Volunteer Research Assistant

CLINICAL RESEARCH ASSISTANT POSITION AVAILABLE

Childhood Asthma and Allergy Research Program

Rhode Island/Hasbro Hospital – Brown Medical School

We are looking for a highly organized and energetic person to serve as a research assistant on 2 research studies:

Project KIDS (Kids, Immunity, and Disrupted Sleep) involves an innovative investigation of the effects of experimental sleep disruption on immune balance and associated changes in asthma-related lung function and daytime performance in urban elementary school children with persistent asthma.

Project MAST (Managing Asthma and Sleep in Teens) will develop and validate a novel intervention delivered in the high school setting to improve asthma self-management and sleep hygiene among urban, high-risk high school students with persistent asthma.

Responsibilities include: •Coordinating research meetings (on site and across sites) •Documenting protocol development meetings and scientific decisions •study startup activities •Recruiting research participants • Carrying out data collection at research home visits as well as occasional overnight sleep studies (to occur on weekends at our sleep lab) • Assisting with processing, verification and codification of data • Coordinating and documenting lab meetings • Collecting and reviewing scientific articles, enters references into database • Research, organization and maintenance of lab materials and equipment • Providing graphs, slides and visual presentations for scientific conferences • Assisting in the processing and storage of biological specimens

Requirements: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in psychology, neuroscience, or a related field. •Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint). • Outstanding verbal communication skills are essential, as duties involve interacting with research participants/patients, school personnel and leadership (e.g., principals, superintendents), and senior investigators at other research sites. •Excellent organization and writing skills. • Comfort interacting with children and their families from a wide range of cultural and social backgrounds. • Fluency in spoken and written English. Spanish fluency (writing and reading) is a strong advantage.

The successful applicant will have a BA or higher in psychology, public health, or a related field, available normal business hours plus occasional evenings/weekends for overnight sleep studies, and a reliable car (mileage reimbursement will be provided).

This opportunity will provide excellent research training and public health experience for students considering pursuing graduate studies in psychology or public health, as well as those planning to apply to nursing or medical school. Excellent growth potential (e.g., advancement into more senior position, future funding permitting; opportunities to participate in generating presentations and manuscripts and earning authorship status).

Interested individuals should email a resume and cover letter to:

Sheryl Kopel, MSc Project Director, Childhood Asthma and Food Allergy Research Program | RIH Research Associate, Dept of Psychiatry & Human Behavior | Brown Medical School 1 Hoppin Street, Suite 204 Providence, RI 02903 (401)444-7217/(401) 793-8749 (fax) [email protected]