Research Assistant, FACE Lab

Emerson College; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 31,478 - 37,746; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health plans

Dental plans

Generous time‑off programs

403(b) retirement with employer match

Life insurance

Disability coverage

Commuter offerings

Job summary

Emerson College’s FACE Lab in Boston is hiring a Research Assistant for a new NIH-funded project. The RA will support day-to-day operations, coordinate with CHOP, and help code and analyze facial and non-verbal expressions within social contexts.

The role involves data processing, survey creation, IRB documentation, and supervising student researchers. Strong organizational and communication skills, plus ELAN experience, are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, Child Development, Cognitive Science, or related field.
• Experience with statistical software such as R/R Studio, Redcap, Qualtrics or QuestionPro preferred.
• 1–3 years working with autistic individuals preferred.

Responsibilities

• Participate in regular meetings with FACE Lab and CHOP partner lab.
• Implement data processing methods, priorities, and timelines.
• Create online surveys and data processing/export pipelines.
• Lead recruitment and data collection with autistic and non-autistic individuals and families.
• Organize data, IRB protocols, backups, and documentation.
• Supervise student research assistants and lab scheduling.
• Provide general administrative support and logistics.
• Growth opportunities in writing abstracts and presenting at conferences.

Skills

Emotional intelligence

Interpersonal communication

Organizational skills

Self-starter

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Psychology or related field

Tools

R/R Studio

Redcap

Qualtrics or QuestionPro

ELAN

Job description

Join our community and experience Emerson College! We are hiring a Research Assistant for a newly NIH-funded project at the FACE Lab at Emerson College. The project’s aims are to identify facial expressions and other non-verbal behavior that can predict conversational success and satisfaction among autistic and non-autistic adolescents. The Research Assistant will report to the FACE Lab Director and will support day-to-day operations of the project, including interactions with our partners on this grant at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). The primary research focus at the FACE Lab will be coding and analyzing facial and other non-verbal expressions within social context, while our partners at CHOP will focus on computer-driven analyses of the same expressions. The RA will acquire expertise in several software programs, including ELAN, manage student research assistants, and support all aspects of data processing. The RA will provide a full range of administrative, logistical, and scheduling support to the Lab Director and Post-Doctoral Fellow, as well as coordinate activities and communication with our partners at CHOP. This is an important role that requires high organizational ability, strong communication and technological skills, as well as a high level of emotional intelligence. Minimum commitment is two years. The FACE Lab is a small, collegial environment dedicated to engaging in high quality, relevant, and ecologically valid research on social communication through respectful, honest, and open communication. We aim to collaborate with and be informed by the autism and autism research communities and remain accountable to all stakeholders, including providing active mentorship and growth opportunities to all lab members.

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES

• Participate in regular meetings between FACE Lab and partner lab at CHOP to provide status updates and adjust priority list of research tasks
• Implement data processing methods, priorities, and timelines established by the research team
• Create online surveys, implement data processing or exporting pipelines, and create associated documentation
• Lead recruitment and data collection with autistic and non-autistic individuals and their families
• Organize and maintain data, IRB protocols, backup systems, and documentation
• Supervise and coordinate the work of student research assistants and maintain the lab schedule
• Provide general administrative support for project
• Assist with logistics and scheduling
• Perform other miscellaneous duties as assigned
• Growth opportunities in writing abstracts and presenting research at conferences

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, Child Development, Cognitive Science, Communication Disorders, or a related field required
• Experience using statistical and other research software, such as R/R Studio, Redcap, and Qualtrics or QuestionPro strongly preferred
• 1-3 years of previous experience working with autistic individuals preferred

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• High level of emotional intelligence and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team
• Self-starter with excellent interpersonal communication and organizational skills
• Exceptional accuracy and attention to detail, as well as strong communication skills required

PHYSICAL ABILITIES

The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. This position is generally sedentary in nature, movement throughout the area is required from time to time. Ability to have continuous oral and written communication with co-workers and supervisors is essential. Repetitive movements, occasional lifting of up to 10 pounds, reaching, lifting, stooping and the ability to read a computer screen, detect color-coding and read fine print will be expected.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

General office conditions. Exposed to moderate noise levels

Salary Range

Salary range is $22.85 - $27.40, commensurate with experience.

IN-OFFICE EXPECTATIONS

This position requires an in-person presence on the Boston Campus during the work week.

Grade of Position: 23-05NE Employment Category: Grant Funded (Fixed Term) .. Scheduled Weekly Hours: 36.25

Benefits and Compensation

In addition to a competitive salary, Emerson College is committed to the health and well-being of our employees and family members. We offer a generous benefits package to regular staff scheduled to work 20+ hours per week. Emerson Employment Categories influence work schedules, benefits eligibility, and time off policies.

• Outstanding health plans with limited out-of-pocket expenses
• Dental plans
• Generous time-off programs
• 403(b) retirement benefit with a 9% employer contribution once eligible
• Life coverage
• Disability coverage
• Commuter offerings

Please refer to our benefits website for a full list of benefits and eligibility requirements.

About Us

Emerson College is the nation’s only four-year institution dedicated exclusively to majors in communication and the arts in a liberal arts context. It is located in the dynamic multi-cultural city of Boston in close proximity to major arts institutions, performing art venues, and research centers. The college enrolls over 5,800 graduate and undergraduate students from more than 70 countries and all 50 states. Emerson College has campuses in Los Angeles and the Netherlands. At Emerson College, we seek individuals who bring innovation, creativity, and impact to our campuses to increase our depth, breadth, and diversity in our educational offerings. Emerson’s commitment to inclusive excellence is supported by a range of resources.

Commitment to Inclusion

Emerson College believes the pathway to achieving inclusive excellence is fostering a campus climate where everyone can thrive. As a community of scholars and storytellers, we continually strive to cultivate a community that draws upon the widest possible pool of talent, characterized by the intentional inclusion of individuals from varied backgrounds, perspectives, beliefs, and values.

In accordance with the federal Clery and Campus SaVE Acts, Emerson College commits to providing all current and prospective students and employees with access to the annual campus security reports for each of our campuses. This report may be accessed from the Emerson College Police Department website. Emerson College has designated the Associate Vice President of Equity, Access & Equal Opportunity/ Title IX Coordinator to respond to inquiries regarding the College's Policy Against Discrimination, Harassment & Sexual Violence. The Associate Vice President of Equity, Access & Equal Opportunity/ Title IX Coordinator is located in the Ansin Building, 180 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02111, Suite 409, and may be reached by calling [phone] or by emailing [e-mail].