Research Lab Coordinator, Department of Psychology

University of Denver; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 29,000 - 37,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Denver is seeking a Research Lab Coordinator to support the Self-Regulation, Adaptation, and Growing Experiences (SAGE) Lab, focusing on children's learning and self-regulation in diverse populations. You will help build research infrastructure, coordinate projects, and engage with community partners.

Ideal candidates are highly organized, proactive, and able to work with children and families.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in psychology or related field.
• At least 1 year of relevant research experience.
• Experience with IRB submissions or coordinating research projects is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate daily lab operations and study scheduling.
• Recruit participants and manage communications with families.
• Assist with data collection, entry, and quality checks.

Skills

Organization

Communication

Independent work

Interpersonal skills

Attention to detail

Training supervision

Education

Bachelor's degree in psychology

Tools

Qualtrics

REDCap

R

Microsoft Excel

Job description

The Department of Psychology at the University of Denver is research-oriented, valuing a collaborative and integrative approach to psychological science that fosters intellectual curiosity and innovation and invests in people in a supportive and inclusive environment. Our mission is to advance psychological science by generating and sharing new knowledge through collaborative scholarship, educating and mentoring student scholars, and contributing to the public good.

The College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences and the Psychology department are strongly committed to building a diverse and inclusive educational environment, which is in full accord with the value that DU places on its commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Candidates must demonstrate ability to integrate content and issues relating to, and to work effectively with, ethnically/racially diverse populations. The University of Denver endeavors to be a great university dedicated to the public good and to uphold the values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice. The University recognizes that its success is dependent on how well it lives these values, including how we engage, support, and champion members both at DU and in the greater community. DU is situated in the Denver metro area, a vibrant urban center in the Rocky Mountain region, home to more than 3 million people. Our metropolitan location supports collaboration across local universities. DU, ranked in the top 100 universities in the country, is comprised of 5800 undergraduates (600+ psychology majors), 8000 graduate students (55 Psychology graduate students), and 700+ full-time faculty. The University recently received recognition as an R1 by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.

Position Summary

The Research Lab Coordinator will play a central role in launching and managing the Self-Regulation, Adaptation, and Growing Experiences (SAGE) Lab at the University of Denver, directed by Dr. Meriah DeJoseph. Research in the SAGE Lab examines children's learning and self-regulation development, particularly in the context of poverty, with an emphasis on understanding how children adapt to their everyday environments. The lab uses experimental and community-based approaches to study these processes across childhood and adolescence.

The Research Lab Coordinator will help establish the lab's research infrastructure and coordinate day-to-day research activities across multiple projects. Primary responsibilities include assisting with study development and protocol implementation, managing IRB submissions, recruiting and scheduling participants, coordinating data collection, overseeing research assistants, and managing and cleaning data. Studies may involve behavioral tasks, eye tracking, and physiological measures, as well as research conducted in community settings. The coordinator will also help develop and maintain relationships with local community partners and support participant outreach and engagement. Additional responsibilities include managing lab schedules, databases, research materials, purchasing, and other administrative tasks.

The ideal candidate will be highly organized, proactive, and comfortable taking initiative in a growing research lab. They should enjoy working with children and families and be able to communicate effectively with researchers, students, and community partners.

This is a full-time, in-person position (37.5–40 hours per week) with DU's full benefits package. The initial appointment is for one year, with the possibility of renewal contingent upon funding. Candidates who are available for a two-year commitment are preferred. The schedule requires daytime hours and occasional evening or weekend availability to accommodate participant study visits. Occasional travel to community research sites throughout the Denver metropolitan area may also be required.

Essential Functions

The primary responsibilities for the Research Lab Coordinator are:

• Coordinate daily lab operations, including establishing organizational systems, maintaining research materials, scheduling, and purchasing supplies.
• Manage participant recruitment, enrollment, scheduling, and communication with children and families.
• Coordinate and assist with data collection for lab-based and community-based research studies, including administering behavioral tasks, surveys, and other research protocols.
• Manage study databases, data entry, quality checks, and data cleaning.
• Train, supervise, and coordinate undergraduate research assistants and support graduate student research activities.
• Support community outreach and help establish and maintain relationships with local community partners.
• Assist with IRB submissions, protocol development, literature reviews, and preparation of research materials, publications, and grant applications.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Excellent organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, maintain accurate records, and meet deadlines.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to interact effectively with children, families, students, researchers, and community partners.
• Ability to work independently, take initiative, solve problems, and adapt to the evolving needs of a growing research lab.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to establish positive, respectful relationships with children and families from diverse backgrounds.
• Strong attention to detail, particularly in following research protocols and maintaining accurate, organized data.
• Ability to train, coordinate, and support undergraduate research assistants.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (e.g., Word, Excel) and ability to learn research software and data management platforms.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in psychology, cognitive science, human development, or a related field.
• At least one year of relevant research experience, including undergraduate research or research coordination experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience conducting research with children, adolescents, and/or families.
• Experience with community outreach, participant recruitment, or collaboration with community organizations.
• Experience coordinating research studies, managing data, or supervising research assistants.
• Familiarity with research software or data management platforms (e.g., Qualtrics, REDCap, R).
• Experience with behavioral experiments, eye tracking, or physiological data collection.
• Proficiency in Spanish.

Working Environment

• Standard office environment.
• Research activities may involve shifting priorities and occasional schedule changes to accommodate participant visits.
• Noise level is quiet to moderate.

Work Schedule

37.5 hours per week. Schedule may vary. Normal work hours are Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm (MST).

Physical Activities

• Ability to work in front of a computer for extended periods of time.
• Occasionally required to move about the office/campus.

Statement of Other Duties Disclaimer

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.

Application Deadline

For consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) December 18, 2026.

Special Instructions

Candidates must apply online through jobs.du.edu to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted.

Salary Grade

The salary grade for the position is 7.

Hourly Range

The hourly range for the position is $21.15-$26.98

Benefits

The University of Denver offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO pass. The University of Denver is a private institution that empowers students who want to make a difference. Learn more about the University of Denver.

Please include the following documents with your application

1. Resume
2. Cover Letter

The University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), marital, family, or parental status, pregnancy or related conditions, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. The University of Denver does not discriminate and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, age, religion, creed, disability, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), marital family, and parental status, pregnancy, genetic information, military enlistment, or veteran status, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance in any of the University’s educational programs and activities, and in the employment (including application for employment) and admissions (including application for admission) context, as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; the Americans with Disabilities Act; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; the Equal Pay Act; the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act; the Colorado Protecting Opportunities and Worker's Rights ("POWR") Act; and any other federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or ordinances that prohibit discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation. For more information, please see the University of Denver's Non‑Discrimination‑Statement.

All offers of employment are based upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history and National Sex Offender Registry background check.