University of Southern California - Los Angeles, CA
posted 8 months ago
About the position
The University of Southern California (USC) is seeking a full-time Research Lab Technician I to join the Neural Vitality Laboratory in the Department of Psychology. This laboratory, led by Dr. Bruna Martins-Klein, focuses on investigating emotion regulation, mindfulness, and cognitive flexibility across the lifespan. The lab employs a variety of methodologies, including neuroimaging, physiological measurements, and self-report assessments, to explore mechanisms that foster emotional resilience in individuals of different ages. The successful candidate will play a crucial role in primary data collection for studies centered on emotion regulation, particularly involving physiological data and Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) with both younger and older adults. In addition to data collection, the Research Lab Technician will be responsible for various administrative tasks. These include participant recruitment, managing participant payments, maintaining experiment paperwork, ordering necessary supplies, preprocessing data, and training and supervising undergraduate student volunteers in the lab. The position requires a strong commitment to following detailed instructions and familiarity with lab procedures, particularly in collecting behavioral and physiological data from human subjects. The ideal candidate will have prior experience running experiments, especially with older adults and/or couples, and will contribute positively to the lab's culture and mission. The Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences emphasizes the importance of creating an inclusive and equitable academic environment. As part of this community, the Research Lab Technician will be expected to embody these values in their daily interactions and contribute to a culture of scholarship that promotes success for all members of the college. This role is not just about technical skills; it also involves understanding the impact of one's work on others and fostering positive relationships within the lab and the broader academic community.
Responsibilities
- Prepare experiments and experimental tasks
- Collect data through direct administration of experiments to participants, including informed consent procedures
- Maintain participants' records and recruit participants for paid experiments
- Serve as the contact person for potential participants
- Perform administrative duties including ordering supplies and maintaining paperwork
- Recruit and supervise undergraduate research assistants
Requirements
- Must be able to follow detailed instructions, both oral and written
- Familiarity with lab procedures, such as following protocols to collect behavioral and physiological data from human subjects
Nice-to-haves
- BA in Psychology, Neuroscience, Cognitive Science, or related field (preferred but not required)
- Prior experience with neuroimaging, data preprocessing, and software/programming (e.g., FSL, freesurfer, bash) (preferred but not required)
Benefits
- 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
