Junior Specialist

Position overview

Salary range:
A reasonable estimate for this position is $53,100 at Step 1 or $56,600 at Step 2

Application Window

Open date: May 12, 2025

Next review date: Tuesday, May 27, 2025 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)

Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.

Final date: Wednesday, Dec 31, 2025 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)

Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

Position description
The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of California, Davis invites applications for a qualified Junior Specialist for the Miller Lab at the UC Davis MIND Institute.

This position will be involved in interdisciplinary studies focusing on the early detection of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) among infants/toddlers at familial risk.

MAJOR RESPONSIBLITIES
The incumbent for this position will be involved in interdisciplinary studies focusing on questions related to the early detection of autism and ADHD among infants/toddlers at familial risk, as well as follow-up studies of these infants into middle childhood. Under the direction of the PI, the incumbent will be performing database programming, data processing, data curation and data cleaning using R and mySQL, as well as upload of required data to NDA. The incumbent will also be involved in the psychophysiology data cleaning team, including training others to clean heart rate data using MindWare software. Associated tasks include assisting with visit scheduling, providing information to families regarding study objectives and requirements in person and by telephone, communicating instructions to study participants regarding a variety of study related issues, answering questions as they arise, obtaining informed consent for study participation, coordinating the flow of study visits between PI and staff members, administering and scoring questionnaires and behavioral measures, conducting eye-tracking during study visits, performing behavioral coding using BORIS software, conducting psychophysiological data acquisition and entering information in Access and REDCap databases to track visits and study procedures. In addition, the incumbent will attend regular lab meetings and, in collaboration with the PI, prepare manuscripts and presentations. The ideal candidate will have strong data science skills, exceptional interpersonal, communication, and decision-making skills; as well as the ability to work well independently and as part of a team. This candidate will work closely with Meghan Miller, Ph.D.

General responsibilities include:

I. RESEARCH ACTIVITY (80% EFFORT)

• Assist with data processing and data management activities using R, MySQL, Access, and REDCap, ensuring timely reporting of data to NIH via NDA
• Conduct psychophysiology data cleaning team using MindWare HRV software
• Coordinate progress of behavioral coding projects including training, tracking, and maintaining reliability with more junior lab volunteer coders
• Use BORIS software to code behavioral data obtained during lab visits using coding systems for early social communication development and early ADHD-related behaviors
• Assist with participant recruitment and scheduling of study participants
• Brief study participant families regarding study objectives and obtain informed consent
• Coordinate activities during study visits between participating families and staff members
• Facilitate communication between team members including clinicians, examiners, camera operators, and the PI regarding any special circumstances pertaining to study visits
• Accurately enter and track information in study tracking and data entry databases
• Assist with statistical analysis in R for poster and paper presentations and manuscripts
• Capture, digitize, and edit videotape footage obtained from families using specialized audiovisual equipment and train others in the use of this equipment

II. PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE AND ACTIVITY (15% EFFORT)

• Attend regular lab meetings and MIND Institute study coordinator meetings
• Prepare presentations for conferences and the community in collaboration with the PI, including conducting literature reviews, simple statistical analyses, and slide preparations, and, when appropriate, independently presenting to community organizations or agencies
• As needed, assist PI with preparation of grant applications, including conducting literature searches and simple analyses of pilot data
• Contribute to writing manuscripts for publication, including assisting with data cleaning, literature reviews, and synthesis of information for dissemination of research findings to the public
• Develop individual research question in collaboration with the PI and perform relevant statistical analyses of data collected as part of the research study to be presented at internal and/or professional conferences once per year, including the Society for Research in Child Development, International Meeting for Autism Research, or American Psychological Association (or one of APA's regional conferences)
• Participate and present during monthly lab journal clubs, including leading the journal club on occasion (selecting a journal article, presenting to the group, and leading discussion)
• Attend research presentations at the MIND Institute, including biweekly Research Seminar Series talks and Monthly Distinguished Lecture Series presentations

III. UNIVERSITY AND PUBLIC SERVICE (5% EFFORT)

• Establish and maintain positive relationships with, and provide outreach presentations to, community and neurodevelopmental disorder advocacy agencies (e.g., CHADD of Sacramento), schools, and service providers for participant recruitment purposes

Qualifications

Basic qualifications (required at time of application)
Bachelors degree in Psychology, Neurobiology, or a related field by mid-June 2025 with a minimum of 1 year of experience in longitudinal research focused children at risk for neurodevelopmental or psychiatric disorders

Background in data science, including experience with writing scripts in R

Experience with MindWare HRV software

Experience in behavioral coding using BORIS software

Experience tracking and entering data in Access

Experience managing behavior and engaging with children both with neurodevelopmental disorders and typical development in an unstructured setting

Additional qualifications (required at time of start)
Demonstrated ability to perform detail-oriented tasks with a high degree of accuracy

Experience managing multiple tasks simultaneously

Demonstrated ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team

Demonstrated ability to work in a fast-paced setting with composure, courtesy, and professional attitude

Ability to participate in discussion of research results and contribute to manuscript preparation, including literature reviews, data cleaning activities, and synthesis of information

Excellent communication and written skills to communicate effectively with the interact with the community and research participants, PIs, postdoctoral fellows, and train undergraduate research assistants

Preferred qualifications (other preferred, but not required, qualifications for the position)
Ability to assist with data/processing management in R and conduct simple statistical analyses in R and/or SPSS

Application Requirements

Document requirements

• Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
• Cover Letter
• Statement of Research (Optional)
• Statement of Teaching (Optional)
• Authorization to Release Information Form - This form is required for all applicants applying to academic recruitments. Please see the Employment Disclosure Requirements webpage for more information. Download, complete, sign, and upload the form.

Reference requirements

• 3-5 required (contact information only)

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About UC Davis

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct, are currently being investigated for misconduct, left a position during an investigation for alleged misconduct, or have filed an appeal with a previous employer.

• "Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer.
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