About the Opportunity
Please apply through the link here: https://northeastern.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/careers/job/Boston-MA-Main-Campus/Laboratory-Technician_R111396.
The Department of Psychology and Center for Cognitive and Brain Health at Northeastern University invites applications for a full-time Lab Technician. The position is to begin Summer or Fall 2023 for a for a term of 2-3 years, with yearly renewals based upon funding and performance.
This position will be based in the Social Development and Wellbeing Lab (launching July 2023), led by Dr. Alexandra Rodman. The Lab and offices will be located in the heart of Boston, in the new, state-of-the-art ISEC building, which includes a brand-new neuroimaging center. Our research examines the social lives of teens, including their social behavior and experiences, and how they process social information. We also examine how individual differences in these processes confer risk or resilience to mental health problems. As part of the Center for Cognitive and Brain Health, there is ample opportunity for collaboration with other faculty and researchers of the Center.
Research staff will be formally mentored in the lab to help refine research interests, develop technical and intellectual research skills, and receive career planning / professional development. This position is a useful experience for those interested in scientific or clinical careers, such as in the field of research, psychology, pediatrics, neuroscience, data analytics, medicine, behavioral economics, and big data.
Responsibilities:
This position will be integral in founding and managing the lab, as well as all research activities. The lab technician responsibilities include:
- Build lab infrastructure (e.g., set up computers, internal data storage systems, develop lab manual).
- Conduct research (e.g., help write IRBs, recruit and enroll children / adolescent / and adult study participants, data collection, management, and analysis – includes behavioral, neuroimaging, digital phenotyping / mobile phone, wearable, and online data, with possibility of disseminating results via conference posters, talks, and first-author manuscripts).
- Support lab research (e.g., assist other lab members with developing study protocols, stimuli preparation, task design, data collection, manuscript and grant preparation).
- Building and supporting lab community (e.g., facilitate lab communication and organizing events).
- Hiring and managing research staff (e.g., undergraduate research assistances, research coordinators).
- Potential to gain experience with advanced quantitative methods, neuroimaging data, or complete an independent research project.
The Lab Technician will also help design and launch several studies, including a multi-model, longitudinal NIH-funded study on social experiences, behavior, and processing in adolescents with and without history of various social stressors (e.g., peer victimization) and risk for mental health problems. This project will include computerized task data, online assessments, clinical interviews (e.g., diagnostics, risk assessment), EMA survey data, mobile phone data (i.e., digital phenotyping), neuroimaging, and data from wearables (i.e., fitbit or related device).
Qualifications:
Applicants should have a Bachelor’s degree (or expected by September 1, 2023) in Psychology or a related field (e.g., Neuroscience, Education, Sociology, Biology), with an interest in studying adolescent development and/or wellbeing. Applicants must have excellent organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills and demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with others (e.g., adult and child participants, families, other researchers). Applicants should be detail-oriented, motivated, efficient, and able to work independently. Due to our developmental focus and working with families, research staff may at times be expected to run participant sessions during evenings and weekends (with compensatory time off from normal work hours).
Though not required, strong applicants will have experience working with children and adolescents (e.g., data collection or clinical experience), proficiency with statistical and programming languages/software (e.g., SPSS, R, Matlab, java, python), as well as prior experience conducting empirical research in psychological science or related topics.
Candidates can apply online at NU Careers. They must submit a CV and Cover Letter, along with the name and contact information of two referees who have worked with the applicant in a supervisory research role or related position. These can be uploaded in the portal section requesting a CV and/or any other related documents. The Cover Letter should include the applicants’ research interests (i.e., core research questions and projects completed, future interests and how they relate to the current position) and academic/technical training, including current skills and training goals. Please contact Dr. Rodman at a.rodman@northeastern.edu if you have further questions. Submissions will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with priority given to submissions received before March 15th, 2023. We especially encourage those from underrepresented groups in science to apply.
Position Type
Research
Additional Information
Northeastern University considers factors such as candidate work experience, education and skills when extending an offer.
Northeastern has a comprehensive benefits package for benefit eligible employees. This includes medical, vision, dental, paid time off, tuition assistance, wellness & life, retirement- as well as commuting & transportation. Visit www.northeastern.edu/benefits for more information.
Northeastern University is an equal opportunity employer, seeking to recruit and support a broadly diverse community of faculty and staff. Northeastern values and celebrates diversity in all its forms and strives to foster an inclusive culture built on respect that affirms inter-group relations and builds cohesion.
All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
To learn more about Northeastern University’s commitment and support of diversity and inclusion, please see www.northeastern.edu/diversity.