NCIRE
The
Stress, Trauma, and Resilience Program (STaR Lab)
at the San Francisco VA Health Care System (SFVAHCS), in partnership with Northern California Institute for Research and Education, Inc. (NCIRE) and University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), is seeking an experienced
Staff Research Associate II (SRA II)
to support and help manage clinical and experimental studies on
trauma- and stressor-related disorders in Veterans , with a particular focus on PTSD, sleep disturbance, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and fear learning.
Our overarching goal is to
develop mechanism-informed, pharmacologically augmented psychotherapies
that directly target the neural systems involved in these conditions, with a focus on enhancing
fear extinction and related learning processes . Ultimately, we aim to translate this work into
more targeted, effective treatments for Veterans with PTSD, insomnia, TBI, and other trauma-related difficulties .
This role is ideal for someone seeking a
50% research / 50% administrative
position who has solid prior research experience and wants to play a central role in
clinical trial coordination, psychophysiology data collection, and multi-site study operations . Highly motivated candidates may have opportunities to co-author publications and contribute to presentations.
This opportunity is open to full-time or part-time.
Essential Functions Research (~50%)
Coordinate and support
augmented psychotherapy trials
that combine evidence‑based PTSD treatments (e.g., exposure‑based therapies) with medications that target mechanisms underlying the disorder, including those that facilitate
fear extinction .
Administer, pilot, and analyze
remote psychophysiological fear‑conditioning paradigms , including online and lab‑based experimental tasks.
Set up, monitor, and troubleshoot
psychophysiological recording sessions
using systems such as
Biopac
and
Lab Streaming Layer (LSL)‑based data pipelines .
Acquire, process, and organize
multi‑modal psychophysiological signals , including
electrodermal activity (EDA), electromyography (EMG), heart rate (HR), heart rate variability (HRV), facial coding outputs, and remote photoplethysmography (PPG) signals derived from video .
Conduct and score
clinical interviews and self‑report measures
assessing PTSD symptoms, trauma exposure, mood, and sleep‑related functioning (training provided as needed).
Collect, process, and analyze
sleep‑related data , including
actigraphy
and
EEG‑based measures .
Assist with and increasingly take ownership of
data management and analysis
(e.g., REDCap, spreadsheets, data quality checks, and basic statistical software).
For candidates with appropriate
clinical training , there may be opportunities to be involved in
structured clinical assessment
and to receive training in
manualized, exposure‑based psychotherapy protocols , delivering supervised, protocol‑guided treatment components as part of the trial.
Administrative (~50%)
Coordinate day‑to‑day study operations, including
participant recruitment, screening, scheduling, and follow‑up , ensuring that visit windows and protocol requirements are met.
Maintain and organize
regulatory documents
(IRB submissions, amendments, renewals, consent forms) in collaboration with the PI and regulatory staff.
Serve as a key liaison with a
multidisciplinary team
of investigators, clinicians, coordinators, and collaborators across sites.
Track
enrollment, timelines, and milestones ; assist with and help prepare
progress reports, RPPRs, and other grant‑related documentation .
Support
NCIRE and VA administrative processes , including onboarding of staff/volunteers, purchasing, and meeting organization (e.g., agendas, notes, action items).
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree
in Psychology, Neuroscience, Biology, Public Health, Social Work, or a related field; a
Master’s degree or PhD
is a plus. Individuals with clinical training, particularly in fields such as social work, clinical psychology, or counseling psychology, would also be a good fit, especially if they are interested in integrating clinical assessment and structured psychotherapy into research.
At least 2–3 years of experience
in research or clinical trial settings, preferably involving mental health, neuroscience, or related clinical populations.
Strong
organizational skills , attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines.
Excellent
written and verbal communication
skills.
Demonstrated interest in
trauma/PTSD, fear learning, psychophysiology, and/or sleep‑related processes .
Experience with clinical trial management or coordination
(e.g., tracking visit windows, managing protocols, interfacing with sponsors/regulatory teams) is
strongly preferred .
Experience with psychophysiological data collection or analysis
(e.g.,
Biopac ,
LSL , EDA, EMG, HR/HRV, facial coding, or remote PPG from video) is
strongly preferred ; enthusiasm for further developing these skills is essential.
