Title of the Position: Postgraduate Associate in the YCSC Affective Youth (YAY) Lab
Department and School: Yale Child Study Center (YCSC), Yale School of Medicine
Anticipated Appointment Dates: 6/16/2025
Introduction of School/Department:
Yale Child Study Center (YCSC) research teams collaborate with youth, families, schools, and communities to improve their social, emotional, behavioral, and developmental health. The YCSC, which serves as the department of child psychiatry at the Yale School of Medicine, is actively growing in many areas – from basic research in the genetic and neurobiological basis of childhood psychiatric disorders; to applied research co-constructing tools for youth, schools, and families to advance social, emotional, and academic outcomes; to evaluation of training for clinicians and other behavioral health professionals, as well as professional development for educators and school-based practitioners in evidence-based social and emotional instruction.
Overview of the Position:
The YCSC Affective Youth (YAY) Lab (https://medicine.yale.edu/childstudy/research/collaborative-labs/yay-lab/), led by Dr. Wan-Ling Tseng, is seeking to hire a Postgraduate Associate to work on research focused on understanding the neuropsychological mechanisms of irritability and related symptoms in childhood and adolescence. In our study, we are using fMRI (functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging) to identify patterns of brain activation and connectivity while youth are experiencing frustration. We hope to identify neural patterns that would predict changes in irritability over time and later outcomes. In addition, we are studying environmental factors (e.g., exposure to crime, pollutants and chemicals), cognitive function, and social functioning (with family and peers) and their influences on youth’s irritability and brain function over time. Our research is funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), YCSC, and Yale School of Medicine.
Training:
The Postgraduate Associate will receive training in research in the field of pediatric irritability, with an emphasis on identifying mechanisms and predictors of chronic irritability across multiple levels of analysis from neural circuits, physiology, behaviors, social experiences (e.g., peer interactions), to familial and environmental factors and across development. Specifically, the Postgraduate Associate will be involved in a NIMH-funded longitudinal imaging study in 180 youth (ages 8-13) with varying degrees of irritability. The training will include active participation in recruitment and assessment procedures; procedures for brain imaging using fMRI in pediatric populations; collection and processing of clinical, behavioral, physiological, and fMRI data; administration of structured interviews, IQ tests, smartphone-based ecological momentary assessments, and parent-child interaction tasks; data analytic methodology; leading and participating in journal discussions; and presentations of study results (e.g., posters or manuscripts for publications).
Mentorship:
The Postgraduate Associate will be mentored by Dr. Tseng through weekly one-on-one meetings and other frequent communications and interactions. They will also be mentored by other faculty, post-doctoral associates, and collaborators of Dr. Tseng. In addition, they will have opportunities to mentor undergraduate research assistants.
Education:
In addition to the training described above, the Postgraduate Associate will receive education on ethical and responsible conduct of research with human subjects including pediatric samples and clinical populations; research methods and statistics; processing and analysis of data (including fMRI and physiological data).
Primary responsibilities and opportunities of this Postgraduate Associate position include:
(1) recruiting and screening potential research participants;
(2) acquiring data from participating children (ages 8-13) and their caregivers using behavioral, cognitive, physiological, fMRI techniques and questionnaires;
(3) preparing and/or modifying Institutional Review Board (IRB) protocols;
(4) oversight of research assistants (RAs);
(5) data management and quality control;
(6) opportunities to learn and be involved in data analysis;
(7) scientific poster and manuscript preparation and authorship; and
(8) general administrative duties to maintain the workings of the laboratory.
Qualifications:
We encourage applicants from diverse background to apply. Applicants with a B.A., B.S., or equivalent degree are preferred. Experience working with school-age children (not necessarily in the research setting) is preferred. Prior background in developmental/clinical psychology, neuroscience, or a related field is a plus. Experience with fMRI data acquisition and analysis is not necessary, but helpful.
The Postgraduate Associate must possess excellent interpersonal, organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills. Hours will vary week-to-week and will sometimes include evenings and weekends. A two-year commitment is required, although appointment is one year only and renewable for one additional year.
Process to Apply:
Review of applications will continue until the position is filled. Interested individuals should email a cover letter, CV, and names and contact information of 3 references to Dr. Wan-Ling Tseng at
wan-ling.tseng@yale.edu.