Developmental Psychology Research Lab Manager (1.5 year term)

Case Western Reserve University; Cleveland (OH); On-site; USD 22,000 - 31,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare benefits

Retirement plans

Tuition assistance

Paid time off

Winter recess

Job summary

Case Western Reserve University is seeking a Social Sciences Research Assistant 2 for the Kids’ Thinking Lab in the College of Arts and Sciences. The role supports three core projects focusing on early math development and parental involvement.

Responsibilities include recruiting participants, conducting data collection with families, and coding data. The position is a 1.5-year term with collaboration across campuses.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in developmental psychology or related field.
• 1–3 years of related research experience with young children.
• Ability to recruit and run studies with families and young children.

Responsibilities

• Plan and carry out research activities for assigned projects.
• Collect, clean, prepare, and analyze data; transcribe and code conversations as needed.
• Recruit families for studies and coordinate community outreach.
• Train and direct undergraduate students; collaborate with University of Pittsburgh researchers.

Skills

Child development knowledge

Data collection with young children

Flexible scheduling

Interpersonal communication

Videoconferencing

Supervising students

AI tools familiarity

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Videoconferencing tools

Job description

Case Western Reserve University is committed to providing a transparent estimate of the salary for this position at the time of its posting. The starting wage rate is $19.41 per hour, depending on qualifications, experience, department budgets, and industry data.

Employees receive more than just a paycheck. University employees enjoy a comprehensive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare, retirement plans, tuition assistance, paid time off, and a winter recess.

POSITION OBJECTIVE

Working under general supervision, the Social Sciences Research Assistant 2 will support day-to-day operations, and plan and carry out research activities in the newly established Kids' Thinking Lab at Case Western Reserve University, in the College of Arts and Sciences Department of Psychological Sciences. The Kids¿ Thinking Lab focuses on the development of mathematical thinking in children and the role that parents play for their children's development. The research assistant will contribute to at least three major projects: 1) The Parents Promoting Early Learning project follows children from toddlerhood and the preschool years into elementary school, mapping their mathematical development and how parents support their children. 2) The Playful Learning project tests the efficacy of a novel family math program for 4-year-old children and their parents. 3) The ManyNumbers project examines the development of numerical skills in young children around the world. Key responsibilities for this position include research participant recruitment, in-person and remote data collection involving parents and young children, processing and coding of data (e.g., transcribing parent-child conversation and coding them for particular behaviors), and managing undergraduate research assistants. In addition to working with the supervisor, the incumbent will work closely with collaborators at the University of Pittsburgh. This is a 1.5 year term position.

Essential Functions

• Plan and carry out research activities for assigned projects. Collect data from children and their parents either remotely via videoconferencing for the Playful Learning Study, and Parents Promoting Early Learning study; or in person in the lab for the ManyNumbers study. (40%)
• Plan and carry out data collection, cleaning, preparation and analysis. Process and code data including writing transcriptions of parent-child conversation and coding for specific behaviors (e.g., use of mathematical language). (20%)
• Recruit families for research studies including participating in local family-friendly events, collaborating with community partners working with families, reaching out to families to share information about research studies. (15%)
• Train new staff, and direct the work of undergraduate students, collaborating with students and staff at the University of Pittsburgh, who are working on the Playful Learning study and the Parents Promoting Early Learning study. (20%)

Nonessential Functions

Support the project work of the principal investigator through daily project activities and assigned tasks including literature reviews, report preparation and attending stakeholder meetings. Perform other duties as assigned and needed for the functioning of the Kids¿ Thinking Lab. (5%)

CONTACTS

Department: Daily contact with supervisor to discuss research and maintain workflow.

University: Infrequent contact with other departments to share information.

External: Frequent contact with external collaborators on research projects (University of Pittsburgh); frequent contact with research participants (i.e., families across the US) to exchange information.

Students: Frequent contact with student employees to exchange information and direct work.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY

This position has no direct supervision of staff employees. Train new staff; direct the work of students.

Qualifications

Education/Experience: Bachelor's degree and 1 to 3 years of related experience in a developmental psychology research setting; experience working with children between 0 and 10 years of age.

Required Skills

• Knowledge of child development and hands-on experience working with children between 0 and 10 years of age.
• Experience collecting data for research with young children.
• Ability to meet consistent attendance and flexibility in work hours to accommodate families¿ availability for participation in research studies.
• Ability to interact with colleagues, supervisors and research participants face-to-face and via videoconferencing.
• Carefully follows instructions and pre-established guidelines to collect data.
• Carefully follows instructions and pre-established guidelines to process and code data.
• Ability to oversee undergraduate research assistants, coordinate schedules, and assign tasks.
• Ability to demonstrate successful support, education, and advocacy for all students, aligned with the values, mission, and messaging of the university, while adhering to the staff policy on conflict of commitment and interest.
• Willingness to learn and work with artificial intelligence (AI) tools and technologies.

WORKING CONDITIONS

General laboratory environment. No exposure to hazards. May need to work in the evenings or on weekends to accommodate data collection needs of families participating in research studies.

This is a Term position. They are treated like regular staff positions for medical and dental benefits eligibility, vacation, holidays, and sick time. Term employees are not eligible for life insurance, retirement, long term disability, short term disability, tuition assistance, layoff status, or severance pay. Staff in term positions are also subject to the performance management review process and positive corrective action when work performance or behavior is unsatisfactory or unacceptable. Term employment does not alter the employment-at-will employee status of these employees.

Case Western Reserve University is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants are protected under federal and state laws and university policy from discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national or ethnic origin, protected veteran status, disability, age and genetic information.

Case Western Reserve University complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act regarding reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the CWRU Office of Equity at 216-368-3066 to request a reasonable accommodation. Determinations as to granting reasonable accommodations for any applicants will be made on a case-by-case basis.