About the position

The Social Decisions Lab is a newly established research lab in the Department of Psychology at the University of Florida. Our research examines how people navigate the uncertainty inherent in social life, with a particular focus on everyday decisions such as whether to reach out, open up, ask for help, or take other social risks. We study how these decisions shape social connection, social networks, and wellbeing over time. Our work integrates behavioral experiments, experience-sampling methods, neuroimaging, and social network approaches to understand social behavior both in controlled settings and in everyday life.

We are searching for a thoughtful, proactive, and highly organized part-time lab manager to help establish the new lab at UF. This is a paid, in-person position in Gainesville, FL, requiring approximately 15-20 hours per week. The anticipated pay range is $15-17 per hour. Applicants who intend to spend a minimum of 2 semesters in the position will be preferred.

The lab manager will assist with all aspects of research, including designing and programming experiments; recruiting, scheduling and running participants; analyzing data; and will have opportunities to present research findings at conferences and contribute to relevant manuscripts. The lab manager will also help oversee day-to-day lab operations, including managing IRB protocols; ordering and setting up lab equipment and supplies; designing and maintaining the lab website; and science communication for broader audiences. This is a particularly exciting opportunity for someone who wants to be part of a growing team where they are valued for their scientific as well as their managerial contribution. The position will provide useful training for someone who would like to obtain additional research experience and develop additional computational skills before applying to graduate school.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate for this position will have a bachelor’s degree in psychology, neuroscience, cognitive science, computer science, engineering, or a related field. Strong organizational and communication skills are essential. Prior research experience is highly desirable. Knowledge of human research protocols (IRBs, consent forms, HIPAA) is preferred, but not required.

Additional highly desired qualifications include proficiency in programming, experience with Psychtoolbox and/or PsychoPy, and working knowledge of statistics (e.g., running basic statistical tests in R or Python), though we will help to improve the candidate’s computational skills through lab training and collaborative research projects.