The Department of Psychological Sciences at the University of Connecticut invites applications for the position of Research Assistant and Lab Manager in the Communication and Development Laboratory (Principal Investigator: Dr. S. Umay Suanda). The successful candidate will play an important role in all facets of the laboratory’s research, including but not limited to study design, subject recruitment, data collection and analysis, manuscript preparation and lab managerial duties (e.g., supervising undergraduate research assistants). Research in the laboratory focuses on the cognitive and social processes that shape, and get shaped by, early language development. The laboratory’s research typically involves observational, experimental, and eye-tracking studies with infants, young children, and adults. The position is an excellent opportunity for motivated individuals interested in gaining research experience in preparation for a graduate career in Developmental Psychology, Cognitive Science or a related field. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Primary Duties & Responsibilities include: Participant recruitment and testing (including observations, experiments, eye-tracking studies, and conducting standardized assessments of participants ranging from infants to adults).*; Maintenance, management and organization of study records and data; Data coding and analysis; Maintenance of the laboratory’s research equipment, computer software and hardware and advise, coordinate, manage, recruit and train a cohort of undergraduate research assistants. * Due to the nature of the laboratory’s research, the position will involve significant interaction with parents and their children and will require occasional flexibility in schedule (working early mornings/evenings/weekends). The position will also involve some off-site data collection (home visits and/or conducting research at local museums, daycares, and community centers). These off-campus research sites may not be accessible by public transportation. Additional Duties & Responsibilities may include: Assist with the development of study design, study stimuli, and coding schemes; Assist with manuscript preparations, conference submissions, and grant applications; Assist with Institutional Review Board and grant reports; Interface and work with the laboratory’s collaborators, departmental staff, and companies that provide research support to the lab; Laboratory website development and maintenance; Organize and coordinate laboratory’s meetings and outreach activities; Other activities and tasks related to the laboratory’s research as requested. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - A Bachelor’s degree in a related field (including, but not limited to, Psychology, Cognitive Science, Linguistics, and Human Development).
- Previous laboratory research experience in the psychological or cognitive sciences.
- Excellent interpersonal, communication and collaborative skills.
- Comfortability interacting and communicating with young children and their parents.
- Excellent project management, organizational and multi-tasking skills.
- Strong computer and technical skills.
- Ability to travel to off-campus data collection sites that may not be accessible by public transportation.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS - Previous experience working with children and/or families in a research setting.
- Previous laboratory research experience involving the study of early language development, the observation and coding of parent-child interactions, eye-tracking methods, and/or early cognitive/socio-cognitive testing of young children.
- Experience with computer programming (especially in R, Python, or MATLAB), video coding/speech transcription tools (e.g., DataVyu, Noldus Observer, CHILDES CLAN), image editing software (e.g., Photoshop), and/or video editing software (e.g., FinalCut Pro) will be considered a plus.
APPOINTMENT TERMS The position is a full-time (40-hour per week) 12-month position (annually renewable). A two-year commitment is preferred. Renewal will be contingent upon performance and funding availability. TO APPLY Please apply online at UConn Jobs (www.jobs.uconn.edu), Staff Positions (Search #2019334) to submit a letter of application, resume, and the names and contact information of three professional references. Screening of applicants will begin immediately. Employment of the successful candidate is contingent upon the successful completion of a pre-employment criminal background check. (Search 2019334) This job posting is scheduled to be removed at 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on February 28, 2019. All employees are subject to adherence to the State Code of Ethics which may be found at http://www.ct.gov/ethics/site/default.asp.
The University of Connecticut is committed to building and supporting a multicultural and diverse community of students, faculty and staff. The diversity of students, faculty and staff continues to increase, as does the number of honors students, valedictorians and salutatorians who consistently make UConn their top choice. More than 100 research centers and institutes serve the University’s teaching, research, diversity, and outreach missions, leading to UConn’s ranking as one of the nation’s top research universities. UConn’s faculty and staff are the critical link to fostering and expanding our vibrant, multicultural and diverse University community. As an Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity employer, UConn encourages applications from women, veterans, people with disabilities and members of traditionally underrepresented populations. |
