About the Department

The Cognitive Development Lab in the Department of Psychology at the University of Chicago, under the direction of Dr. Susan Levine focuses on mathematical and language development in young children, and on variations in children’s learning trajectories that relate to their experiences at home and at school. We are interested in how learning is shaped by variations in the amount and quality of early experiences. Our research ranges from naturalistic studies of parent-child and teacher-child interactions to laboratory studies examining how particular kinds of instruction impact children’s learning. Much of our research focuses on children’s mathematical and spatial learning, and examines cognitive as well as affective factors relating to achievement in these domains.

Job Summary

The Research Analyst will participate in projects concerning the early mathematical development of young children. Research may occur in child care and preschool locations, public schools, as well as in a laboratory environment. Primary responsibilities are recruitment and scheduling of subjects, data collection, transcription and coding, and preliminary data analysis. This position is especially appropriate for candidates who are interested in pursuing advanced graduate studies in psychology or education.

The job performs routine assignments related to scientific research projects. Ensures compliance of research activities with institutional, state, and federal regulatory policies, procedures, directives and mandates. Analyzes possible solutions using standard procedures. Writes articles, reports and manuscripts. Assists in drafting presentations on research findings.Responsibilities

Data Collection and analysis: Working alongside others, the RA will collect data from children in lab, school, or home settings administering formal assessments and collecting observational data.
Scheduling: Research Analyst will be responsible for initiating contact and liaising with families, teachers, and schools to schedule a target number of participants per week. Coordinating schedules with team members, and managing research participant incentives.
Undergraduate Research Analyst Management: Research Analyst will be responsible for scheduling data collection shifts for undergraduate RAs, providing feedback to undergraduate RAs regarding child and parent communication, and serving as a liaison between undergraduate RAs, graduate students, and post docs.
Data Analysis and Management: Research Analyst will be responsible for transcription and coding of data as well as managing the data files.
IRB Maintenance: Research Analyst will be responsible for maintaining all Institutional Review Board (IRB) permissions and submitting IRB amendments for relevant projects.
Assist with report, manuscript, and conference preparation.
General administrative support as needed.
Maintains technical and administrative support for a research project.
Analyzes and maintains data and/or specimens. Conducts literature reviews. Assists with preparation of reports, manuscripts and other documents.
Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through < 2 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

Bachelor's degree or higher in education, psychology, cognitive science, data science, statistics, applied mathematics, or a related field.

Experience:

Prior experience working with children and in collecting experimental data.
Bi-lingual, native speaker of Spanish (a plus).
Relevant research experience.
Driver's license.

Technical Knowledge or Skills:

Knowledge of Microsoft Office.
Experience with administering standardized tests.

Preferred Competencies

Basic knowledge in relevant scientific field.
Problem-solving skills.
Attention to detail.
Organizational skills.
Ability to learn new research techniques or methods.
Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
Oral and written communication skills.
Analytical skills.

Working Conditions

Home environment: Must be able to travel to local childcare providers, preschool, or public school locations.
School environment: Must be able to pass school background check and health screening.

Application Documents

Resume (required)
Cover letter (required)
References (required)

When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family

Research

Role Impact

Individual Contributor

Scheduled Weekly Hours

37.5

Drug Test Required

Health Screen Required

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

Pay Rate Type

Hourly

FLSA Status

Non-Exempt

Pay Range

$25.71 - $33.28

The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Benefits Eligible

Yes

The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.

University of Chicago

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Research Analyst