Inside Higher Ed
Assistant Researcher – Inside Higher Ed
Position Overview: The Center for the Advancement of Research on Eating Behaviors (CARE) invites applications for an Assistant Researcher to support grant‑funded studies and basic science research in eating disorders. The role collaborates closely with Dr. Kelsie Forbush, PI and CARE Director, and Dr. Angeline Bottera, CARE Associate Director, along with local and international research teams. Key duties include literature searches, IRB submissions and amendments, participant recruitment and enrollment, structured clinical interviews, lab scheduling, preliminary data analyses, data cleaning, REDCap management, supervision of research assistants, grant support, record maintenance, and publication assistance.
The Assistant Researcher will uphold ethical standards, regulatory compliance, and data confidentiality while contributing to assessment‑focused projects funded by the Department of Defense, NIH, and endowments. Projects involve the Military Mental Health Study, a novel screening tool for eating disorders in the U.S. military, and the Veteran Mental Health Study, an archival dataset of veterans recently separated from service.
STAR: NIH‑funded trial developing a mobile app that uses machine learning to predict relapse in adolescents recovering from anorexia nervosa.
BEST‑U: NIH‑funded trial testing a mobile app–based guided CBT intervention for college students with binge‑Spectrum eating disorder.
BRITER: 10‑week mobile health treatment targeting circadian and appetite rhythms for binge eating through sleep medicine integration.
EPSI ChAT: Validation of a self‑report questionnaire assessing eating and feeding disorders in youth.
Other funded grants.
Opportunity for independent research with large longitudinal datasets, such as a 30,000‑patient eating disorder cohort (Recovery Record, Inc.) and a 350‑adult community study.
The position is on‑site in Lawrence, Kansas.
Responsibilities 50% Supervision, Project Management, and Administrative Support
Train undergraduate and paid research assistants in data entry, lab policies, and procedures.
Develop lab schedules and interview potential undergraduate research assistants.
Coordinate team meetings, take notes, and track task completion.
Maintain and submit IRB protocols and amendments.
Assist grant preparation, progress reports, and publications.
Track project metrics using Asana and REDCap.
Recruit, onboard, and support undergraduate and CARE‑related staff.
30% Data Reporting, Management, and Statistical Analysis
Run weekly/monthly reports on recruitment and enrollment.
Prepare reports for multisite reviews, data safety monitoring boards, and funding agencies.
Perform basic statistical analyses using SPSS and R.
Manage recruitment flow and data entry in REDCap.
Ensure secure data storage.
20% Psychological Testing
Conduct semi‑structured clinical interviews for diagnoses and qualitative stakeholder feedback.
Administer neurocognitive and self‑report psychopathology measures.
Participate in consensus meetings and present case summaries.
Qualifications Required
High school diploma/GED and four years of related experience, OR bachelor’s degree in psychology, public health, epidemiology, educational psychology, social work, counseling, or a related field.
Prior experience as a research assistant or technician in a laboratory.
Preferred
Master’s degree in psychology, public health, epidemiology, educational psychology, social work, counseling, or related field.
Coursework or training in clinical psychology or behavioral health research.
Experience in laboratory management or administration.
Recruiting, screening, and testing participants in research studies.
Proficiency in database, statistical, and imaging software (SPSS, SAS, R, Qualtrics, REDCap, Linux).
Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines and adapt in a fast‑paced environment.
Experience working with diverse populations, including those with eating disorders, obesity, and related mental‑health conditions.
Application Requirements
Resume/CV
Cover letter explaining how you meet the required qualifications
Three academic references
Application review begins December 1, 2025 and continues until a qualified pool is identified.
Contact Phillip Kroh, phillipkroh@ku.edu
Compensation and Start Date Salary: $37,000 – $42,000
Start Date: Monday, January 12, 2026
#J-18808-Ljbffr
The Assistant Researcher will uphold ethical standards, regulatory compliance, and data confidentiality while contributing to assessment‑focused projects funded by the Department of Defense, NIH, and endowments. Projects involve the Military Mental Health Study, a novel screening tool for eating disorders in the U.S. military, and the Veteran Mental Health Study, an archival dataset of veterans recently separated from service.
STAR: NIH‑funded trial developing a mobile app that uses machine learning to predict relapse in adolescents recovering from anorexia nervosa.
BEST‑U: NIH‑funded trial testing a mobile app–based guided CBT intervention for college students with binge‑Spectrum eating disorder.
BRITER: 10‑week mobile health treatment targeting circadian and appetite rhythms for binge eating through sleep medicine integration.
EPSI ChAT: Validation of a self‑report questionnaire assessing eating and feeding disorders in youth.
Other funded grants.
Opportunity for independent research with large longitudinal datasets, such as a 30,000‑patient eating disorder cohort (Recovery Record, Inc.) and a 350‑adult community study.
The position is on‑site in Lawrence, Kansas.
Responsibilities 50% Supervision, Project Management, and Administrative Support
Train undergraduate and paid research assistants in data entry, lab policies, and procedures.
Develop lab schedules and interview potential undergraduate research assistants.
Coordinate team meetings, take notes, and track task completion.
Maintain and submit IRB protocols and amendments.
Assist grant preparation, progress reports, and publications.
Track project metrics using Asana and REDCap.
Recruit, onboard, and support undergraduate and CARE‑related staff.
30% Data Reporting, Management, and Statistical Analysis
Run weekly/monthly reports on recruitment and enrollment.
Prepare reports for multisite reviews, data safety monitoring boards, and funding agencies.
Perform basic statistical analyses using SPSS and R.
Manage recruitment flow and data entry in REDCap.
Ensure secure data storage.
20% Psychological Testing
Conduct semi‑structured clinical interviews for diagnoses and qualitative stakeholder feedback.
Administer neurocognitive and self‑report psychopathology measures.
Participate in consensus meetings and present case summaries.
Qualifications Required
High school diploma/GED and four years of related experience, OR bachelor’s degree in psychology, public health, epidemiology, educational psychology, social work, counseling, or a related field.
Prior experience as a research assistant or technician in a laboratory.
Preferred
Master’s degree in psychology, public health, epidemiology, educational psychology, social work, counseling, or related field.
Coursework or training in clinical psychology or behavioral health research.
Experience in laboratory management or administration.
Recruiting, screening, and testing participants in research studies.
Proficiency in database, statistical, and imaging software (SPSS, SAS, R, Qualtrics, REDCap, Linux).
Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines and adapt in a fast‑paced environment.
Experience working with diverse populations, including those with eating disorders, obesity, and related mental‑health conditions.
Application Requirements
Resume/CV
Cover letter explaining how you meet the required qualifications
Three academic references
Application review begins December 1, 2025 and continues until a qualified pool is identified.
Contact Phillip Kroh, phillipkroh@ku.edu
Compensation and Start Date Salary: $37,000 – $42,000
Start Date: Monday, January 12, 2026
#J-18808-Ljbffr