Experience with
data analysis or programming tools
(e.g.,
MATLAB, Python, R ) is
highly desirable .
Clinical experience with trauma‑exposed populations
(e.g., Veterans, survivors of interpersonal violence, first responders) is
highly beneficial
for this role.
Comfort working with
Veterans and individuals with trauma histories , with professionalism, empathy, and strong interpersonal skills.
VA Onboarding Requirements NCIRE is an affiliate organization of the San Francisco VA Health Care System (SFVAHCS), which requires all candidates to complete SFVA onboarding in addition to NCIRE’s onboarding process. The SFVA is a federal agency that requires a federal background check, occupational health clearance, vaccines and immunizations, and drug testing for certain positions. Drug testing may include screening for marijuana which remains an illegal substance according to federal law. The failure to pass required drug testing will disqualify candidates from employment.
The base wage range for this position is $25.24 – $40.60 per hour. The wage actually offered to a successful candidate will take into account various relevant and non‑discriminatory business factors including, without limitation, the candidate’s geographic location, job‑related experience, knowledge, and skills, and education, as well as internal equity considerations. A successful candidate may also be eligible to earn additional compensation including bonuses.
NCIRE is an Equal Opportunity Employer. This position requires access to United States Government research under the Veterans Administration. Per Veterans Administration regulations surrounding access to US research, qualified US Citizens will be selected over other individuals eligible to work in the United States. If you are eligible to work in the United States, you may still be considered for this position but only if no qualified US citizens apply.
Position Details & How to Apply To apply, please complete your application in NCIRE’s UltiPro system
and email the following materials to Dr. Sabra Inslicht at sabra.inslicht@va.gov (with the subject line: STaR Lab SRA II Application):
CV/Resume
Brief cover letter
describing your interests and fit
Names and contact information for 2 references
We strongly encourage applications from individuals from
diverse backgrounds
who are excited to help advance mechanistic science and translate it into
better‑targeted, more effective care for Veterans affected by trauma .
Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Stress, Trauma, and Resilience Program (STaR Lab)
at the San Francisco VA Health Care System (SFVAHCS), in partnership with Northern California Institute for Research and Education, Inc. (NCIRE) and University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), is seeking an experienced
Staff Research Associate II (SRA II)
to support and help manage clinical and experimental studies on
trauma- and stressor-related disorders in Veterans , with a particular focus on PTSD, sleep disturbance, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and fear learning.
Our overarching goal is to
develop mechanism-informed, pharmacologically augmented psychotherapies
that directly target the neural systems involved in these conditions, with a focus on enhancing
fear extinction and related learning processes . Ultimately, we aim to translate this work into
more targeted, effective treatments for Veterans with PTSD, insomnia, TBI, and other trauma-related difficulties .
This role is ideal for someone seeking a
50% research / 50% administrative
position who has solid prior research experience and wants to play a central role in
clinical trial coordination, psychophysiology data collection, and multi-site study operations . Highly motivated candidates may have opportunities to co-author publications and contribute to presentations.
This opportunity is open to full-time or part-time.
Essential Functions Research (~50%)
Coordinate and support
augmented psychotherapy trials
that combine evidence‑based PTSD treatments (e.g., exposure‑based therapies) with medications that target mechanisms underlying the disorder, including those that facilitate
fear extinction .
Administer, pilot, and analyze
remote psychophysiological fear‑conditioning paradigms , including online and lab‑based experimental tasks.
Set up, monitor, and troubleshoot
psychophysiological recording sessions
using systems such as
Biopac
and
Lab Streaming Layer (LSL)‑based data pipelines .
Acquire, process, and organize
multi‑modal psychophysiological signals , including
electrodermal activity (EDA), electromyography (EMG), heart rate (HR), heart rate variability (HRV), facial coding outputs, and remote photoplethysmography (PPG) signals derived from video .
Conduct and score
clinical interviews and self‑report measures
assessing PTSD symptoms, trauma exposure, mood, and sleep‑related functioning (training provided as needed).
Collect, process, and analyze
sleep‑related data , including
actigraphy
and
EEG‑based measures .
