Direct link to the application and formal job ad: https://hr.myu.umn.edu/jobs/ext/339848

As part of a recently-funded US National Science Foundation project in which we will be building an online virtual interviewing platform, my laboratory will be hiring a part-time project manager with work to do for roughly the next two years.  Actual workload will vary week-to-week between 10 and 25 hours (less in the beginning and more later).  The position requires a Bachelor’s degree in a scientific field (psychology and computer science are targeted in the ad, but a degree from a business school ion which you completed a research methods course would qualify). 

The position would be ideal for someone who is taking a few years off of school after graduation while considering applying to graduate school and would be a great opportunity for such a person to get some funded research experience.  Pay will likely be in the $15-19/hr range, depending upon qualifications, and the position can be entirely remote, even post-pandemic.  

Applicants local to Minneapolis are preferred for some post-COVID role responsibilities, but this is not required.  As the Twin Cities metro is almost 80% white, we are particularly hoping to encourage remote applications from people in under-represented and systemically disadvantaged groups, so remoteness will not be held against anyone.  All required role responsibilities can be performed with home access to a high-speed internet connection (being remote could prevent a few hours a week of job duties in late 2021/early 2022, but that’s the extent of it, and we’ve already identified potential workarounds).

If you recently graduated and were thinking about grad school but weren’t quite convinced, this would be a great way to participate in a functioning lab and make a final decision. You’ll also have access to University of Minnesota infrastructure (such as database access, inter-library loan, Qualtrics, etc.) and would be able to conduct supervised but mostly-independent research using those resources, if you were so inclined.

Here is a direct link for interested applicants, and excerpts from the formal job ad follow: https://hr.myu.umn.edu/jobs/ext/339848

About the Position

The TNTLAB (Testing New Technologies in Learning, Assessment, and Behavior) in the Department of Psychology seeks to hire a part-time “Research Project Manager” (8352P1: Research Professional 1) responsible for providing research, office, and technical support within activities funded by a federal National Science Foundation (NSF) grant. The project involves the creation of a web-based virtual interviewing platform and the execution of two data collection efforts between 2020 and 2022. The position principally requires responsibilities in the management and administration of project personnel and secondarily in the completion of scientific research tasks, such as assigned literature review or data analysis. Specific job tasks vary over the phases of the project, and training on all such tasks will be provided as required. Candidate expectations are: (1) willingness to participate with and independently manage the time of a team of PhDs and graduate students; (2) demonstrated ability to communicate well via multiple modalities (i.e., phone, e-mail, Zoom); (3) track record of achieving assigned goals in independent work projects; and (4) must be able to work with a diverse participant pool. Position works closely with the Principal Investigator of TNTLAB in the Department of Psychology and the Principal Investigator of the Illusioneering Lab in the Department of Computer Science & Engineering, as well as graduate and undergraduate students working within each of those labs.

Major Responsibilities

• Research Team Coordination (35%)
  • Maintain meeting minutes while attending project and laboratory meetings
  • Assign and follow up upon assigned tasks with team members within online project management software (e.g., Asana) based upon team meetings
  • Keep project teams on top of project goals and set timelines using appropriate modalities, to include e-mail, online project management software, and web conferencing (i.e., Zoom)
  • Train and manage undergraduate research assistants to complete study coding tasks
• Administration, Documentation, and Reporting (20%)
  • Maintain records and documentation associated with project using cloud-based software (e.g., Google Docs and sheets)
  • Maintain integrity of confidential data (e.g., Google Drive, Box Secure Storage)
  • Assist with IRB processes, including the preparation of submissions and responses to IRB when requested
• Study Participant Management, Communication, and Support (20%)
  • Enroll participants into focus groups and other data collection efforts
  • Run online (e.g., with Zoom) and, if feasible, in-person focus groups
  • Maintain participant records
  • Manage payments to research participants
  • Provide technical support to research participants facing difficulties using study software
  • Provide opinions and input to technical team on the usability of developed study software
• Office and Financial Support (10%)
  • Keep online document storage organized and well-documented
  • Keep track of project expenses
  • Conduct research on the internet to answer technical and process questions from the project team as needed
• Research Support (10%)
  • Various short-term research tasks as needed, including conducting literature reviews under the supervision of project team members
  • Creating submission materials to be submitted to the Open Science Framework to preregister study hypotheses and research questions
• Data Analyses and Presentation (5%)
  • Create statistical, graphical, and narrative summaries of data
  • Regularly (e.g., weekly) present data collection progress with such data summaries to the research team, generally via e-mail or web conferencing (i.e., Zoom)

Essential Qualifications

• BA/BS in a scientific field of study, such as Psychology or Computer Science, or a combination of education and work experience equal to four years;
• Demonstrated ability to work independently in a research environment and assume responsibility for project performance;
• Requires work on evenings and weekends during some project phases;
• Comfortable communicating with people and organizing the work of others;
• Able to allocate 10-25 hours per week through at least the end of August 2022.

Preferred Qualifications

• BA/BS coursework in both Psychology and Computer Science;
• Experience working with both Psychology and Computer Science faculty as a research assistant;
• At least one year of experience working as at least a half-time research study coordinator or project manager;
• At least one year of experience recruiting research study participants, collecting data, managing purchases/expenditures, providing documentation for IRB audits, and managing study logistics such as creating study manuals;
• Ability to empathically connect with participants, and understand their needs and concerns;
• Knowledge of research ethics and IRB rules and policies concerning the recruitment of research subjects;
• Knowledge of research design and methods commonly used in psychology;
• Organizational, time-management, decision-making and problem-solving skills;
• Leadership skills.

Diversity

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission.  The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.  To learn more about diversity at the U:  http://diversity.umn.edu.