Job Description

Department

SSD: Psychology: Staff and Temporary Employees-Woodward Lab

About the Department

In the Woodward Lab, we study social cognition and social learning in infants and young children. Current projects investigate the origins of social categories and social bias, infants' understanding of moral and conventional behavior, and the ways in which infants' experiences in social environments (families, neighborhoods) relates to their social cognitive development.The job provides technical support activities related to scientific research projects. Ensures compliance of research activities with institutional, state, and federal regulatory policies, procedures, directives and mandates. Assists in drafting presentations on research findings.

The Lab Manager will be responsible for ensuring the smooth and efficient functioning of the Infant Learning & Development Lab. This position requires a very organized individual with excellent leadership, time management, and communication skills. They must be comfortable budgeting and working with grant funds. The hired individual will work closely with the lab PI, postdoctoral scholars, and graduate students, and supervise research assistants.

Human social life requires understanding the intentions, perceptions and emotions that organize and motivate other’s actions. The laboratory-based research projects investigate infants’ and young children’s understanding of these aspects of the social world. We recruit behavioral experimental methods through both online and in-lab paradigms such as eye-tracking and looking time to investigate infants and young children’s social understanding. We also study the factors that support the emergence of infants’ social cognition, and the ways in which infants and children learn from their social partners.

The job provides technical support activities related to scientific research projects. Ensures compliance of research activities with institutional, state, and federal regulatory policies, procedures, directives and mandates. Assists in data analysis and drafting presentations on research findings.

Responsibilities

• Overseeing communication with interested families and scheduling of study participants for both in-lab and online studies; interacting with families and children in-lab or via Zoom, conducting informed consent and debriefing procedures, and maintaining the laboratory’s established human subject, hygiene and safety procedures.
• Handling all Institutional Review Board business including creating and amending protocols and submitting continuing reviews.
• Managing all lab funds, including the lab’s participant payments; ordering lab supplies; coordinating weekly lab meetings; making travel arrangements for lab members; and completing other managerial or administrative tasks as needed.
• Hiring and supervising undergraduate and MAPSS research assistants, approving and submitting payroll for lab employees, and handling all lab related issues to ensure smooth functioning of the lab and sufficient coverage for study needs.
• May include grant management in the form of assisting in the applications process, the submission of annual reports, subaward payouts, and the preparation of budgets.
• Provides technical and administrative support for the Laboratory’s research projects.
• Collects and enters data. Assists in analyzing data. Assists with preparation of reports, manuscripts and other documents.
• Perform other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

Minimum requirements include vocational training, apprenticeships or the equivalent experience in related field (not typically required to have a four-year degree).

Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree.

Experience

• Experience in psychological and or developmental research preferred. Recent college graduates with RA experience encouraged to apply.
• Experience working with infants and children.
• Experience working with research grants and IRB’s.
• Experience working with budgets and supervising RA’s.

Preferred Competencies

• Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills.
• Exceptional problem-solving, organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team comprised of research assistants, post-docs, graduate students, administrators, and faculty.
• Strong Microsoft Office & Google Drive skills and ability to trouble shoot technology related problems.
• Ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously, set priorities, and meet deadlines.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter (required)
• Contact information for three (3) professional references (required)

The University of Chicago uses AI-assisted tools to streamline and augment some recruitment processes; however, AI is not used to make hiring decisions.

When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family

Research

Role Impact

Individual Contributor

Scheduled Weekly Hours

37.5

Drug Test Required

No

Health Screen Required

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No

Pay Rate Type

Hourly

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FLSA Status

Non-Exempt

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Pay Range

$21.79 - $28.20

The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Benefits Eligible

Yes

The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history.A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment.Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

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