Psychology Lab Coordinator

National College of Ireland; Dublin; On-site; EUR 37,000 - 57,000; Full time

Job summary

National College of Ireland seeks to appoint a Psychology Lab Coordinator to manage the psychology laboratory, support undergraduate practicals, and contribute to ongoing research projects. The role includes teaching and supervision for the Psychology Labs module across degree programmes, with opportunities to publish and develop a research career.

The post holder will lead training of students and staff, coordinate resources, and support Final Year Projects and other research activities within

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree (or conversion) in psychology, PSI recognised.
• Masters (level 9) in Psychology or closely related field; PhD desirable.
• Experience supporting psychological research projects, including data collection and participant management.
• Knowledge of quantitative and qualitative research methods.
• Experience with data analysis software such as SPSS.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day operation of the psychology laboratory and ensure health and safety compliance.
• Coordinate maintenance, upgrades, purchasing and integration of equipment, software, databases and materials.
• Provide induction, training and supervision for students, staff and visiting researchers.
• Teach, coordinate and assess the Psychology Lab module; supervise Final Year Projects.
• Assist planning, design and delivery of research projects; support grant applications and publications.

Skills

Lab management

Research methods

Data collection

Participant management

Communication

Teamwork

Education

Bachelor's or conversion in psychology

Masters in Psychology or related field

PhD (desirable)

Tools

SPSS

LabChart

Inquisit

Gorilla

MS Forms

Job description

Job Specification: Psychology Lab Coordinator

Job Title

Psychology Lab Coordinator

Department

Psychology Department, School of Business and Social Sciences

Location

National College of Ireland, Mayor Square, IFSC, Dublin 1

Role Overview

The National College of Ireland seeks to appoint a Psychology Lab Coordinator to lead the management of the psychology laboratory, coordinate and support practical research activities for undergraduate students on the BA (Hons) in Psychology and future masters students, and contribute to ongoing research projects within the psychology department. The post holder will also have teaching and supervision responsibilities, which will include support for Final Year Projects and module coordination and lecturing for the Psychology Labs module on the BA (Hons) Psychology full-and part-time programmes.

This is an excellent opportunity for a motivated early-career researcher, seeking to gain both research and teaching experience, and to contribute to high-quality scholarly outputs, as a pathway towards an academic career in psychology.

Key Duties And Responsibilities

The job duties and responsibilities listed below are intended to describe the general nature of the role. The duties and responsibilities, and the balance between the elements in the role, may change or vary over time, particularly throughout the academic year. In the addition to the below, there will be an expectation that the post holder will undertake any other tasks that may reasonably be requested by the Programme Director or Vice Dean.

Laboratory management

• Oversee the day-to-day operation and efficient running of the psychology research laboratory.
• Coordinate the maintenance, upgrading, purchasing (as required) and integrating of laboratory equipment, software, databases, and research materials.
• Develop and maintain catalogues of available laboratory resources and standard operating procedures for research activities that are compliant with college health and safety procedures.
• Provide support to student and staff in finding and using appropriate resources to carry out research and teaching activities, including undergraduate final year projects.
• Support the induction and training of students, research assistants, and visiting researchers.

Teaching Responsibilities

• Module coordination, teaching and assessment for the Psychology Lab practical module. This includes providing students with instruction related to the application of the scientific method in psychology, including both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, writing of lab reports and use of APA style.
• Supervision and assessment of final year projects.
• Support for teaching activities on other modules, particularly those involving research methods and statistics, as required by the Programme Director and Vice Dean.

Research project support

• Assist in the planning, design, and delivery of research projects within the psychology department. This may include assisting with the preparation of grant applications, funding proposals, and peer-reviewed publications.
• Ensure research activities comply with ethical guidelines, institutional policies, and relevant data protection regulations.
• Participate in research group meetings, departmental seminars, and collaborative research initiatives.
• Provide administrative and organisational support for research-related activities, including workshops, participant communications, and data management, analysis, and archiving.
• Contribute to a positive, collaborative, and inclusive research environment.

Psychology is an expanding discipline at NCI which may result in duties and responsibilities expanding as they arise within the technical support pool. It is hoped that this will provide staff with a positive opportunity for personal development and progression and therefore a flexible approach is essential.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• Undergraduate degree (or conversion equivalent) in psychology. Recognised by PSI (or equivalent).
• At a minimum a masters (level 9 or equivalent) qualification in Psychology or a closely related discipline (Master’s degree or equivalent). A PhD in Psychology or a closely related field is highly desirable. Candidates who have made substantial progress toward completion of PhD will also be considered.
• Experience supporting psychological research projects, including data collection and participant management.
• Knowledge of quantitative and qualitative research methods.
• Ability to use/learn to use and maintain specialist psychology equipment (e.g., virtual reality, LabChart, online experiments – Inquisit, Gorilla), online survey tools (e.g., MS Forms).
• Experience with data analysis software such as SPSS and similar statistical packages.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a research team.
• Understanding of research ethics and data protection requirements.

Desirable criteria

• A PhD in Psychology or a closely related field is highly desirable. Candidates who have made substantial progress toward completion of PhD will also be considered.
• Experience managing a research laboratory or coordinating research projects.
• Previous experience teaching at third level institutions.
• Experience contributing to peer-reviewed publications.
• Experience supporting grant applications or research funding activities.
• Interest in developing an academic research career.

Key Skills And Attributes

• Self-motivated, flexible and adaptable
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to high-quality research standards.
• Ability to prioritise workload and meet project deadlines.
• Problem-solving skills and adaptability in a research environment.
• Professionalism in working with research participants and maintaining confidentiality.
• Able to demonstrate initiative in providing additional assistance to colleagues
• Commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion within research and academic settings.

Benefits Of The Role

• Opportunity to contribute to innovative psychological research.
• Experience in laboratory management and research project coordination.
• Experience of teaching, assessment and supervision at undergraduate level.
• Opportunity to contribute to publications, conference presentations, and funding applications.
• Collaborative and supportive academic research environment.

Salary: Academic I (€37,271- €57,027)

Contract Type: 3 year fixed term

Hours: 35 per week

National College of Ireland is an equal opportunities employer and is a Member of the Athena SWAN Charter. NCI is committed to serving our diverse community and welcomes applications from underrepresented groups.