Life in Pittsburgh
On-siteFull-Time

Research Specialist

UPMC

Pittsburgh, PA$41.6k – $63.5k/yrPosted June 12, 2026via UPMC Careers

Join the Sleep, Affective Neuroscience, and Development laboratory team! Our lab studies how sleep-circadian processes affect brain maturation and mental health risk over adolescent development (www.sleepneuro.pitt.edu). We are seeking a full-time Research Specialist to contribute to participant recruitment and data collection for two NIH-funded projects studying age-related changes in sleep and mental health in young people (children, adolescents, young adults). The Research Specialist will recruit and screen participants; run standardized clinical, neurobehavioral, and sleep/circadian assessments; and aid in data processing. This individual will work closely with a lab coordinator, other research staff, and the data manager, as well as with the staff of the Sleep and Behavioral Neuroscience Center.

This position is grant funded.

Responsibilities:

  • Recruit, screen, schedule, and compensate adolescent and young adult participants

  • Conduct standardized study assessments involving screening interviews, questionnaires, sleep-circadian measures, and computer tasks.

  • Able to maintain a flexible schedule including evening and weekend hours to accommodate participant assessments.

  • Assist with data-related duties (data entry, quality control, processing, management) in collaboration with a data manager and systems analyst.

  • Ensure accurate, efficient, and complete data collection and study documentation.

  • Assist, as needed, with project administrative tasks.

  • Provide supervision and oversight to undergraduate directed research students working on the protocol.

  • Demonstrate respect and sensitivity to study participants. Interact skillfully with adolescent, young adult, and clinical populations.

  • Handle sensitive clinical and research data in compliance with University, State, and federal requirements.

  • Bachelor's degree required, preferably in Psychology, Neuroscience, Sociology or related research field. 
  • Minimum of one year of work experience in a research project and/or related clinical setting is required. 
  • Familiarity with computers and common software packages required. 
  • Working knowledge of research methodology strongly preferred.
  • Complete and pass on-line ethics and research practice training modules as required by the University of Pittsburgh and the National Institutes of Health. Completes other trainings as required by UPMC.

  • Perform in accordance with system-wide competencies/behaviors.

Licensure, Certifications, and Clearances:

  • Act 31 Child Abuse Reporting with renewal

  • Act 33 with renewal
  • Act 34
  • Act 73 FBI Clearance with renewal

UPMC is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran

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