Healthy Brain & Child Development Study - 135302

UCSD Department of Pediatrics is one of the most innovative and productive academic departments in the country, offering challenging career opportunities in the diverse areas of advanced educational programs, cutting-edge research, and state-of-the-art clinical services. The department is committed to offering a dynamic learning environment and growing opportunities to its talented and dedicated employees.

The Division of Environmental Science & Health within the Department of Pediatrics is involved in four major areas: 1) providing clinical services to patients with birth defects and developmental disabilities, 2) providing public health services in counseling patients, providers and education to the public about pregnancy and lactation exposures and their impact on child development and health, 3) a teaching program that includes undergraduate students, graduate students in epidemiology, medical students, and post -doctoral students, pediatrics, epidemiology, health behavior, global health, pharmacy, and other specialties; and 4) conducting clinical research to better understand the causes, prevention and treatment of birth defects and developmental disabilities. Research programs and projects within the Division involve federal, state and industry sponsored grants and contracts totaling over $60 million. These encompass national and international studies that require complex interrelated infrastructure and shared resources both within the Division and with collaborators and subcontractors outside the Division.

Under the general supervision of the project manager, incumbent will act as Healthy Brain and Child Development (HBCD) Study SRA Team Lead. The HBCD study is a long-term longitudinal study recruiting pregnant persons and following their infant thorough early childhood. The Team Lead applies complex neuroimaging techniques including conducting magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) on the offspring beginning in infancy as a certified 3T MRI scan operator and conducting EEG and on offspring beginning in infancy. The will be the lead training for neuroimaging techniques and will lead in maintaining protocol adherence and optimal scan results for the team. The team lead is under the direction of the PI and Project Manager of the study and will lead and train other SRA staff, undergraduate students, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows in the ongoing protocol and any protocol changes. They will oversee biological specimen shipping and dry ice pick up as well as well as shipping and receipt of biosensors. The team lead will interact with IT support in order to ensure the studies specific IT needs are met. In addition to these scientific responsibilities around the design, implementation and completion of studies, the team lead will provide support on personnel matters, lab supplies and purchasing, processing reimbursement requests, and provide support and ensure grant deadlines are met.

• Theoretical and practical background and experience in neuroimaging and/or neuroscience, psychology, or other similar fields as typically attained with an advanced degree, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Demonstrated ability to oversee the daily operations of a research study. Experience planning and coordinating the work of subordinate staff. Ability to coach and train junior staff; willingness to share information and serve as a mentor.

• Demonstrated leadership skills sufficient to handle all aspects of day to day study oversight, including providing work direction to lab staff, undergraduates, graduates and postdocs; confidentiality; successful collaborator; inventory; organizational methods; maintaining SOP adherence.

• Demonstrated ability to make independent decisions, analyze situations, solve problems, and initiate actions to be an effective project lead. Strong analytical and critical thinking skills to identify problems and develop innovative solutions.

• Demonstrated ability to perform neuroimaging (MRI and EEG) on a complicated cohort as well as to train staff in performing complex neuroimaging tasks. Capability to be near a 3T MRI scanner and meet safety requirements. .

• Demonstrated ability to use and assist in updating complex databases, and to keep meticulous, accurate and well-organized records of experiments.

• Excellent interpersonal, as well as written and verbal communication skills (using grammatically correct written English and accurate typing) to interact with a variety of personalities at all levels of the organization, exercising tact, mature judgment, diplomacy, and flexibility to promote positive working relationships and job effectiveness. Skill at negotiating with various personalities and developing internal and external network of contacts. Proven ability to interact effectively with diverse groups, including professional and non-professional staff and research subjects.

• Excellent writing skills with demonstrated experience contributing to scientific research proposals and writing papers for publication. Knowledge of proper formats, grammar, and spelling in English and proofreading ability sufficient to compose, edit, and publish professional correspondence and information without errors.

• Demonstrated experience providing work direction to others including performance evaluation and working knowledge of dealing with personnel matters of others.

• Experience in working with IT support to maintain required study systems.

• Knowledge and ability to oversee and maintain UCSD safety guidelines/procedures/policies. Knowledge of University and lab safety policies and procedures including potentially hazardous biomaterials procurement, use, storage and disposal. Knowledge of policies regarding safe handling of biohazards, and regulations for record keeping regarding same.

• Working knowledge related to child development.

• Bilingual with fluency in both English and Spanish highly preferred.

• Phlebotomy license.

• Demonstrated ability to properly store, handle and use biospecimen samples.

• Knowledge and skill with UCSD purchasing procedures.

• Employment is subject to a criminal background check and pre-employment physical.

• Must be flexible and willing to work some evenings and weekends.

• Willing to work in several locations (e.g., Main Campus, 7910 Frost Street, UCSD MRI facilities) including some driving to scanner locations.

• Must have access to reliable transportation.

• Must meet criteria for eligibility to participate in MRI scanning on high field strength magnets, as determined by the MR facility safety and operator training requirements.

• Must be willing to work with hazardous materials.