Lab Research Assistant

University of Chicago Booth School of Business; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading university is seeking a Lab Researcher Assistant at the Roman Family Center for Decision Research. The role involves conducting research studies, providing administrative support, and aiding in participant recruitment and engagement. Candidates should have strong communication and organizational skills, with a Bachelor's degree and relevant research experience.

Qualifications

• Minimum one year of experience conducting experiments.
• Proficiency in MS Office required.
• Fluency in Spanish preferred.

Responsibilities

• Conduct research with human participants and coordinate with other staff.
• Provide feedback to researchers and maintain study materials.
• Assist in administrative projects and manage datasets.

Skills

Communication

Organizational Skills

Time Management

Attention to Detail

Interpersonal Skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in psychology, organizational behavior, or marketing

Tools

MS Office

Job description

The Roman Family Center for Decision Research is devoted to the study of how individuals form judgments and make decisions. Lab Researcher Assistants at the Center examine the processes by which intuition, reasoning, and social interaction produce beliefs, judgments, and choices. The Mindworks Lab Research Assistant supports faculty members, research professionals, and PhD candidates with their research projects and provides administrative support within the RFCDR Labs.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Conduct Faculty, Student, and Postdoc Research with Human Participants in Mindworks. Receive training in the full protocols for research studies to be conducted at Mindworks to which one is assigned, and coordinate with other research staff working on these studies to ensure all are carrying out study protocols appropriately. Recruit, consent, and debrief participants. Answer any participant questions that arise and provide researcher information when additional information is requested.
2. Provide feedback to researchers to help optimize and troubleshoot study materials and protocols. Communicate study updates to Mindworks management and research teams, including promptly reaching out about any problems that arise during data collection. This includes providing ongoing progress towards study completion, and reporting any issues or observations noted during experiments.
3. Maintain and track all materials, equipment, logs, and any other items required to conduct faculty research projects to which one is assigned in Mindworks.
4. Assist in managing and maintaining datasets for faculty members’ studies using the appropriate data management platforms and enter and code study data as needed.
5. Maintain current training in research ethics through the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI Program) and participate in RFCDR Labs training events.
6. Provide Administrative Support to the Mindworks Lab. Assist in administrative projects, inventory management, outreach and participant recruitment initiatives, coordinating events, and maintaining research partnerships as needed.
7. Maintain and promote clear, efficient, and professional communication between research staff, faculty, students, and colleagues.
8. Demonstrate expertise in providing information to Mindworks visitors about the field of behavioral science, the nature and purpose of experimental research in behavioral science, the specific nature and importance of each of the Mindworks exhibits and related concepts and generally serve as a positive ambassador for the RFCDR during engagement with visitors.
9. Assist in delivering events and programming to attract visitors to Mindworks and provide support for related data collection opportunities. This includes helping to carry out events and programs to support research with children and adults from specific groups and backgrounds, as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

1. Bachelor’s degree in psychology, organizational behavior, or marketing or equivalent experience.
2. A minimum of one year of experience in conducting computer, web-based, and interpersonal interaction-based experiments required.
3. Demonstrated proficiency with MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook) required.
4. Familiarity with methods of social science research experimentation.
5. Fluency in Spanish preferred.
6. Outstanding verbal, written, and presentation skills required.
7. Excellent time management, organizational, and attention to detail required.
8. Ability to handle multiple detailed tasks/projects simultaneously and meet strict deadlines with frequent interruptions required.
9. Demonstrated ability to work effectively and diplomatically with colleagues, as well as with students, faculty and corporate contacts in a multitude of communication methods i.e., in person, email, phone required.
10. Professional demeanor, including tact, discretion, and a customer service-oriented approach required.