Job Description
Department: The Ballmer Institute for Children's Behavioral Health
Rank: Research Assistant (Type B)
Annual Basis: 12 Month
Review of Applications Begins
April 14, 2025; position open until filled
Special Instructions to Applicants
To ensure consideration, complete applications must include the following along with the online application:
- A cover letter highlighting how your knowledge, skills, and experience quality you for the requirements, competencies, and if applicable, preferred qualifications outlined in the job announcement.
- A resume of your professional work experience, education, and applicable certifications.
The online application includes the name and contact information of at least three professional references. The candidate will be notified prior to references being contacted.
Department Summary
The position will be a part of the Laboratory for Leveraging Evidence and Advancing Practice for Youth Mental Health Services (LEAP Lab) within the Ballmer Institute. The LEAP lab is directed by Sarah Kate Bearman, Ph.D., and focuses on the development, testing, and implementation of evidence-based youth mental health interventions in complex, limited-resource settings. We focus on harnessing existing mental health treatments and finding ways to make them more available and helpful.
Often this research involves re-thinking existing treatments to increase access or adoption, finding creative ways to work with systems that haven’t traditionally offered evidence-based mental health practices, and evaluating ways of training and supporting providers who work with children and families. The goals of the lab do not typically involve the study of mental health problems or developing new interventions, but rather in expanding the reach and impact of practices that have benefitted from decades of previous psychological research.
Position Summary
The Research Assistant will be supporting the following projects: (1)NIMH-funded randomized clinical trial of the FIRST treatment protocol (Weisz & Bearman, 2020). FIRST is a transdiagnostic, principle-based approach for the treatment of behavioral and emotional problems in children and adolescents.
The work involves multi-site collaboration with Harvard University (PI John Weisz) and the Ballmer Institute (PI Sarah Kate Bearman). (2) NAMI-funded pilot study of flexible mental health literacy program for middle school students (PIs Sarah Kate Bearman and Molly Lopez (UT Austin)). (3) Foundation-funded longitudinal study of pre- kindergarten and kindergarten children and their families called Thriving Together (PIs Esther Calzada (UT Austin) and Sarah Kate Bearman).
Responsibilities on all projects will include participant recruitment/retention, data management and outreach, maintaining relationships with community partners, and assistance with IRBs/grants. All projects are based in the LEAP Lab under the supervision of Dr. Sarah Kate Bearman and will involve working on a team with postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, and undergraduate volunteers. Opportunities for collaboration on poster presentations and manuscript preparation are available.
The position’s responsibilities are guided by United Academics Collective Bargaining Agreement and the Ballmer Institute’s Career Faculty Review and Promotion Policy.
Minimum Requirements - Bachelor's degree in psychology or a related field.
- 1 year research experience in psychology (can be volunteer, part-time, or full-time).
- 1 year experience working directly with children or adolescents (can be volunteer, part-time, or full- time).
Professional Competencies
- Excellent organizational skills related to research project management and high attention to detail.
- Excellent communication skills.
- Knowledge of basic research methods and human subjects research.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
- Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines, anticipate needs, prioritize multiple tasks, and follow through on tasks to completion.
- Demonstrated ability to engage with those of other cultures or backgrounds as well as to develop knowledge of and respect for those from a broad array of cultures and backgrounds.
- Proficiency with multiple forms of information technology, including web-based, word processing, data entry, managing electronic information, and database administration.
Preferred Qualifications - Demonstrated subject matter expertise in psychology.
- Previous human-subjects psychology research experience
- Experience with Qualtrics (e.g., survey development, administration, troubleshooting), Excel, and statistical software (e.g., SPSS, R)
- Bilingual or conversational in Spanish.
All offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of a background check. The University of Oregon is proud to offer a robust benefits package to eligible employees, including health insurance, retirement plans, and paid time off. For more information about benefits, visit
The University of Oregon is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution committed to cultural diversity and compliance with the ADA. The University encourages all qualified individuals to apply and does not discriminate on the basis of any protected status, including veteran and disability status. The University is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. To request an accommodation in connection with the application process, please contact us at
[email protected] or 541-346-5112.
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Job Tags
Full time, Part time, Work experience placement, Flexible hours,