2025-07-31
Harvard University
Other
/yr
employee
contract
Cambridge
Massachusetts
02138
United States
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Why join the Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences?
The Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) is the historic heart of Harvard University. It is the home of Harvard’s undergraduate program (Harvard College, founded in 1636) as well as all of Harvard’s Ph.D. programs (the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, founded in 1872), Harvard Athletics and the Division of Continuing Education. The 40 academic departments and 30+ centers of the FAS support a community unparalleled in its academic excellence across the broadest range of liberal arts and sciences disciplines. Together, the FAS seeks to foster an environment of ambition, curiosity and shared commitment to knowledge and truth that elicits excellence from all members of our community and prepares the next generation of leaders through a transformative educational experience.
Job Summary:
The Laboratory for Developmental Studies in the Psychology department has a position open for a half-time research assistant. Research in the lab is focused on exploring the cognitive development of infants and children, with an emphasis on perception and knowledge of objects, numbers, places, geometry, and people. Further projects in the lab include the development of numerical, geometrical, social-cognitive, and reading abilities in preschool and elementary school-aged children, with a focus on testing interventions to enhance children's readiness for learning across such domains. The candidate will report directly to the P.I., a Professor of Cognitive Developmental Psychology, and will assist with oversight of the daily activities of two lab spaces dedicated to running research studies with infants, toddlers, and children, and coordinating lab-wide remote testing.
Job Specific Responsibilities:
Responsibilities include supervising undergraduate research assistants, coordinating testing spaces and study schedules, assisting with preparation of grant applications and progress reports, maintaining the lab manual, executing specific research experiments, assisting in quality data collection and management, and ensuring compliance with all regulations regarding testing human subjects.
In addition, the candidate will act as liaison between the lab and both the Psychology Business Office and the Harvard IRB as well as lab-related courses, coordinating all lab purchases, applications for human subjects research approval, and updating websites. Further, the candidate will work actively with the Open Science Framework to register studies, methodology, and data. The candidate will perform other related duties as well, depending on the needs of the lab, including interacting with families of participants, visiting students, and others.
Basic Qualifications:
At least one year of experience in psychology, biology, cognitive science or related field is required. Relevant coursework 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. Experience with infants and toddlers desirable, because the candidate will be called upon to confidently and professionally work with families on a daily basis. Proficiency with Zoom, Word, Excel, and Google docs/calendar is necessary for day-to-day functioning of the lab, as is familiarity with online research tools (e.g. Qualtrics, Lookit) and search databases (e.g. FileMaker). Familiarity with other tools and languages like HTML, JavaScript, R, and Blender is highly desirable. Must be confident working both independently as well as with others in a high-paced, and in an in-person and remote, research environment. Must demonstrate an ability to pay close attention to detail and should possess excellent organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills.
This is a one-year, grant-funded term position with renewal dependent upon continuation of grant funding.
All formal offers will be made by FAS Human Resources.
Work Format Details
This position is based on-site at a Harvard campus location. Additional details will be discussed during the interview process. Certain visa types may limit work location. Individuals must meet work location sponsorship requirements prior to employment.
Salary Grade and Ranges
This position is salary grade level 052. Please visit? Harvard's Salary Ranges? to view the corresponding salary range and related information.
Benefits
Harvard offers a comprehensive benefits package that is designed to support a healthy work-life balance and your physical, mental and financial wellbeing. Because here, you are what matters. Our benefits include, but are not limited to:
Learn more about these and additional benefits on our Benefits & Wellbeing Page.
EEO/Non-Discrimination Commitment Statement
Harvard University is committed to equal opportunity and non-discrimination. We seek talent from all parts of society and the world, and we strive to ensure everyone at Harvard thrives. Our differences help our community advance Harvard’s academic purposes.
Harvard has an equal employment opportunity policy that outlines our commitment to prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, sex, ethnicity, color, national origin, religion, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or identified in the university’s non-discrimination policy. Harvard’s equal employment opportunity policy and non-discrimination policy help all community members participate fully in work and campus life free from harassment and discrimination.
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