RA Position @ Toyota Research Institute

The Human-centric AI Group at  Toyota Research Institute is hiring a Research Assistant to work with us on understanding individual differences in cognition while driving and designing better HMIs. Experience or expertise in running behavioral studies, cognitive modeling, virtual reality, executive function, and/or aging are all welcomed. 

We’re seeking a Research Assistant with experience conducting behavioral studies and an interest in the overlap between behavioral sciences and technology.

The ideal candidate is proactive, detail-oriented, and an excellent communicator. They will also have a background in HCI/Psychology and be comfortable with command line/Linux knowledge, data scripts for instruments (e.g. Python, R, or MATLAB), and have some VR/motion simulator experience.

As a Research Assistant, you will:

• Assist with behavior experimentation and human-centered studies.
• Assist in running experiments on a vehicle-motion simulator.
• Design experiments and create stimulus content.
• Administer questionnaires, surveys, and interviews.
• Analyze/interpret data and generate insights, recommendations, reports.
• Manage behavioral datasets and experimentation platform accounts.
• Conduct literature reviews and competitive analyses.
• Edit journal submissions and scientific reports.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Human Factors, Human-Computer Interaction, Cognitive Science, Psychology, UX or a similar field emphasizing human performance and behavior
• Experience proctoring behavioral studies
• A strong interest in the overlap between behavioral sciences and technology
• Exceptional verbal and written communication, with comfort giving and receiving feedback
• Proactive and seek out new opportunities for impact, as time permits
• Detail-oriented and able to work independently as well as collaboratively with cross-disciplinary teams
• Excellent time management skills and the ability to prioritize effectively
• Eager to learn new technical skills

Additional qualifications:

• Experience managing and analyzing quantitative data using Python or R
• Experience or coursework in computer programming
• Experience operating complex technological equipment (e.g. driving simulators, robots, etc.)
• Experience with Virtual Reality
• Experience generating categories from qualitative data and performing coding
• Experience with survey designs (e.g. survey logic, randomization, etc.)
• Experience with online experimentation platforms, such as Qualtrics or Survey Monkey
• Experience generating study stimuli (e.g. descriptive scenarios, animation, and video

Those who are interested can apply here. Please let me know if you have any questions.