RESEARCH ASSISTANT (GS-7/9)

The Center for Clinical Management Research (CCMR) at the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System is seeking a highly motivated full-time Research Assistant to join a dynamic, mission-driven health services research team. This position will primarily support Changing the Treatment Course: Clinical Trial of Sequenced Interventions to Optimize Treatment for Veterans with PTSD, a clinical trial led by Dr. Rebecca Sripada focused on improving mental health outcomes for Veterans.

As a key member of a collaborative and multidisciplinary team, the Research Assistant will contribute to participant engagement, study coordination, and daily operational activities essential to the success of the trial. The role also provides valuable professional development opportunities, including mentorship within the CCMR research community, training in clinical trials and evidence-based mental health research, experience working directly with Veterans and PTSD-focused interventions, exposure to VA research operations, and opportunities to contribute to manuscripts or conference presentations when appropriate.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities include:

Recruit, enroll, and follow-up with study participants
Communicate with Veterans about sensitive mental health topics including PTSD symptoms, trauma exposure, suicide risk, and substance use
Use electronic medical records to identify potentially eligible Veterans
Conduct participant contacts by phone or in-person
Perform in-person clinic-based recruitment at the Ann Arbor VA Medical Center, as needed
Assist with data collection, entry, and maintenance of study files
Coordinate study activities in collaboration with the research team

Required Qualifications:
For GS-7, a bachelor’s degree in a health-related field is required; Psychology, Public Health, or Social Work preferred, OR equivalent experience/one year of grad school in a related field.
For GS-9, a master’s degree, or two years of grad school, in a health-related field or allied science field, OR one year of specialized experience at the GS-7 level.
Other qualifications include:
US Citizenship
Customer service minded, detail-oriented, self-starter, and able to work productively with others in a cooperative team environment
Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills, with focus on oral and written communication and critical thinking
Ability to multi-task, work independently, maintain orderly records, and seek guidance from superiors, when needed.
Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook

Position Details:
Title: Research Assistant
Appointment: Full-time, GS-7 or GS-9 depending on experience and qualifications
Salary: Ann Arbor GS-7, starting $55,658 or GS-9, starting $68,081 (OPM table)
Benefits: Full federal benefits package
Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8-hour shifts; ability to flex hours as determined by study needs and participant availability
Worksite: On-site at the VA Ann Arbor North Campus Research Center or VA Ann Arbor Medical Center, as needed
Start date: Anticipated October 2026
Application Instructions:
Submit cover letter, resume, and three references to:
Cassaundra Peterson
Email: [email protected]
Application Deadline: 7/24/2026.