Full-Time Research Assistant, Family Conflict and Children’s Coping and Adjustment, University of Rochester, Mt. Hope Family Center

Full-Time Research Assistant, Family Conflict and Children’s Coping and Adjustment

University of Rochester, Mt. Hope Family Center (Rochester, NY)

Principal Investigator: Patrick Davies, Ph.D.

Start Date: Summer/Fall 2021

Study Description:

The research assistant will assist with a longitudinal study designed to examine why different forms of interparental and family conflict are associated with distinctive developmental outcomes for children as they transition from the preschool to the early elementary school years. Funded by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, this study will employ multiple methods (e.g., observations, semi-structured and clinical interviews, surveys) and levels of analysis (e.g., eye-tracking indices of attention to emotions, salivary and cardiac measures of stress reactivity, subjective and behavioral coping responses, computer assessments of reaction time) to assess family and child functioning. 

Responsibilities:

  • Contact and schedule families for research visits.
  • Conduct a variety of assessments with children and parents, including observational paradigms, semi-structured and clinical interviews, survey administration, eye tracking and attention measures of their processing of emotions, and physiological functioning (e.g., cardiovascular and salivary stress indicators).
  • Develop and revise measures and procedures for data collection
  • Assist in training and overseeing undergraduate research assistants. Organizing recruitment and scheduling of a diverse sample of young children and families through multiple community agencies
  • Implement coding systems for evaluating family and child functioning
  • Formulate and implement data management and cleaning procedures
  • Conduct literature reviews to support project aims.

Basic Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s degree in psychology or allied discipline (GPA: 3.4 or higher)
  • Comfort interacting with children and families from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds
  • Previous experience working in a research lab
  • Ability to effectively work as part of a research team
  • Outstanding written and verbal communication skills
  • High motivation and interest in family and child development
  • Ability to successfully engage community agencies, young children, and families
  • Attention to detail and outstanding tracking and record keeping skills
  • Computer skills; including knowledge of PC operating systems, basic statistics software (e.g., Excel, SPSS), and data collection software.
  • Availability for a one-year commitment
  • Ability and willingness to work evenings and weekends

 Preferred Qualifications:

  • Basic knowledge of eye-tracking, salivary, or psychophysiology (i.e., RSA, PEP) measures
  • Experience working in a lab conducting research on family and child functioning

How to Apply:

Please submit a CV or resume and a cover letter to Meera Patel, the coordinator for the project, at Meera_Patel@URMC.Rochester.edu

Type
  • Research
Timeframe
  • Post-graduation