STP- E 2025 Research Assistant - Miami

Florida International University is a top public university that drives real talent and innovation in Miami and globally. Very high research (R1) activity and high social mobility come together at FIU to uplift and accelerate learner success in a global city by focusing in the areas of environment, health, innovation, and justice. Today, FIU has two campuses and multiple centers. FIU serves a diverse student body of more than 56,000 and 290,000 Panther alumni. U.S. News and World Report places dozens of FIU programs among the best in the nation, including international business at No. 2. Washington Monthly Magazine ranks FIU among the top 20 public universities contributing to the public good.

The Center for Children and Families (CCF) at Florida International University announces Summer Treatment Program Research Assistant positions. The Summer Treatment Program (STP) provides services to children with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Conduct Disorder, Oppositional-Defiant Disorder, learning problems, and related behavior problems. The program provides treatment tailored to children's individual behavioral and learning difficulties.

The dates of employment for the Research Assistant position are Monday, June 2, 2025, through Saturday, August 2, 2025. Hours of employment are 7:30 AM to 6:30 PM, Monday through Friday. Research Assistants are also required to work on Saturday, August 2 (program wrap-up).

Research Assistants will be paid $15/hour, with overtime pay for any hours in excess of 40 per week (total approximate compensation for the summer of $7,000). Current students may also be able to arrange for academic course credit through their university departments.

During the program, children and counselors are assigned to groups that remain constant for the duration of the program. Each group consists of four or five counselors and 10 to 15 children of similar age. Counselors implement an extensive behavior modification treatment program during age-appropriate activities. In addition, children participate in academic classroom activities that are staffed by teachers and classroom aides. The program includes feedback and associated consequences for positive and negative behaviors, daily and weekly rewards for appropriate behavior, social praise and attention, appropriate commands, and age-appropriate removal from positive reinforcement. Summer Research Assistants support the activities of the STP-E and work with data collected by the counselors and classroom staff during the program. Research Assistants will prepare data collection materials and rating scales, collect and verify parent and staff ratings and questionnaires, will verify counselor-recorded data from daily activities, videotape STP activities for supervision and training purposes, and perform duties related to medication assessments that participating children will undergo during the program such as collecting parental records of medication administration, assisting the program nurse, and preparing ratings of side-effects for data entry. Research Assistants will also conduct reliability observations of the point system implementation and observations of treatment fidelity. Finally, Research Assistants will assist with program activities such as setup and breakdown of recreational equipment and weekly reinforcer activities. Research Assistants will work under the supervision of experienced staff members and will receive regular feedback about their performance.

During the first two weeks of employment, Research Assistants will participate in training activities consisting of lectures, slide and video presentations, testing, and daily active role-plays during which staff members will act as counselors and children during activities such as games, drills, discussions, and time out. Research Assistants will also assist with program setup and preparation of research materials and rating forms.

The Center for Children and Families was founded by William E. Pelham, Jr., Ph.D., a Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry at Florida International University. The STP has been conducted since Page 2 of 2 1980 and was named as a Model Program for Service Delivery for Child and Family Mental Health by the Section on Clinical Child Psychology and Division of Child, Youth, and Family Services of the American Psychological Association. The STP has also been used in clinical trials conducted under the auspices of the National Institute of Mental Health and SAMHSA and has been named a program of the year by CHADD, the national parent advocacy group for children with ADHD.

Experience in the STP may be helpful to prepare students for further study or employment in the fields of education, mental health, physical education, pediatrics, psychiatry, recreational therapy, behavior analysis, social work, counseling, and related areas. Staff members have uniformly reported the experience to be the most demanding but also the most rewarding clinical experience of their careers.

Desired qualifications for Research Assistants include: undergraduate-level study in Psychology, Education, Behavior Analysis, Social Work, or related field; experience working with children or adolescents in settings such as summer camps, after-school programs, sports programs, daycare programs, and educational programs; and experience working on research projects and studies.

Participation in the STP requires staff to ensure the safety, well-being and treatment of children and adolescents with mental health, learning, attention and behavior problems. Staff must be able to visually scan the environment, effectively attend to and hear verbal exchanges between children, provide neutral, corrective feedback on childrens misbehavior (which can include aggression), and provide a consistent, warm, positive climate for children. Research Assistants must be able to meet the above requirements of the position.

