Research Specialist I

The Department of Psychology at Princeton University is seeking a full­-time Research Specialist to manage the laboratory of Professor Molly Crockett. The successful applicant will handle lab administration and data management for the lab as well as interact with students (both graduate and undergraduate), postdoctoral fellows and other individuals who are part of the lab. This is a one-year term position with the possibility (and expectation) of renewal contingent upon continued funding and satisfactory performance. As Princeton University is not an E-verified institution, OPT STEM extension for a second year or more is not eligible. Start date is flexible between July 1 and September 1, 2025. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. This position is subject to the University’s background check policy.

The Research Specialist will contribute to all aspects of our lab’s research, including (1) developing research materials and programming experiments; (2) collecting human subjects data for behavioral, online and fMRI studies; (3) analyzing behavioral, web scraped, and/or fMRI data; (4) recruiting and managing undergraduate research assistants; and (5) general lab research support (e.g., IRB management, equipment purchasing, organizing lab meetings and events, maintaining lab websites and digital infrastructures). The position is an excellent opportunity to gain multidisciplinary research experience.

Essential:

• Bachelor’s degree in psychology, cognitive science, data science, computer science, neuroscience, economics, statistics, mathematics, engineering or related field
• Excellent organizational skills and a high level of attention to detail
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills and experience working on a team
• Strong programming, statistical, and/or web development skills (e.g. Python, R, Javascript, Matlab, etc.)
• Prior research experience and knowledge of research principles in psychology, neuroscience, or related field

Preferred:

• Prior experience with data science methods (e.g., web scraping, data cleaning and manipulation, machine learning, and natural language processing)
• Prior experience with computational modeling of behavioral/neuroimaging data, e.g. using reinforcement learning, Bayesian or drift-diffusion modeling techniques
• Prior experience with web application development
• Prior experience acquiring and analyzing neuroimaging data (e.g. using SPM or FSL)

Princeton University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. KNOW YOUR RIGHTS