Description
Are you interested in gaining experience in healthcare research? Do you have interests in psychology, psychiatry, integrated healthcare, or implementation? This is a great position for individuals considering graduate school in a mental health or medical field, as you will be exposed to clinical research studies conducted in a healthcare setting.
Researchers in the Supporting, Evaluating, and Researching Veterans’ Integrated Care Experiences (SERVICE) Lab at the VA Center for Integrated Healthcare (CIH) are looking to recruit a full-time research assistant. Learn about mental health, integrated primary care, health care systems, and how to work with Veterans!
What: Research Assistant in CIH’s SERVICE Lab. The primary focus of this role is patient recruitment, screening, and assessment. Research assistants have many other duties, including (but not limited to) preparation of study materials, data entry and analysis, literature reviews, and helping with manuscripts and grant preparation. You would work with three investigators who lead the SERVICE Lab (Drs. Jennifer Funderburk, Robyn Shepardson, and Julie Gass) and several early career psychologists along with a team of research assistants. We are conducting several clinical research trials, including testing a brief intervention for substance use and a self-help intervention for depression and PTSD. We are also conducting research on suicide prevention practices within primary care. Our research focuses on integrated primary care using a team approach, so you may be exposed to VA primary care team members such as psychologists, primary care providers, and nurses. We strive to support our staff’s educational and professional development.
When: The position will begin in mid-late Summer or early Fall 2026. The duration of the position is 1 year, with the possibility of an extension contingent on additional grant funding (to be determined in summer 2027).
Where: The position will be on-site at the Syracuse VA Medical Center in beautiful Central New York, which has 4 seasons and a low cost of living.
Why: Working with our team has several excellent benefits. First, build skills in discussing sensitive topics, including mental health and suicide, with Veterans. Second, gain exposure to clinical research trials and the development, testing, and implementation of evidence-based mental health interventions. Third, learn about and possibly work with interprofessional integrated primary care teams (including physicians, nurses, behavioral health providers, social workers, etc.) in the VA health care system. Fourth, gain exposure to mental health and primary care research that may inform future research interests or what type of graduate study to pursue. There may be opportunities to participate in manuscript writing and other dissemination (e.g., first author or co-author on conference presentations).
For more information regarding the Center for Integrated Healthcare visit https://www.mirecc.va.gov/cih-visn2/
Find more information on Dr. Funderburk’s research at https://www.mirecc.va.gov/mirecc/cih-visn2/Personnel/funderburk.asp. Find more information on Dr. Shepardson’s research at https://www.mirecc.va.gov/MIRECC/cih-visn2/Personnel/shepardson.asp
Requirements
Who: Must be a United States citizen. Must have Bachelor’s degree in mental health or science related field (e.g., psychology, social work, public health, pre-med, biology, health services) by start date. Prior research experience is strongly preferred. Candidates must have good interpersonal skills, communication skills, and attention to detail. We especially welcome applications from Veterans.
Salary and benefits: Full-time is 40 hours per week (some evening hours required). Salary is approximately $50,000 per year (commensurate with education and experience). This position includes benefits such as health insurance. Staff receive 11 federal holidays per year and accrue vacation and sick leave.
How: Interested applicants should send their CV and a cover letter by email to Robyn(dot)Shepardson(at)va(dot)gov. In the cover letter, specify the following: why you are interested in the position, your academic/career goals, and key experience/skills. In your CV, be sure to include your college GPA, the number of semesters/years of research or other helpful experience you have (e.g., support hotline volunteer, telemarketing), the specific types of research tasks you have done, and the name, email, and phone number of 3 professional references. The application deadline is Friday, April 17. We will be conducting virtual interviews mid-late April. We are targeting a start date window of approximately July to October.
