Junior Laboratory Associate (Van Bavel Lab)

Description

Professor Jay Van Bavel is seeking a full-time Junior Laboratory Associate to begin in mid-July 2025. This is a one-year position with the possibility of renewal for additional years, contingent on performance.

The Junior Laboratory Associate will work at NYU’s Center for Conflict and Cooperation (formerly the Social Identity & Morality Lab), located in the Department of Psychology in New York City. The lab conducts cutting-edge research on intergroup conflict and cooperation, using behavioral, computational, and neuroscience methods to address real-world issues such as misinformation, polarization, extremism, and climate change.

Role Overview:

The Junior Laboratory Associate will work closely with Professor Van Bavel, co-director Dr. Anni Sternisko, and other lab members to coordinate and execute a range of research studies. They will play a key role in fostering a collaborative and inclusive lab culture, supporting day-to-day operations, and ensuring the success of complex research initiatives. They will contribute to several high-impact collaborative projects, including a large-scale field experiment testing the effects of social media around the globe. The position includes the potential to collaborate on research projects as a co-author.

The Junior Laboratory Associate will receive close mentorship and professional development, participate in weekly lab meetings, and engage with the broader intellectual community in the New York University Department of Psychology and Social Psychology Program. They will also have access to NYU’s rich academic resources, including career development workshops, speaker events, and writing support. The Junior Laboratory Associate will meet weekly with Prof. Jay Van Bavel and the Center’s co-director, Dr. Anni Sternisko.

This position is especially desirable for someone who seeks to eventually pursue a career in psychological science or pursue graduate studies. Our previous Junior Laboratory Associates subsequently went into graduate programs at Stanford, UChicago, Princeton, Columbia, and Rutgers.

Responsibilities:

●        Oversee administrative and research operations (e.g., grant management, IRB protocols, reimbursements, ethics and open science compliance)

●        Coordinate global research collaborations across countries, institutions, and time zones

●        Design, program, and run research studies (online and in-lab)

●        Collect, process, and analyze data; manage large datasets

●        Review and edit manuscripts, grant proposals, and public-facing materials

●        Assist with science communication and manage the center’s website, newsletter, and social media accounts.

●        Onboard, train, and supervise research assistants

●        Organize lab events, meetings, and internal communications

●        Coordinate engagement with non-academic collaborators and stakeholders (e.g., tech companies, policy makers)

●        Maintain lab equipment, computers, and data documentation

About the Center:

The Center for Conflict and Cooperation is a global scientific and educational hub dedicated to promoting inclusive, sustainable, and successful organizations and societies around the world. We encourage applications from candidates who are excited to work with diverse teams and tackle real-world challenges.

 This is an in-person position based in New York City. Salary and benefits will be commensurate with experience.

For more information, please visit: https://www.centerconflictcooperation.com/

In compliance with NYC’s Pay Transparency Act, the annual base salary range for this position is $58,656-$60,000. New York University considers factors such as (but not limited to) the specific grant funding and the terms of the research grant when extending an offer.

 

Qualifications

Qualifications:

●        Bachelor’s degree (or higher) in psychology, neuroscience, computer science, or a related field (required)

●        Prior research experience in social or cognitive psychology (required)

●        Strong writing skills and interest or experience in science commu