Dr. Zinger

JOB OPENING! Location: McLean Hospital / Belmont MA

The Laboratory for Affective and Translational Neuroscience (LATN) at McLean Hospital (PI: Diego A. Pizzagalli, PhD) studies the causes, consequences, and pathophysiology of depression using a multi-modal approach spanning environment, brain, and behavior. We are seeking a recent graduate to fill a full-time Clinical Research Intern position, assisting with two NIH-funded studies (study descriptions below). A stipend will be provided for this position. This is an exceptional learning opportunity for someone preparing for graduate school in clinical psychology, neuroscience, or a related field.

Early Life Stress and Depression: Molecular and Functional Imaging Approaches (ELS2): Examines the relationship between childhood maltreatment and major depressive disorder through clinical interviews, self-report surveys, and functional, structural, and molecular imaging. Findings aim to clarify the lasting neural effects of adolescent sexual abuse and their link to adult depression risk.

Beyond Monoamines: The Role of the Nociceptin/Orphanin FQ Receptor in Major Depression (REWARD 41): Investigates the role of the Nociceptin/ Orphanin FQ peptide in MDD pathophysiology utilizing MRI, PET, biospecimens (i.e., blood, saliva), and behavioral tasks and the Nociceptin/ Orphanin FQ peptide’s relationship to anhedonia and stress sensitivity.

Responsibilities: Recruit study participants and conduct phone screens in REDCap to assess eligibility against strict study criteria; schedule and run remote and in-person study sessions; build rapport with and consent participants; lead MRI session logistics: coordinate and schedule scans, run behavioral tasks during scanning, and process blood via pipetting/centrifuging; handle administrative tasks: organizing study paperwork, data entry, maintaining participant logs, processing participant compensation, communicating with the IRB on protocol changes, uploading bi-annual submissions to the NIH NDA

Qualifications: Full-time, in-person position requiring a 6- to 9-month commitment; candidates must be local to or willing to relocate to the Boston area. Start date: Immediate/as soon as possible. Bachelor's degree in Psychology or related field preferred, or a combination of relevant research

experience and education. Research/human subjects experience; experience with neuroimaging methods is preferred

If interested, please email [email protected] and [email protected] with a CV , cover letter, 2-4 references, and unofficial undergraduate transcript.

Congratulations to former UCI Psychology Post-Bacc student Charlie Skutt, who recently earned his master's degree in Molecular Sensors and Biotechnology from the University of Oregon! In the coming months, Charlie will be documenting his lab work on a YouTube channel to get better at communication/production and doing some entrepreneurship work while applying to PhD programs in neuroscience/bioengineering.

A little bit about Charlie: Charlie graduated in 2023 from the University of Lynchburg with a B.S. in Biomedical Sciences. During his time at the university, Charlie’s interest in the brain was largely driven by his minor in neuroscience - but in his senior year, he enrolled in a neuropsychology course and discovered a passion for the field of psychology as well. As a member of the orchestra and wind symphony, Charlie combined his love for music with his love for science, research, and the brain, conducting an independent research project entitled “Exploring the Use of EEG-Based Machine Learning to Predict Music-Related Brain Activity” to fulfill his senior thesis requirement for his honors college curriculum. During his time in the post-bacc program, Charlie worked in Dr. Piff's Morality, Emotion, and Social Hierarchy (MESH) lab and completing courses in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Clinical Psychology, Statistical Analysis in Social Ecology, Biological Psychology, and Social Psychology. He also completed a field study internship at LD Neuropsychological Testing in Winter 2024. In May 2024, Charlie was admitted to the Knight Campus Graduate Internship Program (accelerated master's program) in the Molecular Sensors and Biotechnology Track at the University of Oregon, and he left our post-bacc program to pursue this opportunity. He began the master’s program at the University of Oregon in June 2024, and as part of this program, he completed a research and development internship at Thermo Fisher Scientific.

So proud of you, Charlie!