Institute for Addiction Science

FUNDING FOR HIGH IMPACT TRANDISCIPLINARY PROJECTS

As a reminder, IAS is requesting project ideas from any IAS participating faculty members to award seed funding that will lead to high impact transdisciplinary projects.  Projects that will advance any of IAS’s three missions—research, education, and community engagement and service—are encouraged.  These project pitches will require a brief one-page description and budget and should propose work that can be completed within 1-year, but serve as the basis for a longer-term initiative, as described here.      
 

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 CALL FOR DEMONSTRATION & PILOT PROJECT PROPOSALS
using the new IAS Biobehavioral Research Facility

• Cover page including: (a) the names, professional titles, affiliations (school/department), and email address of the PI and each investigator, (b) the title of the proposal
• Biosketches or CVs of the PI and each investigator (<5 pages each).
• A brief narrative describing (1-2 pages total):
  • Specific aims and scientific premise
  • An abbreviated overview of methods, including explaining how the facility will be used.
  • Rationale and plan of how the project will be used to compete for subsequent external funding
  • Explanation of how frequently you anticipate using the space
  • Total anticipated budget needed

Students needed to assist with research study:

The USC PEARL Lab is currently recruiting US veterans (aged 18-40) for a research study where we are testing whether a brief online intervention (a 20-minute interactive program viewable on phones) can help veterans reduce their drinking and seek more formal care for their alcohol use or behavioral health problems (like PTSD, depression). We are recruiting off social media and have a lot of potential participants ready to be enrolled. But due to the nature of online advertising, we need to call veterans and verify a few key pieces of information with them to ensure they are who they say they are (and not people just pretending to be veterans to get our incentives). We’re looking for students to help us make these calls, which take about 5 minutes. Nearly everyone we’ve called has “passed” this verification check so it’s just an extra precaution. Calls could be made anytime of the day, but we’ve found closer to the evening time works best to get ahold of participants. There is a script for the calls. Students will be interacting with participants so they will have needed to complete the CITI training. We’re looking for students who can start as soon as late April, with calls lasting likely through August.  Please contact Eric Pedersen at eric.pedersen@med.usc.edu.
 

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The Tobacco Related Disease Research Program is looking to hire an Associate Program Officer.  The successful applicant will join a team of 8 other program officers, a director, and support staff in sunny Oakland, California.

The Associate Program Officer will play a key role in the development and management of research grant making activities and special projects within the Tobacco-Related Disease Research Program. The incumbent will have key responsibilities in managing external communications and program evaluation. The applicant should possess considerable expertise collecting and analyzing program review and outcomes data associated with nicotine or tobacco use. Advanced knowledge of or experience with addressing social determinants of health and advancing health equity is also required.
 

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Marshall University has two open positions in their Psychology department. Marshall University is located in Huntington, WV, which is heavily impacted by the opioid epidemic. As such, there are excellent opportunities here for addictions researchers and clinicians, including some ongoing interdisciplinary efforts in both the university and the community. There are two tenure-track Assistant Professor positions available, with a third to be posted soon. The first position requires a degree in clinical or counseling psychology and includes teaching in the PsyD program as well as opportunities to work with undergraduates. The second is open regarding area, with a preference for individuals interested in teaching courses at all levels related to methodology and statistics. The third position should be posted soon and will also require a degree in clinical or counseling psychology and include teaching in our PsyD program. Please feel free to share this information with any students, post-docs, etc. who may be interested!
 

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Research Team - Department of Population and Public Health Sciences
 

The Department of Population and Public Health Sciences is in search of: A dependable, flexible, and detail-oriented person is needed to join a research team at the University of Southern California to participate in new pilot studies related to substance use, including studies related to cannabis use during pregnancy. These studies are investigating harm reduction approaches to substance use, including how expanding cannabis legalization may worsen existing maternal health disparities.

 

(1) Data collection. Conducting one-on-one interviews and focus groups with study participants (e.g., people who inject drugs, women who use cannabis during pregnancy, young women who vape, health providers and midwives);
(2) Data analysis. Conducting data analysis (e.g., thematic analysis, grounded theory using ATLAS.ti);
(3) Project management. Supporting all study-related project and data management (e.g., Institutional Review Board submissions and related protocols, managing and storing data according to HIPAA, managing
transcription of data).
 

 

Excellent English writing and speaking skills are required, and bilingual in English and Spanish writing and speaking skills are ideal. The ideal candidate will have strong organizational capabilities, superb problem-solving skills, and a demonstrated ability to work independently while managing multiple tasks. Opportunities for mentorship and support in writing manuscript writing and peer-reviewed publications are available. Flexible hours on some evenings and weekends may be needed (e.g., conducting research interviews to accommodate study participants’ schedules). The majority of the work will be conducted remote from 9am-5pm Monday through Friday). Prior experience in a research environment is preferred.Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in the social sciences or in a health related field is preferred. 

For more information or to apply, please email Rachel Carmen Ceasar, PhD, Assistant Professor of Population and Public Health Sciences at rceasar@usc.edu.