Lab Manager (Laboratory Research Assistant)

New Jersey Department of Children and Families; Bloomington (IN); On-site; Full time

Job summary

A leading university's COMPARE Lab is seeking a full-time Lab Manager to oversee research in cognitive science and developmental psychology. The role involves managing lab activities, coordinating research with children and dogs, and providing outreach. The position offers opportunities for publications and presentations, along with a commitment of at least two years.

Benefits

Comprehensive medical and dental insurance

Health savings account with IU contributions

Tuition subsidy for employees and family members

Generous paid time off plans

Employee assistance program (EAP)

Qualifications

• 1 year of research or teaching experience with children or animals is preferred.
• Experience working with preschool or elementary-school-age children is preferred.
• Some laboratory experience is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Recruits families and dog owners for research studies.
• Organizes and participates in outreach activities.
• Assists in data collection, coding, and analysis.

Skills

Proficient communication skills

Time management

Professionalism

Flexibility

Dependability

Education

Bachelor's degree in science or health-related discipline

Master's degree in related discipline

Tools

Statistical software (e.g., R)

Computer programming (JavaScript, Python, etc.)

Job description

The COMPARE Lab, directed by Dr. Erica Cartmill, is hiring 1 full-time Lab Manager (Laboratory Research Assistant). This position presents diverse opportunities to participate in cutting-edge cognitive science and developmental psychology research. The COMPARE Lab studies social cognition and communication in children, companion dogs, and zoo-housed great apes. The lab manager will manage the activities of the lab space on IU Bloomington campus, which include studies with children and dogs.
The lab manager will be involved in a variety of research projects on children and dogs, including studies examining understanding of others surprise, the impact positive affect has on cognition, attribution of mental states to other species, and the role of parent-child or caretaker-dog interactions on early cognitive development. The lab manager may also have opportunities to become involved in research on zoo-housed great apes if they are interested.
There will be opportunities to be involved in the dissemination of research through conference presentations, publications, and technical reports.

Job Summary

Department-Specific Responsibilities

• Recruits families and dog owners to participate in research studies, including coordinating with preschool directors.
• Recruits and schedules research participants, involving direct contact with parents and dog owners.
• Assists with multiple aspects of the research process, including stimulus design and creation, recruiting, scheduling, data collection, coding, and analysis.
• Organizes and participates in outreach activities.
• Presents findings at collaborative lab meetings.
• Manages IRB protocols.
• Assists with research grant administration and accounting.
• Organizes and participates in outreach activities.
• Trains and supervises undergraduate research assistants.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

General Responsibilities

• Responsible for the initiation, monitoring, completion, and reporting of routine to moderately complex research studies.
• Organizes and implements data review and analysis.
• Oversees the proper handling of laboratory specimens including processes, shipping, storage, and documentation and transfer to designated central laboratories.
• Conducts data quality assurance practices.
• Prepares research summaries and assists in progress report development.
• Maintains laboratory work areas and supply inventory.

Qualifications

Combinations of related education and experience may be considered. Education beyond the minimum required may be substituted for work experience. Work experience beyond the minimum required may be substituted for education.

EDUCATION
Required

• Bachelor's degree in science or health-related discipline (preferably in Psychology or Cognitive Science)

Preferred

• Master's degree in related discipline

WORK EXPERIENCE
Preferred

• 1 year of research or teaching experience with children or animals (or equivalent experience)
• Some Laboratory experience
• Experience working with preschool or elementary-school-age children as a researcher or teacher

SKILLS
Required

• Proficient communication skills
• Maintains a high degree of professionalism
• Demonstrates time management and priority setting skills
• Demonstrates a high commitment to quality
• Possesses flexibility to work in a fast paced, dynamic environment
• Highly thorough and dependable

Preferred

• Regularly requires the ability to effectively communicate
• Ability to travel to off-site locations that may not be accessible by public transportation
• Ability to work early mornings, evenings, and weekends to administer study protocols as necessary
• Demonstrated experience with statistical software, such as R, to complete quantitative data analyses
• Experience with computer programming (e.g., JavaScript, Python, C++, Ruby, R)

Working Conditions / Demands

The role regularly requires the ability to effectively communicate.
The role frequently requires the ability to move about the work environment and to position oneself to operate laboratory equipment effectively. The role requires the ability to move objects weighing up to 25 pounds and will occasionally work near moving mechanical parts. The person in this role must be able to perform the essential functions with or without an accommodation.
Ability to travel to off-site locations that may not be accessible by public transportation.
Ability to work early mornings, evenings, and weekends to administer study protocols as necessary.

Additional Information

The minimum expected commitment is 2 years, with the possibility of extension depending on performance.

Work Location

Bloomington, Indiana

Advertised Salary

$18.26 to $19.23 per hour

Benefits Overview

For full-time staff employees, Indiana University offers a wide array of benefits including:

• Comprehensive medical and dental insurance
• Health savings account with generous IU contributions
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• Basic group life insurance paid by IU
• Voluntary supplemental life, long-term disability, critical illness, and supplemental accidental death & dismemberment insurance
• Base retirement plan with generous IU contributions, subject to vesting
• Voluntary supplemental retirement plan options
• Tuition subsidy for employees and family members taking IU courses
• 10 paid holidays plus a paid winter break each year
• Generous paid time off plans
• Paid leave for new parents and IU-sponsored volunteer events
• Employee assistance program (EAP)

Learn more about our benefits by reviewing the IU Benefit Programs Brochure .

Job Classification

Career Level: Intermediate
FLSA: Nonexempt
Job Function: Research
Job Family: Laboratory Research
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Posting Disclaimer

This posting is scheduled to close at 11:59 pm EST on the advertised Close Date. This posting may be closed at any time at the discretion of the University, but will remain open for a minimum of 5 business days. To guarantee full consideration, please submit your application within 5 business days of the Posted Date.
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