LOCATION: BOSTON, MA
START DATE: Late-Spring / Summer 2021
This position is in the lab of Jeremy Wolfe. We conduct psychophysical/behavioral research primarily in the area of visual attention. What guides attention? How do you find what you are looking for in a world full of things you are not looking for? How do radiologists find a tumor in an x-ray? How do their eyes move when they are searching? Why do we miss things? How might AI help us decisions about ambiguous stimuli? How can we keep track of several things at the same time? Healthy young adults are the experimental observers for most experiments, though we sometimes work with children and/or the elderly. Medical image perception, especially with radiologists as observers, is an increasingly large aspect of work in the lab.
The position involves all stages of the research
publication; but the main focus is data collection and analysis. Other responsibilities include
assisting with outside visiting scholars and supervising summer undergraduate students.
Research assistants typically attend and present at one scientific meeting each year, funding
permitting.
Qualifications:
This position requires a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree. A major in
Psychology or related field would be preferable, but is not necessary. Some research
experience would also be useful. Strong interpersonal and communication skills are needed in
order to successfully work with expert observers (e.g. radiologists). A candidate should have
some computer experience and should be willing to learn how to use our statistics, graphics,
and word processing packages. Programming experience is not necessary, but familiarity with
MATLAB, web design (HTML, JavaScript, CSS) and/or online experimental platforms would
be a plus. Familiarity with eye tracking would be another plus. A candidate must be able to
work in an organized, independent manner on multiple tasks and should be able to interact
with subjects in a tactful and pleasant manner.
Requirements:
This is an excellent position for a recent college graduate who wants to spend two or more
years in a research setting before going on to graduate or medical school. NOTES:
- A two-year commitment is required.
- The position is not appropriate for those with advanced degrees.
- Visa and funding issues make it extremely difficult to hire non-US residents. Non-citizens
with permission to work in the US are welcome to apply.
The Visual Attention Lab is committed to diversity and inclusion in hiring for this position.
This position could start anytime between about May 1 and Sept 1, depending on the
candidate’s schedule (Finish college first!).
How To Apply:
If interested, please send an email to Jeremy Wolfe: jwolfe@bwh.harvard.edu
