Research Associate - Social Sciences

Purdue University; West Lafayette (IN); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Purdue University’s Cognition and Learning Laboratory seeks a Research Associate to coordinate school-based research on learning, memory, and language development. The role involves managing partnerships with schools, scheduling, recruitment, and ensuring high-quality protocol implementation across settings.

You will work with the PI and team on data management, analysis, and dissemination, contributing to an organized research environment and mentorship of student assistants.

Qualifications

• Master's Degree in Psychology, Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences or related field.
• Experience conducting research on language and/or cognition with children.
• Ph.D. in Psychology, Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences or related field is helpful.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and implement school-based research projects on learning, memory and language development across classroom, lab, and partner settings.
• End-to-end project coordination including scheduling, communication with school personnel, participant recruitment, and protocol implementation.
• Contribute to data management, analysis, and scholarly activities including reporting and dissemination.
• Serve as liaison between the laboratory and external partners and mentor student research assistants.
• Support open science practices and ethical conduct of research.

Skills

Research with children

Interpersonal skills

Organizational skills

Project coordination

Independent and collaborative work

Mentoring student researchers

Problem solving

Experimental design

Data analysis

Written communication

Open science / research ethics

Education

Master's Degree in Psychology, Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences or related field

Ph.D. in Psychology, Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences or related field

Tools

Research software and tools

Job description

Job Summary

The Research Associate in the Cognition and Learning Laboratory in the Department of Psychological Sciences supports the University’s research mission by coordinating and implementing school-based research projects on learning, memory, and language development. This position plays a central role in managing partnerships with schools, coordinating complex project logistics, and leading data collection with child participants across classroom, laboratory, and partner program settings.

The Research Associate is responsible for end-to-end project coordination across multiple ongoing studies, including scheduling, communication with school personnel, participant recruitment, and ensuring high-quality implementation of research protocols in real-world environments. The position also contributes to data management, analysis, and scholarly activities, including research reporting and dissemination. This position will also work closely with the Principal Investigator (PI) and research team, you will serve as a primary liaison between the laboratory and external partners, while contributing to maintaining an organized, collaborative, and productive research environment.

What We’re Looking For:

Required:

Education and Experience:

• Master's Degree in Psychology, Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences or related field
• Experience conducting research on language and/or cognition with children

Skills Needed:

• Expertise in carrying out research sessions with children
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills necessary for interacting with research participants and coordinating with teachers, school administrators, and caregivers
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail necessary for project management
• Ability to coordinate and manage projects and multiple tasks simultaneously
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a research team
• Demonstrated mentoring skills necessary for working with student research assistants
• Demonstrated problem-solving and troubleshooting abilities
• Expertise in experimental design and data analysis
• Proficiency with research software and tools
• Strong written communication skills necessary for scientific writing and reporting
• Commitment to research rigor, open science practices, and ethical conduct of research

What is Helpful:

• Ph.D. in Psychology, Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences or related field

Additional Information:

• Purdue University will not sponsor employment authorization for this position
• A background check will be required for employment in this position
• FLSA: Exempt (Not Eligible for Overtime)
• Retirement Eligibility: Defined Contribution Waiting Period

Career Stream

Professional 2

Pay Band S120

Job Code #20003722

Purdue University is an equal opportunity/equal access university.