notebooks, records, and databases as needed.
• Stays abreast of new and updated protocols for research department.
• Orders laboratory and/or other supplies as directed by senior research staff.
• As needed, may coordinate the work of laboratory technicians and assistants to ensure efficient, timely and high quality results.
• Complies with all governmental and University policies, rules, regulations, and codes.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Certification/Skills:

General knowledge of research fields.

Minimum Education:

Bachelor’s degree or relevant experience in lieu of education.

Minimum Experience:

No years of experience.

Physical Requirements:

Exerts up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 10 pounds constantly and/or a negligible amount constantly to move objects.
This position may include work involving potentially hazardous chemical, biological or radioactive agents.

Security Sensitive:

This position is a security-sensitive position pursuant to Texas Education Code §51.215 and Texas Government Code §411.094. To the extent that a position requires the holder to research, work on, or have access to critical infrastructure as defined in Texas Business and Commerce Code §117.001(2), the ability to maintain the security or integrity of the infrastructure is a minimum qualification to be hired for and to continue to be employed in that position. Personnel in such positions, and similarly situated state contractors, will be routinely reviewed to determine whether things such as criminal history or continuous connections to the government or political apparatus of a foreign adversary might prevent the applicant, employee, or contractor from being able to maintain the security or integrity of the infrastructure. A foreign adversary is a nation listed in 15 C.F.R. §791.4.

Residency Requirement:

Employees must permanently reside and work in the State of Texas.