The Grady Trauma Project Intern Program: Applications open for Summer 2023
Want to gain clinical experience recruiting and interviewing research participants?
Want to learn about trauma research methods?
Join our team!
What is the Grady Trauma Project?
The Grady Trauma Project (GTP) is a NIH-funded research project that investigates the relative contributions of genetic and environmental risk factors for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in a highly traumatized, low socioeconomic status minority population. All research is conducted at Grady Memorial Hospital in downtown Atlanta, Georgia.
What will you be doing as an intern?
The primary role of an intern is to conduct interviews with participants on their trauma history and psychological health in the waiting rooms of Grady Memorial Hospital.
Interns complete extensive clinical training in order to conduct the interviews independently, gaining meaningful skills in trauma research methods and the administering of clinical psychological measures. Through this work, interns will have the unique opportunity to develop a thorough knowledge of trauma and trauma-related disorders, and will become members of a team at the forefront of international PTSD research. In particular, interns will gain experience working directly with adults and/or children with a range of psychopathology, will develop critical clinical skills, and will be able to administer a number of widely used psychological assessment instruments with both chronic and acutely traumatized populations. Grady Trauma Project is one of the only programs in the country with the opportunity for interns to conduct clinical research without an advanced/graduate degree, therefore making a high level of commitment to the project a necessity.
Interns are expected to complete 6+ hours of clinical research tasks per week for a period of 6+ months. Weekly team meetings occur on Tuesday from 2-3pm via Zoom (specialized project meetings also occur on Fridays at various times depending on the project)
Intern Responsibilities
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Commit to 6+ hours per week average time over 6+ months (preferably 1 year with opportunities for longer for those who are interested) for participant screening and other commitments
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Screening Description:
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Recruit research participants from hospital waiting rooms for the largest epidemiological civilian trauma study in the world
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Approach potential participants, explain study and consent participants into the study
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Conduct research participant screens, including collecting participant trauma history, administering psychological symptom inventories, assessing alcohol and drug use, eating behavior, etc.
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Collect participant saliva sample for subsequent genetic analysis
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Complete required training, hospital orientation and necessary documentation as needed.
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Attend weekly staff meetings every Tuesday from 1-3pm and a regular intern skills training
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Help out with any other tasks around the project
**Please note that we are unable to write recommendation letters unless you have fully participated in the program for the required time commitment as outlined above**
Opportunities, Eligibility, and How to Apply
Emory University, Summer 2023: We are not currently accepting additional applications. Please check back in late summer for potential fall semester opportunities.
Georgia State University RISE program, Fall 2023: We are no longer accepting applications and all applicants have been notified of their status. Please check back at the beginning of the Spring semester next year to inquire about the Fall 2024 cohort.
We are not accepting applications from undergraduates at other institutions at this time.
For any additional questions, please email Dr. Natalie Merrill at
natalie.merrill@emory.edu