Positions are competitive so interested individuals should apply as soon as possible. All finalists must clear a Criminal Background Check initiated by the Division of Human Resources at FIU before an offer of employment will be made. All finalists must be digitally fingerprinted and cleared by the Department of Children and Families (DCF).

Temporary Disclosure

• As a temporary employee, you will not be eligible to participate in all employee benefit programs (e.g., paid leave, retirement, or tuition reimbursement).

Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), a temporary employee who works on average 30 hours or more per week may be eligible to enroll in health care benefits. As a temporary employee, you are also eligible to enroll in supplemental plans (e.g. dental, vision,) which requires full payment on your part.

Equal Opportunity

• FIU is a member of the State University System of Florida and an Equal Opportunity, Equal Access, Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

For a detailed description of the program, and to apply for this position, please visit:

https://ccf.fiu.edu/summer-programs/summer-treatment-program/index.html

Temporary

• Bachelor's degree in Psychology, Education, Behavior Analysis, Social Work, or related field and experience working with children and teenagers.
• Experience working with children or adolescents in settings such as summer camps, after-school programs, sports programs, daycare programs, and educational programs. Previous experience in teaching, refereeing, or coaching children in sports is preferred.

The dates of employment for the Research Assistant position are Monday, June 2, 2025, through Saturday, August 2, 2025. Hours of employment are 7:30 AM to 6:30 PM, Monday through Friday. Research Assistants are also required to work on Saturday, August 2 (program wrap-up).

Research Assistants will be paid $15/hour, with overtime pay for any hours in excess of 40 per week (total approximate compensation for the summer of $7,000). Current students may also be able to arrange for academic course credit through their university departments.

Criminal Background Check

Fingerprint check

As a temporary employee, you will not be eligible to participate in all employee benefit programs (e.g., paid leave, retirement, or tuition reimbursement).

Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), a temporary employee who works on average 30 hours or more per week may be eligible to enroll in health care benefits. As a temporary employee, you are also eligible to enroll in supplemental plans (e.g. dental, vision,) which requires full payment on your part.

Upon completing an assignment, employees may apply for a position on FIU Careers.

Prospective Employee

If you have not created a registered account, you will be asked to create a username and password for use of the system. It is recommended that you provide an active/valid e-mail account as that will be the main source of communication regarding your status within the process. In this account, you are able to track your applicant status in "My Applications".

To be considered eligible for the position as an internal candidate, departmental staff must meet minimum requirements of the position and be in good performance standing.

Before you begin the process, we recommend that you are prepared to attach electronic copies of your resume, cover letter or any other documents within the application process. It is recommended that you combine your cover letter and resume/curriculum vitae into one attachment. Attached documents should be in Microsoft Word or PDF format. All applicants are required to complete the online application including work history and educational details (if applicable), even when attaching a resume.

*This posting will close at 12:00 am of the close date.

Current Employee

As a current employee, you must log into Employee Self Service (ESS) to apply for this and any other internal career opportunity of interest. In this account, you are able to track your applicant status in "My Applications".

To be considered eligible for the position as an internal candidate, departmental staff must meet minimum requirements of the position and be in good performance standing.

Before you begin the process, we recommend that you are prepared to attach electronic copies of your resume/ curriculum vitae, cover letter or any other documents within the application process. It is recommended that you combine your cover letter and resume into one attachment. Attached documents should be in Microsoft Word or PDF format.

*This posting will close at 12:00 am of the close date.

Clery Notice

In compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act, the University Police department at Florida International University provides information on crimes statistics, crime prevention, law enforcement, crime reporting, and other related issues for the past three (3) calendar years. The FIU Annual Security report is available online at: https://police.fiu.edu/download/annual-security-fire-safety-report/.

To obtain a paper copy of the report, please visit the FIU Police Department located at 885 SW 109th Avenue, Miami, FL, 33199 (PG5 Market Station).

Pay Transparency

Florida International University will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information.

FIU is a member of the State University System of Florida and an Equal Opportunity, Equal Access, Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.