Assist with and increasingly take ownership of
data management and analysis
(e.g., REDCap, spreadsheets, data quality checks, and basic statistical software).
For candidates with appropriate
clinical training , there may be opportunities to be involved in
structured clinical assessment
and to receive training in
manualized, exposure‑based psychotherapy protocols , delivering supervised, protocol‑guided treatment components as part of the trial.
Administrative (~50%)
Coordinate day‑to‑day study operations, including
participant recruitment, screening, scheduling, and follow‑up , ensuring that visit windows and protocol requirements are met.
Maintain and organize
regulatory documents
(IRB submissions, amendments, renewals, consent forms) in collaboration with the PI and regulatory staff.
Serve as a key liaison with a
multidisciplinary team
of investigators, clinicians, coordinators, and collaborators across sites.
Track
enrollment, timelines, and milestones ; assist with and help prepare
progress reports, RPPRs, and other grant‑related documentation .
Support
NCIRE and VA administrative processes , including onboarding of staff/volunteers, purchasing, and meeting organization (e.g., agendas, notes, action items).
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree
in Psychology, Neuroscience, Biology, Public Health, Social Work, or a related field; a
Master’s degree or PhD
is a plus. Individuals with clinical training, particularly in fields such as social work, clinical psychology, or counseling psychology, would also be a good fit, especially if they are interested in integrating clinical assessment and structured psychotherapy into research.
At least 2–3 years of experience
in research or clinical trial settings, preferably involving mental health, neuroscience, or related clinical populations.
Strong
organizational skills , attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines.
Excellent
written and verbal communication
skills.
Demonstrated interest in
trauma/PTSD, fear learning, psychophysiology, and/or sleep‑related processes .
Experience with clinical trial management or coordination
(e.g., tracking visit windows, managing protocols, interfacing with sponsors/regulatory teams) is
strongly preferred .
Experience with psychophysiological data collection or analysis
(e.g.,
Biopac ,
LSL , EDA, EMG, HR/HRV, facial coding, or remote PPG from video) is
strongly preferred ; enthusiasm for further developing these skills is essential.
Experience with
data analysis or programming tools
(e.g.,
MATLAB, Python, R ) is
highly desirable .
Clinical experience with trauma‑exposed populations
(e.g., Veterans, survivors of interpersonal violence, first responders) is
highly beneficial
for this role.
Comfort working with
Veterans and individuals with trauma histories , with professionalism, empathy, and strong interpersonal skills.
VA Onboarding Requirements NCIRE is an affiliate organization of the San Francisco VA Health Care System (SFVAHCS), which requires all candidates to complete SFVA onboarding in addition to NCIRE’s onboarding process. The SFVA is a federal agency that requires a federal background check, occupational health clearance, vaccines and immunizations, and drug testing for certain positions. Drug testing may include screening for marijuana which remains an illegal substance according to federal law. The failure to pass required drug testing will disqualify candidates from employment.
The base wage range for this position is $25.24 – $40.60 per hour. The wage actually offered to a successful candidate will take into account various relevant and non‑discriminatory business factors including, without limitation, the candidate’s geographic location, job‑related experience, knowledge, and skills, and education, as well as internal equity considerations. A successful candidate may also be eligible to earn additional compensation including bonuses.
NCIRE is an Equal Opportunity Employer. This position requires access to United States Government research under the Veterans Administration. Per Veterans Administration regulations surrounding access to US research, qualified US Citizens will be selected over other individuals eligible to work in the United States. If you are eligible to work in the United States, you may still be considered for this position but only if no qualified US citizens apply.
Position Details & How to Apply To apply, please complete your application in NCIRE’s UltiPro system
and email the following materials to Dr. Sabra Inslicht at sabra.inslicht@va.gov (with the subject line: STaR Lab SRA II Application):
CV/Resume
Brief cover letter
describing your interests and fit
Names and contact information for 2 references
We strongly encourage applications from individuals from
diverse backgrounds
who are excited to help advance mechanistic science and translate it into
better‑targeted, more effective care for Veterans affected by trauma .
Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.
#J-18808-Ljbffr