Research Assistant - Full-Time, Term

Please note: This position is a full-time, term position. This role is also required to be in-person.

The Hands-On Play Lab (HOP Lab) and The Number Lab at Vanderbilt are two highly supportive research groups seeking a full-time Research Assistant (RA), shared between these two labs, to join our growing teams. The RA is a key member managing the day-to-day functioning in both labs and reports directly to Dr. Amy Needham, the Director of the HOP Lab, and Dr. Eric Wilkey, the Director of The Number Lab. Dr. Needham and Dr. Wilkey are Professors in the Department of Psychology and Human Development. The RA will supervise the progress of ongoing research, manage undergraduate research assistant recruitment and supervision, establish and maintain new partnerships with partners on campus and beyond, oversee data management of behavioral and neuroimaging data, and analyze data.

The RA will keep track of the daily details that are necessary for successful progress in all of the research studies conducted by lab members. These data collection efforts take place both in our research lab on campus and in the Nashville area. These research efforts include recruiting, interviewing, and training the undergraduate RAs needed to support all aspects of the research. In addition, the RA will assist with IRB and data management, data analysis, and writing up the research findings. The RA will also work with research participants using our MRI facility and should be comfortable being in and around high-strength magnetic fields. 

NOTE: A Term position is a staff position that exists for a period longer than six months but is not expected to last beyond one year. Although a position may exist for a specified or indefinite period, staff who accept term positions are not guaranteed employment for the entire period; they are employed for indefinite periods within the limit of the appointment. There are no guarantees of continued employment, either within the term or when the term ends.

About the Work Unit

With a genealogy dating to a one-room Nashville schoolhouse in 1785, Peabody College today is a world-class college of education and human development. Our mission is to enhance the human condition, with a particular focus on young children’s learning and development. Peabody’s focus on learning differences has helped to define the college, as has a reputation for empirical rigor in educational neuroscience; child, family, and community development; special education; the learning sciences; and educational leadership and policy. Peabody is devoted to creating opportunity in an increasingly diverse society and to solving large societal problems.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Maintain and file forms and documents, including consent forms and master study logs.
• Maintain IRB approval and monitor human subjects (CITI training) and Protection of Minors training for undergraduate RAs.
• Assist with the screening, recruiting, and obtaining consent of study participants.
• Ensure laboratory is prepared for experiments (maintain inventories, prepare correspondence, and documents for different studies, maintain sterile conditions as required)
• Maintain the lab websites.
• Prepare, distribute, administer and process questionnaires and tests, score test measurements and questionnaires, and code data.
• Organize, review and verify accuracy of database information and assist in making necessary corrections according to specific guidelines.
• Process study compensation payments and thank you letters to subjects upon completion of study activities, and assist with any post-study activities, as needed.
• Organize research participant visits to our MRI facility and assist in data collection.

Supervisory Relationships

This position does have supervisory responsibility: the RA supervises the work of the undergraduate RAs. This position reports administratively and functionally to Dr. Amy Needham and Dr. Eric Wilkey.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Neuroscience, or a related discipline from an accredited institution of higher education is necessary
• Ability to learn quickly and work independently, with general guidance is necessary.
• 1-2 years of research experience in a psychology lab or related field is necessary.
• Experience working with infants or young children with or without disabilities is necessary.
• Highly efficient and organized approach to work, with strong attention to detail and thoroughness is necessary.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks; exceptional time management skills is necessary.
• Excellent organizational, interpersonal, and communicative skills, including the ability to function effectively as a team member and team leader is necessary.
• Experience working in a team environment, requiring participatory decision-making and cooperative interactions among undergraduate RAs is necessary.

Experience with R, Python, and Redcap database management is strongly preferred. 

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