Job location: Annenberg School for Communication

Employment Type: Full-time
Posted data: 2021-03-10
Req: JR00029905
University Overview

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn’s distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning.

Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.

The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.

Posted Job Title

Research Coordinator, Annenberg School for Communication

Job Profile Title

Research Coordinator

Job Description Summary

The research coordinator will work on projects relating health communication and neuroscience to real-world outcomes, with the specific project distribution and responsibilities dependent on the safety and feasibility of in-person data collection during the COVID-19 pandemic. We expect that this role will require skills in both research and community organizing/outreach, and we invite candidates with either skill set to apply. Although successful applicants do not need to have all of these skills to start, interest in learning is required. This position will begin in summer 2021.

Job Description

The Communication Neuroscience Laboratory at The Annenberg School for Communication seeks a research coordinator to support interdisciplinary research on health communication, persuasion, message propagation, social cognition, and media effects. Research in the lab connects neuroscience measures to real-world outcomes, with a focus on health communication. We employ multiple methods, including neuroimaging, online and mobile-based surveys, geospatial analysis, psychophysiology, behavioral observation, implicit measures, linguistic analysis, and social network analysis. Given that this project focuses on working with a community sample of participants, the ideal candidate will have work, volunteer, or lived experience with a wide range of populations, such as socioeconomically diverse or under-served adult groups.

The research coordinator will work on projects relating health communication and neuroscience to real-world outcomes, with the specific project distribution and responsibilities dependent on the safety and feasibility of in-person data collection during the COVID-19 pandemic. We expect that this role will require skills in both research and community organizing/outreach, and we invite candidates with either skill set to apply. Although successful applicants do not need to have all of these skills to start, interest in learning is required. This position will begin in summer 2021.

We anticipate resuming in-person data collection in summer 2021 and would expect the research coordinator to live locally to Philadelphia, PA. If we are able to resume in-person research as planned, the research coordinator will focus primarily on a longitudinal project relating smoking behavior and brain activity to real-world exposure to point-of-sale-tobacco marketing. The project uses approaches including functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), mobile-phone based geolocation tracking, and self-report surveys collected in real-time through mobile-phone based ecological momentary assessment (EMA). The primary duties for this position include recruitment and eligibility screening; scheduling and conducting in-person and remote study sessions; IRB management; maintaining the study database and study documentation; and conducting data quality assessment and analysis. The research coordinator will be participants’ primary contact to field concerns and answer questions about the study tasks and protocol, and will foster a positive experience during study participation. The research coordinator will work with a project team including the PI, staff, postdocs, and graduate students, and will have the opportunity to contribute to study research presentations and papers.

If we are unable to resume in-person data collection in summer 2021 or shortly thereafter, we expect that the primary duties for this position will be to assist with the development and execution of a remote version of this study, or to support other projects in the lab.

We believe that our science is better with a diverse team. We embrace and encourage our lab members’ differences in age, color, disability, ethnicity, family or marital status, gender identity or expression, language, national origin, ability, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, veteran status, and other characteristics that make our lab members who they are.

Position is grant funded and continuation is contingent upon continued receipt of grant funds.

Qualifications:

Given that this project focuses on a community sample of participants, the ideal candidate will have work, volunteer, or lived experience with a wide range of populations, such as socioeconomically diverse or under-served adult groups.

A B.S. or B.A., with background in psychology, neuroscience, communication studies, public health, computer science, statistics, mathematics, or a related field, plus 1 to 2 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience (e.g., previous lab experience or community volunteering/work experience) is required. Research and project management experience in a university and/or community setting. Demonstrated ability to be proactive in problem-solving and to work independently, as well as in a team. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail. Ability to work on multiple tasks and projects, developing solutions to basic technical problems.

Preferred:

Experience with or interest in recruitment and running research protocols in psychological and/or neuroimaging studies. Experience with or interest in using RedCap and/or Qualtrics. Experience with or strong interest in statistical analysis software (e.g. in R, Python [pandas], MATLAB, SPSS, SAS, HLM, other). Experience or strong interest in programming (e.g. in Python, R, MATLAB, bash, etc.). Willingness to work flexible hours (evenings, weekends). Previous experience working with IRB. Previous supervisory experience and ability to assist in the training of lab personnel.

Successful candidates may also have:

Previous experience or working knowledge with fMRI data (e.g. SPM, fsl, AFNI or other imaging analysis package). Stimulus design and presentation in MATLAB, PsychoPy, Ibex, or Presentation Web skills (e.g., ability to write/edit html). Previous experience in health communication research fields. Previous experience with geolocation and/or mobile-survey data collection or analysis. Successful publication record. Desire/ability to write papers and grants in collaboration with the research team.

Cover letter and resume required and should be uploaded as one document.

To complete your application, please also complete the survey found here: https://upenn.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_7WfjB4MK7XcznUi.

Working Conditions
Office, library, computer room

Physical Effort
Typically sitting at a desk or table

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

Annenberg School for Communication

Pay Range

$36,401.00 - $65,521.00

Affirmative Action Statement
Penn adheres to a policy that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected class.

Special Requirements
Background check required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.

University Benefits

• Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts: Penn offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and your family’s health and welfare. You can also use flexible spending accounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.

• Tuition: Take advantage of Penn's exceptional tuition benefits. You, your spouse, and your dependent children can get tuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are also eligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.

• Retirement: Penn offers generous retirement plans to help you save for your future. Penn’s Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on a pre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard.

• Time Away from Work: Penn provides you with a substantial amount of time away from work during the course of the year. This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personal affairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time with family—whatever your personal needs may be.

• Long-Term Care Insurance: In partnership with Genworth Financial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible family members) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of the costs of long-term care services received at home, in the community or in a nursing facility. If you apply when you’re newly hired, you won’t have to provide proof of good health or be subject to underwriting requirements. Eligible family members must always provide proof of good health and are subject to underwriting.

• Wellness and Work-life Resources: Penn is committed to supporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competing demands of work and personal life. That’s why we offer a wide variety of programs and resources to help you care for your health, your family, and your work-life balance.

• Professional and Personal Development: Penn provides an array of resources to help you advance yourself personally and professionally.

• University Resources: As a member of the Penn community, you have access to a wide range of University resources as well as cultural and recreational activities. Take advantage of the University’s libraries and athletic facilities, or visit our arboretum and art galleries. There’s always something going on at Penn, whether it’s a new exhibit at the Penn Museum, the latest music or theater presentation at the Annenberg Center, or the Penn Relays at Franklin Field to name just a few examples. As a member of the Penn community, you’re right in the middle of the excitement—and you and your family can enjoy many of these activities for free.

• Discounts and Special Services: From arts and entertainment to transportation and mortgages, you'll find great deals for University faculty and staff. Not only do Penn arts and cultural centers and museums offer free and discounted admission and memberships to faculty and staff. You can also enjoy substantial savings on other goods and services such as new cars from Ford and General Motors, cellular phone service plans, movie tickets, and admission to theme parks.

• Flexible Work Hours: Flexible work options offer creative approaches for completing work while promoting balance between work and personal commitments. These approaches involve use of non-traditional work hours, locations, and/or job structures.

• Penn Home Ownership Services: Penn offers a forgivable loan for eligible employees interested in buying a home or currently residing in West Philadelphia, which can be used for closing costs or home improvements.

• Adoption Assistance: Penn will reimburse eligible employees on qualified expenses in connection with the legal adoption of an eligible child, such as travel or court fees, for up to two adoptions in your household.

To learn more, please visit: https://www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/benefits-pay