Research Associate, Usability & Learning

Level; Austin (CO); On-site; USD 52,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

Level is seeking a curious Research Associate to support usability and learning research with children and families. You will run sessions, collect and organize data, and help turn observations into actionable insights.

You'll work closely with the Usability Expert and Lab Manager in a hands-on lab environment, handling equipment and coordinating sessions while upholding ethical standards and child safety protocols.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in psychology, human development, education, cognitive science, or related field.
• Experience working directly with children in research, tutoring, teaching, or childcare.
• Comfort with technology and willingness to learn specialized lab tools and software.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to follow protocols consistently.
• Reliable, organized, and able to manage logistics across multiple sessions.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate usability, playtesting, and learning sessions with child and parent participants under the Lab Manager.
• Follow established research protocols and session guides, flagging issues or deviations.
• Take detailed observational notes and manage in-session data capture (video, logs, biometric data).
• Assist in setting up, calibrating, and breaking down lab equipment before and after sessions.
• Transcribe, code, and organize qualitative data from sessions; assist with basic analysis.
• Build rapport with child participants and uphold ethical research standards.

Skills

Attention to detail

Reliability

Follow protocols

Experience with children

Education

Bachelor's degree in Psychology

Bachelor's degree in Human Development

Bachelor's degree in Education

Bachelor's degree in Cognitive Science

Bachelor's degree in HCI

Tools

Lab equipment software

Video annotation tools

Screen recording tools

Job description

Level is a learning technology company dedicated to helping students build real academic and life skills with confidence and joy. We combine proven curriculum principles with world class interactive design to make meaningful practice something students want to come back to, not something they struggle through.

We Support What Teachers, Schools, And Parents Are Already Doing By Increasing Student Engagement With High Quality, Standards Aligned Practice That Reinforces Classroom Learning. That’s Why We’re Building

For students: Rewarding and motivating learning experiences that meet students where they are to build real academic proficiency.

For educators: Tools that fit naturally into instruction and help students stay engaged while reducing teacher workload.

For parents: Activities that help your kid catch up or get ahead, build confidence, and minimize homework battles, whether learning at school or at home.

We are committed to helping every person maximize their potential and live a life of meaning. It’s a difficult problem that requires brilliant people and tremendous effort over time.

We are looking for a curious, detail-oriented Research Associate to support our usability and learning research lab. You'll work closely with our Usability Expert and Lab Manager to run studies with children and families, collect and organize data, and help us understand how kids learn and play. This is a hands-on role — you'll spend real time with real kids, operating lab equipment, running sessions, and turning raw observations into useful findings.

What You Will Do

Study Facilitation & Data Collection

• Facilitate usability, playtesting, and learning sessions with child and parent participants under the direction of the Lab Manager
• Follow established research protocols and session guides, flagging issues or deviations
• Take detailed observational notes and manage in-session data capture (video, screen recording, behavioral logs, biometric data, etc.)

Lab Operations Support

• Assist in setting up, calibrating, and breaking down lab equipment before and after sessions
• Help maintain lab readiness: equipment checks, consumables, scheduling logistics
• Support participant coordination including screening, scheduling, and consent documentation

Data Processing & Analysis

• Transcribe, code, and organization qualitative data from sessions
• Assist with quantitative data entry, cleaning, and basic analysis
• Help synthesize findings into summaries, highlight reels, and presentation-ready materials

Working with Children

• Build rapport with child participants to help them feel comfortable and engaged during sessions
• Uphold ethical research standards and child safety protocols at all times
• Adapt facilitation style to different age groups and learning contexts

Need to Have

• Bachelor's degree in Psychology, Human Development, Education, Cognitive Science, HCI, or a related field
• Experience working directly with children (research, tutoring, teaching, childcare, camp, etc.)
• Comfort with technology and a willingness to learn specialized lab tools and software
• Strong attention to detail and ability to follow protocols consistently
• Reliable, organized, and able to manage logistics across multiple sessions

Nice to Have

• Experience with qualitative research methods (interviewing, observation, think-aloud protocols)
• Familiarity with usability or UX research concepts
• Experience with video annotation, screen recording, or behavioral coding tools
• Background in educational technology, game design, or child psychology
• Graduate coursework or research experience in a relevant field