Location: Bowling Green, KY
Category: Staff
Job Type: Full-time
Posted On: Tue Aug 11 2026
Job Description:
The Risk Behaviors and Suicide Prevention lab, directed by Dr. Amy Brausch at Western Kentucky University, is accepting applications for a Research Coordinator/Lab Management position with expectations to coordinate an NIMH-funded longitudinal project on adolescent suicide risk. This study examines factors that contribute to persistent suicide ideation in rural adolescents and data is collected in high school settings.
Major job duties include:
Project Coordination: tracking parent consent, tracking project goals, working with PI and school contacts to develop timelines and schedules for school visits and data collection, organize research protocol materials, prepare for data collection visits at schools, lead and supervise data collection visits at schools, track participant recruitment and enrollment, organize paperwork and participants' private information. Duties also include being trained in risk screening and making referrals to school crisis counselors as needed, tracking teacher consent forms, managing on-line data collection for teachers, learning how to enter and score self-report data in an on-line assessment platform.
Data Management: create and manage datasets in SPSS, which include survey and behavioral task data, supervise undergraduate Research Assistants in data entry, prepare data for submission to the NIMH Data Archives, assist with data reporting for subject recruitment reports and annual progress reports. May also include financial tracking, making purchases, requesting funds for participant payments, settling receipts.
Administrative Duties: coordinating rooms and meetings, handling IT tasks, maintaining IRB compliance, completing compliance training and tracking others' completion.
Dissemination: assist with data analysis, manuscript preparation, and conference presentations.
Start date is flexible, but ideally by late summer/early fall 2026. This is a fixed-term appointment funded for one year from date of hire. There is the possibility of re-funding for an additional 1-2 years pending renewal of grant funding.
Salary starts at $35,000 and position includes a full benefits package from Western Kentucky University. Funds may be available for conference travel.
Job Requirements:
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Bachelor's degree in Psychology or closely related field by August 2026.
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Prior experience working in an academic research lab.
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Strong interest in suicide research, youth mental health, and/or school-based research.
Additional Information:
Kentucky state law requires all public institutions of postsecondary education to conduct pre-employment criminal background checks to determine suitability for employment.
Western Kentucky University (WKU) is committed to a policy and practice of providing equal employment and educational opportunities to all individuals. In accordance with Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Revised 1992, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, no form of discrimination or harassment will be tolerated at WKU on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, creed, religion, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, marital status, age, uniformed services, veteran status, genetic information, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, or physical or mental disability in admission to career and technical education programs and/or activities, or employment practices.
Persons with disabilities, who need reasonable accommodations to participate in the application and/or selection process, may contact the Office of Institutional Equity at 270-745-5121 for assistance. To report concerns related to WKU's Discrimination and Harassment Policy, No. 0.2040 and/or WKU's Sex and Gender-Based Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation Policy, No. 0.2070, please complete the Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation Reporting Form. Additional information regarding Title IX, including contact information for the Title IX Coordinator and reporting options, is available on WKU's Title IX website.
Information concerning educational programs offered by WKU are provided at: https://www.wku.edu/academics/
For information related to job postings, application status, or the hiring process, please email [email protected].
