Clinical Research Coordinator Description (Paid Employment- Medical/Clinical)
The laboratory conducts studies characterizing the pharmacology of alcohol in humans using behavioral, neuroendocrine, electrophysiological and functional imaging measures.
My roles include:
*coordinating studies in social and high-risk drinkers to evaluate genetic and environmental risk factors influencing the acute and adaptive responses to alcohol
*conducting a study to examine alcohol self-administration behavior using a computer-assisted intravenous paradigm
*administering computerized tasks, scales, and clinical instruments to collect behavioral, physiological and psychomotor data for the studies
*analyzing data to develop posters and presentations at scientific conferences
Meaningful essay (1307 characters)
My favorite part of this position is working on a clinical research team, and interacting, one-on-one, with human research participants with and without family histories of alcoholism. I have developed the skills to perform structured clinical interview for psychiatric disorders and IQ tests, as well as behavioral assessments of drinking history, family history of alcoholism, smoking and adverse childhood experiences. The opportunity to interact and conduct clinical evaluations has been a privilege and a revelation into mental illness and addiction.
I have gained valuable insights into the factors that contribute to the development of mental disorders and addiction, such as genetics and epigenetics, and how this knowledge can be used to develop better treatments for these disorders. I have learned that psychiatric disorders, like most health care issues, involve many areas of medicine including pharmacology and biochemistry, as well as socio-cultural factors. Thus, it is critical to approach these disorders with a multi-faceted approach including medical, psychological, and social aspects, in order to best serve the needs of our patients. This experience has increased my fascination with medicine and motivated me to become a physician so that I can provide quality care to the community.
]