Lab Manager Position @ Lehigh University

The Cognitive Development Lab at Lehigh University (PI: Dr. Amanda Brandone) is seeking applications for a full-time Lab Manager / Predoctoral Research Associate. This position is supported by an NICHD grant awarded to Dr. Brandone and Dr. Lindsay Bowman (Brain and Social Cognition Lab at the Center for Mind and Brain, University of California Davis) to examine neural and caregiver contributions to the development of social cognition and behavior in infancy. The successful candidate will work with both PIs, but the position will be based at Lehigh University.  This position is for 1 year with the opportunity to extend to 2 years, contingent on performance, mutual fit, and available funds. The desired start date is July/August 2023.

This position provides an exciting opportunity for a junior researcher to gain hands-on experience in developmental science research through work on a collaborative project involving both behavioral and EEG data from infants and caregivers. The successful candidate will develop skills in behavioral coding, EEG data processing, and data analysis; engage in leadership and mentoring of undergraduates; and contribute to the preparation of conference presentations and manuscripts, with opportunities to present at conferences and co-author publications, as appropriate.

Duties and Responsibilities
The central duties and responsibilities of the position include the following:

• Developing and implementing coding schemes for behavioral coding of infant social-cognitive tasks and mother-infant interactions
• Developing and refining MATLAB code to process and analyze infant EEG data (working with EEGLAB, ERPLAB, and custom pipelines)
• Training, supervising, and mentoring undergraduate students on coding, processing, and analysis protocols
• Overseeing lab administration, including IRB protocol, data management, grant reporting, purchases, website management, participant recruitment, and data collection

Qualifications
Minimum requirements are a bachelor’s degree and research experience in psychology, cognitive science, or a related field. Candidates must be confident working independently, with other researchers, and with infants, children, and parents; attentive to detail; highly motivated; able to manage multiple tasks; and have excellent organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills. The ideal candidate would be a recent college graduate who has a strong interest in cognitive development and who is seeking additional research experience before pursuing graduate training.

Additional preferred qualifications include experience with:

• Behavioral coding and relevant software (e.g., Datavyu)
• MATLAB or other programming software 
• EEG processing methods and software (e.g., EEGLAB, EP Toolkit, ERPLAB)
• Data analysis and statistical software (e.g., SPSS, JASP, R)
• Conducting research focused on infants and children
• Leading or managing teams of people

How to Apply
To apply, please submit the following via email to Dr. Brandone (acb210@lehigh.edu): (1) CV, (2) cover letter explaining your interest in the position, relevant skills and experience, and career goals, (3) college transcript (official or unofficial), and (4) 1-2 letters of recommendation from a research supervisor. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with the aim of concluding the search as soon as an excellent candidate is found. The first review date will be June 1 and the desired start date is July/August 2023.

About Lehigh University
Lehigh University is a competitive private research university located in eastern Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley. The region features outdoor recreational opportunities, numerous cultural activities, and a rich history. The location is also in close proximity to the New York and Philadelphia metropolitan areas. Lehigh University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, color, disability, gender, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, national or ethnic origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status.