Lab Manager Position, Lab for Developmental Studies (Thomas Lab) at Harvard
Job Summary
The Laboratory for Developmental Studies in the Psychology department has a position open for a full-time Research Assistant (Lab Manager). Research in the lab is focused on exploring the cognitive development of infants and toddlers, with an emphasis on perception and knowledge of social relationships. The candidate will work in-person and will report directly to the P.I., a Professor of Developmental Psychology, and will be responsible for managing and overseeing the daily activities of lab spaces dedicated to running research studies with infants, toddlers, and children, and coordinating lab-wide testing. The position will provide ample opportunities for learning, professional development, and mentoring and could be a springboard for applying to PhD positions.
Job-Specific Responsibilities
Responsibilities include hiring and supervising undergraduate research assistants, coordinating testing spaces and study schedules, assisting with the preparation of grant applications and progress reports, maintaining lab data management procedures, updating the lab manual, executing specific research experiments, and assisting in the collection of data. The candidate will also coordinate with other lab managers in the Harvard Laboratory for Developmental Studies for a shared participant database and joint recruitment events.
Additionally, the candidate will have the opportunity to contribute to the design, and data collection, and engage in other research-related activities for projects examining aspects of intuitive sociology in both infants and children.
In addition, the candidate will act as a liaison between the lab, the Psychology administration, and the Harvard IRB, coordinating lab purchases as well as applications for human subjects research approval. Further, the candidate will work actively on updating and incorporating feedback on lab-wide policies for open science practices.
Basic Qualifications
At least one year of experience in psychology, biology, cognitive science, or related field is required.
Relevant coursework or in a lab setting may count toward experience.
Additional Qualifications and Skills
The ideal candidate will have a bachelor's degree in psychology, biology, or cognitive science and will embrace the challenges of a demanding workload involving multiple research projects. The lab you will be joining is relatively new, so experience with data management and open science practices is highly preferable. Experience with infants and toddlers is preferred, because the candidate will be called upon to work with families confidently and professionally. Proficiency with Zoom, Word, Excel, and Google Workspace is necessary for the day-to-day functioning of the lab, as is familiarity with online research tools (e.g., Qualtrics, Prolific) and search databases (e.g., FileMaker). Familiarity with asynchronous child testing (e.g., on CHS/Lookit) and other tools and languages like HTML, JavaScript, R, and Blender are highly desirable. Must demonstrate an ability to pay close attention to detail and should possess excellent organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills. Must also be confident working both independently as well as with others in a high-paced research environment. Experience working in diverse communities and communicating effectively with individuals from many different cultures and backgrounds is an asset.
Additional Information
Equity, inclusion, and justice are core values of the lab. Everyone in the lab is expected to contribute to a welcoming, supportive environment for all members of the community.
The lab values open science that is freely available and transparent.
More about the P.I. can be found here: ashleyjthomas.com
More about the lab can be found here: https://www.harvardlds.org/our-labs/thomas-lab/
This is a one-year position with renewal dependent upon continuation of funding. The position is a benefits-eligible position with a salary grade of 052 (https://hr.harvard.edu/salary-ranges#ranges).
We regret that we will not be able to provide visa sponsorship for this position.
All formal offers are made by FAS Human Resources. Harvard University is an equal opportunity employer.
Interested candidates should send a 1-2 page cover letter and CV to Denisse Lopez (denisselopez@g.harvard.edu) and Emma Yu (eyu@g.harvard.edu) with LAB MANAGER POSITION in the subject line. Review of applications will begin March 10th, 2025 with a tentative start date of July 1st, 2025.