The Cognition, Affect, and
Temperament Laboratory at Penn State University, headed by Dr. Koraly
Pérez-Edgar, seeks a full-time research assistant.
Start date is flexible, although early summer is highly desirable.
Study Description: The skills learned through this experience will be useful for those who intend to go to graduate school in psychology, neuroscience, or human development. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to work on funded studies investigating the role individual differences in attention may shape socioemotional functioning in infancy. This study will involve working with infants and families, and will focus on assessing attention using eye-tracking technology and temperament through laboratory protocols. In other current studies, the lab is incorporating cognitive, behavioral, and neural correlates attention mechanisms. Multiple methods of inquiry include fMRI, electrophysiology (EEG & ERP), direct behavioral observation, and questionnaires. This work will take advantage of the University’s broad resources, including the Child Study Center (http://csc.psych.psu.edu/) and the SLEIC Center (http://www.imaging.psu.edu/).
Responsibilities:
The successful candidate will be responsible for: Recruiting and maintaining contact with the infants’ families; Collecting, processing, and analyzing behavioral and eye-tracking data; Aiding in human subject protocols, consent forms, and annual IRB approval; General lab management duties.
Qualifications: An associate’s degree or higher, bachelor’s degree preferred in Psychology, Neuroscience, or a related field plus one or more years related experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Experience in a lab that conducts eye-tracking studies will be considered a strong plus. Research experience with infants is highly desirable. The successful candidate will have strong computer skills (Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and a willingness to learn and develop additional computer skills related to data management and preparation of data for analysis. Experience processing eye-tracking data using relevant software programs, programming experimental tasks (e.g., using E-prime, Presentation), statistical analysis (SPSS, SAS) is also highly desired.
How to Apply: Please highlight relevant skills in your cover letter. To apply, please send a cover letter of interest, a CV, and a list of 2 or 3 references (and their contact information) to catlabPSU@gmail.com. Please note your last name and “RA Position” in the subject line. Review of the applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Salary will be commensurate with experience. This is a fixed term appointment funded for one year from date of hire with an excellent possibility of re-funding for a second year.
