Graduate Research Assistant - Women's Wellness & Counseling Service - UIHC, Psychiatry

The WWC Graduate Research Assistant (GRA) will serve as this clinic’s triage expert, appointment scheduler, and liaison to referring providers, patients, and departmental staff. They will assist the Director in day-to-day clinic operations and will be called upon to make informed decisions that will directly affect patient care and clinic functions.

JOB REQUIREMENTS: Successful candidates will possess the following skills/qualifications:

• Excellent communication skills: in person, on phone, in writing; the Graduate Research Assistant will interact with patients, clinic staff, as well as health care providers within the hospital and across the city/region/state. GRA will discuss various provider options in clinic with patient and orient patient to medication/therapy options. Previous counseling or direct patient interaction would be recommended but not required.
• Ability to type, to use Microsoft Office programs (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), and to manage the clinic phone line (incoming calls and voicemail messages)
• Advanced understanding of mental illness; compassion and empathy for persons in emotional distress
• Ability to make complex treatment/care recommendations (triage decisions) that take into account patient needs as well as clinic capabilities
• Ability to collaborate with a variety of care providers who may have divergent views and needs
• Willingness to complete necessary job training requirements, such as those pertaining to the use of Electronic Medical Records, patient care, scheduling of patient appointments, etc
• Ability to adapt schedule to accommodate clinic hours and staff needs; mandatory attendance at staff meetings (Mondays 10-12) and other clinic functions
• Basic understanding of and respect for women’s reproductive care and mental health
• Willingness to manage challenging situations with patience and persistence
• Ability to identify tasks, develop workable solutions, and implement change that integrates feedback from multiple sources
• Ability to work independently yet seek assistance and input from others when needed to perform optimally
• Assist in the management of an undergraduate student clinic scheduler

APPLICATION PROCESS: Interested candidates will submit the following to the clinic Director by May 31, 2024. Please email directly to Dr. Stacey Pawlak at stacey-pawlak@uiowa.edu

• Letter of intent which will describe the candidate’s interest in the position, goals/motivation to work in a women’s mental health care clinic, and related job experiences
• CV or resume
• Letters of recommendation from at least 2 individuals who are/have been the candidate’s academic advisor or training director, practicum supervisor, employer, or other persons who are familiar with the candidate’s abilities and who can use the JOB DESCRIPTION and JOB REQUIREMENTS listed above to demonstrate the candidate’s fit for the position

PAY/BENEFITS: 

2024-2025 STIPEND AMOUNTS

The stipend level for this fiscal year 2024-2025 Graduate Research Assistantship appointment as per the contract negotiated between the University of Iowa and the graduate employee union, Local 896 (COGS) will be $33,000 for a time commitment of 20 hours of work per week.

Students holding a 25% or greater teaching or research assistantship appointment will be assured a tuition scholarship. The tuition scholarships will be applicable only for the academic year and does not include scholarships for summer semester enrollment. These rates for the tuition scholarship are based on a 9 s.h. or greater registration and will be pro-rated as related to each student’s registration.