Research Assistant, Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Boston College
The Morality Lab at Boston College, led by Liane Young, is seeking up to two full-time postbaccalaureate research assistants, with a two-year commitment. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position has been filled, with the position starting as early as April 2023 and no later than July 2023.
Boston College is a research university with a strong and growing psychology department, located in an academic hub city with many opportunities for cross-lab collaboration. In the coming year, the Morality Lab will consist of three postdoctoral researchers, three PhD students, and two to three full-time postbac researchers, in addition to undergraduate research assistants, part-time research affiliates, and close collaborators from other labs in the department and other nearby institutions. Members of the Morality Lab research diverse topics related to social and moral cognition; for example, the impact of social norms on virtuous behavior, social learning and prediction error, and perceptions of virtue signaling. The lab uses behavioral methods (e.g., online data collection), fMRI, and computational modeling, in both neurotypical and neurodivergent populations, adults and children.
Responsibilities include handling administrative duties for the lab (e.g., managing finances, purchasing equipment, maintaining lab software and lab data, preparing grant applications, coordinating meetings, obtaining human subjects approval, recruiting and scheduling subjects), supporting the research of graduate students and postdocs (e.g., mentoring research assistants, maintaining lab software, assisting in data collection and analysis), and conducting original research. All former post-bac research assistants have had the opportunity to design, conduct, publish, and present research. This position is ideal for individuals interested in applying to graduate school.
Candidates should expect to receive their B.A./B.S. in psychology, neuroscience, cognitive science, computer science, economics, math, or a related field by May 2023. Candidates should be independent workers who are able to learn new skills on their own, with strong organizational skills and a track record of working well with others in professional or extracurricular settings. The ideal candidate will be excited about and competent in both neuroscientific and behavioral social psychology methods, and will have strong quantitative skills and knowledge of statistics and experimental design.
To apply, please fill out this form, which will prompt you to upload your CV and contact information for two references. Feel free to contact the lab manager, Lizy Szanton (szanton@bc.edu) with any questions about the application process.
Our lab is committed to increasing research opportunities for students that belong to groups that have been historically excluded from psychology, and from science more broadly. We particularly encourage students of color, women students, LGBTQ+ students, disabled students/students with disabilities, and first generation/low-income students to apply.
Boston College is An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer. In addition to comprehensive health and dental insurance plans, Boston College offers many other benefits, including various types of insurance coverage, tuition remission opportunities, a 401(k) plan match, and a significant number of paid holidays and vacation days.