Research Associate

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Job Title:

Research Associate

Department:

Arts and Sciences | Psychology

Position Overview:

The Research Associate will play a key role in supporting the Deepest Beliefs Lab (DBL) and the Center for the Science of Moral Understanding (CSMU) under the leadership of Dr. Kurt Gray, Professor of Social Psychology. This position bridges research administration and science communication, providing an opportunity to engage in both academic and public-facing initiatives. The Research Associate will contribute to lab operations, research projects, and outreach efforts, helping to advance the lab’s mission while gaining hands-on experience in research and science communication.

Key Responsibilities:

• Manage research outreach efforts, including maintaining lab websites and social media accounts, and coordinating media opportunities such as podcast appearances, interviews, and op-eds in popular media outlets.

• Conduct or support research projects, contributing to study design, data collection, analysis, and dissemination of findings.

• Utilize specialized expertise to advance research goals, including conducting literature reviews, programming surveys in Qualtrics, and performing data analysis.

• Support lab operations, including recruiting and onboarding undergraduate research assistants, responding to applicant inquiries, submitting and maintaining Institutional Review Board (IRB) protocols, and tracking lab expenses.

• Apply fundamental research principles to structured assignments, developing competencies in research methodologies and administrative processes.

• Gain hands-on experience by assisting with projects of varying scope and complexity, with opportunities to contribute to science communication efforts such as writing Substack articles and op-eds.

Minimum Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.

• 1-3 years of relevant experience required.

• Prior experience with research principles, data collection, entry, and analysis preferred.

• Some programming experience in SPSS, Qualtrics, or R preferred but not required.

• Strong project management and influencing skills.

Desired Qualifications:

• Professional demeanor with excellent organizational skills.

• Strong attention to detail, problem-solving abilities, and ability to work both independently and as part of a team.

• Ability to apply specialized expertise within the role to achieve research and communication objectives.

• Prior experience in science writing, outreach, and/or social media management preferred.

• Strong interpersonal skills; enjoys engaging with others and serving as the first point of contact for the lab.

• Ability to effectively communicate complex information to a variety of audiences.

• Comfortable exchanging information on routine and technical matters with researchers, media outlets, and the public.

Additional Information:

Additional Job Information:

Position Type: This is a term position available for one year, with the possibility of renewal contingent upon satisfactory performance and availability of funding.

Salary Range: $43,900-$57,750

*The offer for this position will fall within this range based on internal equity, the unit’s available budget, and the candidate’s qualific