We are seeking a Clinical Research Liaison and Assessor II to join our team! This position is in the laboratory of David A. Lewis, MD, which is part of the Translational Neuroscience Program in the Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital. The research focuses on the neural circuitry of the prefrontal cortex and related brain regions and the alterations of this circuitry in schizophrenia. The lab is one of the NIH NeuroBioBank (NBB) Brain and Tissue Repositories (BTRs).

As a member of the NBB Clinical Psychologist team, this position is responsible for: 1) Obtaining consent for brain tissue donation from the next-of-kin of deceased individuals who are undergoing autopsies, 2) Conducting Psychological Autopsies for the deceased by interviewing the next-of-kin, 3) Requesting records from treatment (and other) facilities, 4) Writing detailed case summary reports, 5) Presenting cases at the post-mortem diagnostic conference, 6) Data entry into the NBB database for all demographic and clinical data for each case. Experience with conducting psychological assessments (e.g., SCID), report writing, and grief management.

This position is grant funded.

The Clinical Research Liaison and Assessor II will provide postmortem diagnostic evaluation of decedent research subjects, treatment referrals and counseling to next-of-kin research participants with a variety of neurodevelopmental, behavior and/or mental health concerns, diagnostic interviews/assessments with families, conducts appropriate testing as needed, and provides feedback and recommendations to research team, patients, families, and/ or community agencies/providers. They may function as a sub-specialist within the unit or provide specialty services for other programs and will coordinate with care teams to provide behavioral health treatment referrals across levels of care.

Responsibilities:

• Demonstrates highly developed knowledge and skill in the area of differential diagnosis of psychiatric disorders.
• Performs psychological assessment with accurate diagnostic impressions.
• Provides behavioral health services, using empirically validated treatments and interventions.
• Provides behavioral health services in using an acute and maintenance model.
• Schedules sufficient volume of participants so that productivity standards are maintained within the department.
• Maintains current knowledge of relevant literature and empirically validated treatments.
• Maintains knowledge of the literature relevant to the relevant patient population.
• Provides crisis sessions to support and assist patients experiencing acute distress and/or symptoms, as needed.
• Works collaboratively with other service lines at UPMC and outside agencies assuring continuity of care with referral sources and other providers.
• May participate in research efforts by assisting in subject recruitment, conducting research assessments or treatment, as directed by supervisor.
• Participates in regular supervisory meetings with direct supervisor to review adherence to program standards.
• Consults and collaborates with multidisciplinary teams regarding patient care and treatment planning.
• Demonstrates ability to maintain accurate and complete records and data collection, performed in a timely fashion.
• Provides formal teaching and supervision for staff and trainees.