Project Assistant

The University of Southern California (USC), founded in 1880, is located in the heart of downtown L.A. and is the largest private employer in the City of Los Angeles. As an employee of USC, you will be a part of a world-class research university and a member of the “Trojan Family,” which is comprised of the faculty, staff, and students that make the university a great place to work.  

The Child Learning and Development (CHILD) lab at University of Southern California, directed by Dr. Sandy LaTourrette, is seeking a full-time research coordinator to begin in Summer or Fall of 2025, with a flexible start date. The research coordinator will be involved in all aspects of running the lab, working with a team of lab members, and conducting psychological research. The position is a 1-year appointment with the possibility of renewal. This is an ideal position for someone who is thinking about a career in research.

Research in the lab investigates how language and cognition interact over the course of development, from infancy into adulthood. Current projects focus on how infants, children, and adults use linguistic and referential context to infer word meanings, how infants learn words from speakers with different accents, and how labeling objects changes infants’ memory and categorization of those objects. Please see the lab website (https://dornsife.usc.edu/childlab/) for examples of the kind of work that the research coordinator will be contributing to.

This position presents an opportunity to work very closely with the PI in a small and growing lab. The research coordinator will also collaborate with graduate and undergraduate researchers to assist in all aspects of running the lab and conducting research. Responsibilities will include:

• Recruiting and scheduling study participants for research studies
• Coordinating participant recruitment through social media and other channels
• Creating and maintaining community partnerships
• Conducting behavioral studies with infants, children and adults
• Assisting in research design and data analysis
• Maintaining compliance with university IRB protocols
• Assisting with literature reviews, empirical articles, and grant proposals
• Training undergraduate research assistants

The research coordinator will also organize and attend weekly lab meetings and is encouraged to attend other scientific talks and be a member of the intellectual community at USC. The position will involve working closely with the PI and will present the opportunity to build core graduate-level research skills in experimental design, data analysis, and research presentations and publication.

To apply, please submit a cover letter along with a resume/CV stating interest in the position and relevant qualifications through the application portal. Finalists will be asked to provide three professional references.

Essential Qualifications:

• Two years of applicable college-level coursework in Experimental Psychology, Cognitive Science, Neuroscience, or a related field; or equivalent lab experience.
• A minimum of one year of experience working in a lab, and demonstrated interest in behavioral or developmental research.
• Experience working with infants, children, and/or parents, preferably in a research setting.
• Highly self-motivated and able to troubleshoot problems independently and with initiative.
• Strong organizational skills and exceptional attention to detail.
• Demonstrated strong interpersonal skills for interacting with parents, lab members, departmental staff, and other adults in a professional setting. 
• Ability to supervise and train lab student assistants in the use of laboratory equipment and testing procedures. 
• Ability to act professionally, and work effectively with a range of personnel, including laboratory staff, faculty and visitors.

Additional Preferred Qualifications:

• Strong communication and writing skills; administrative or managerial experience is a plus.
• Experience with programming (e.g., R, JavaScript, Matlab, Python).
• Experience with data analysis (especially in R).
• Intellectual interest in cognitive science or developmental psychology.
• Speaking Spanish proficiently is a plus.

Special Conditions:

• Ability to occasionally work on weekends, as needed for data collection with families that cannot participate during the week.
   

We are aware that some people are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every qualification in the job description including the preferred qualifications. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and recognize that a successful candidate may come from a less traditional career trajectory, such as having skills and abilities gained outside a classroom context, or an equivalent skill set. We encourage you to apply, even if you don’t believe you meet every one of our preferred qualifications.

Hourly range: The hourly rate range for this position is $26.69-$28.21. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.

Performs other related duties as assigned or requested. The university reserves the right to add or change duties at any time.

Required Documents and Additional Information:

• Resume and cover letter required (may be uploaded as one file). Please do not submit your application without these documents.
• Job openings are posted for a minimum of (5) five business days. This job may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended, so please apply on the same business day if interested.
• USC has excellent benefits, including health benefits for staff and their family with access to the renowned university medical network; eligibility for retirement plans with employer contributions after six months of employment; tuition benefits for staff and their family; free Professional Development classes; central Los Angeles location with easy access to commuter trains, buses and free tram pick up services; discounts to sporting and other campus events.

USC is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or USC policy. USC observes affirmative action obligations consistent with state and federal law. USC will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal records in a manner consistent with applicable laws and regulations, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for employers and the Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and with due consideration for patient and student safety. Please refer to the Background Screening Policy Appendix D for specific employment screen implications for the position for which you are applying. 

We provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact USC Human Resources by phone at (213) 821-8100, or by email at uschr@usc.edu. Inquiries will be treated as confidential to the extent permitted by law.

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