Psychological Science Lab Coordinator

ABOUT POMONA COLLEGE:  Located near Los Angeles, California, Pomona College is widely regarded as one of the nation's premier liberal arts colleges. Established in 1887, Pomona College is known for small classes, a challenging curriculum, close relationships between students and faculty, and a range of student research and leadership opportunities. Pomona is a member of The Claremont Colleges.

POSITION SUMMARY:  The Psychological Science Lab Coordinator will assist faculty, staff and students in preparing, maintaining, and using computing and scientific equipment for psychological research in classrooms and research laboratories. The successful candidate will be expected to supervise both undergraduate research and teaching assistants. The Psychological Science Department at Pomona College emphasizes an integrative approach to understanding human behavior from biological, cognitive, developmental, social, and cultural perspectives, along with applications. The department values diversity, equity and inclusion as part of the core mission of our science. 

Reporting directly to the Department Chair, the Psychological Science Research Support Specialist performs the following essential duties and responsibilities:

• Support faculty research programs.  This responsibility includes helping to supervise and train undergraduate research assistants in relevant laboratory techniques.
• Oversee the coordination, maintenance, and daily operations of the Psychological Science laboratory courses (including Human Brain, Cognitive Psychology, Social Psychology, Data Mining, Memory & Language). 
• Both of the responsibilities described above require that the successful candidate have the following skills:

1. Coordinate with course instructors and lab supervisors to prepare research procedures.
2. Prepare and maintain laboratory chemicals, pre-laboratory course demonstrations and cleanup of lab spaces.
3. Maintain computer programs and instruments associated with the teaching and research laboratories and collaborate with other personnel for repair and replacement.
4. Coordinate with information technology staff and outside vendors to complete the installation and updates of computer software used in laboratory settings, as well as upgrades of hardware.
5. Maintain, prepare and place orders for chemicals and equipment.
6. Coordinate with course instructors and lab supervisors to maintain necessary laboratory safety.
7. Set up both instrumentation and chemicals as well as occasionally perform minor repairs.
8. Utilize and stay abreast of the use of hormonal, (e.g. salivary assays), neurophysiological (EEG and ERPs), psychophysiological, and computational methods used in psychological research.
9. Facilitate the use of neuroimaging methods (e.g. fMRI, fNIRS) in student and faculty research.
10. Facilitate programming of psychological experiments for student and faculty research as well as collection of both laboratory (e.g. Python, MatLab, E-Prime) and online data collection (e.g., MTurk, Qualtrics).
11. Assist students and faculty in assembling protocols for the Human Subjects Approval process (IRB).
12. Assist in the senior thesis exercise as needed.
13. Train, supervise and coordinate student teaching and research assistants.

• Directly supervise one or more student employees in the Psychological Science Department.  Must complete the bi-annual AB 1825 Sexual Harassment Prevention Training as required by the State of California.
• Participate in Department meetings and trainings.
• Facilitate community engagement for research projects
• Perform special projects/tasks/duties and provide departmental assistance as needed, such as assisting with departmental and inter-departmental events within the consortium.
• Assist faculty in providing cost estimates and initiating purchases for both teaching and research, including equipment and software purchases, transaction for online data collection and subject payments.
• Support faculty with developing IRB protocols and with data collection including participate recruitment on and off campus.
• Maintain online research participation management system (Sona).

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in psychological science or related field is required. A Master’s degree in Psychological Science or related field is preferred.
• Experience: Experience supporting research activities at an academic institution and/or experience with computer programming are preferred. The ideal candidate will have proficiency in both English and Spanish language (though the latter is not required). Finally, the successful candidate will have experience working with a diverse faculty and student body.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE AND CRITICAL SKILLS: The candidate must possess the knowledge, skills and abilities to be able to successfully perform the essential functions of the job or must be able to demonstrate how the essential functions will be performed (with or without reasonable accommodation) using other knowledge, skills and abilities not listed below.

• Deploy professional skills in the maintenance and use of research, equipment, software, and other computing needs, in collaboration with faculty, to support the Department’s strategic interest.
• Use exceptional organizational, time management, and process planning skills to complete work with accuracy and a keen attention to detail. These skills will be manifest in the following:

1. Must be a resourceful planner of work processes.
2. Think independently and creatively solve problems.
3. Adapt positively and proactively to changing circumstances to achieve results and to seek growth opportunities and solutions.
4. Anticipate and address changes, use available resources, and manage time.

• Demonstrate effective, accurate and clear communication with excellent verbal, written, interpersonal, reading, phone, and leadership skills to supervise, facilitate, motivate and inspire a highly diverse group of student employees.  Follow written and verbal instructions, asking questions as needed for clarification of projects/tasks/duties/assignments.
• Demonstrate cultural competence in working with students, staff and faculty from diverse backgrounds, and initiative in making our classrooms and laboratories inclusive environment.
• Operate computers proficiently with basic Microsoft Office software (such as Word, Excel, Outlook) and associated professional software.  Use assigned technology/devices/equipment to achieve annual goals and maintain confidentiality. Operate various laboratory equipment and instrumentation. Handle all activities, including confidential information, with patience, discretion, good judgment, integrity, courtesy and tact while working with people from a wide variety of backgrounds.
• Purchase/acquire, learn, operate, and maintain hardware and software relevant to stimulus development, data analysis, and lab and online data collection, such as SPSS, Matlab, Qualtrics and other research-based software, and the participant pool system. Use research equipment and software to achieve research goals and maintain data in a safe and confidential manner.
• Learn new specialized software for psychological research as it is made available and as requested by faculty.
• Handle all activities and highly confidential information with discretion, good judgment, and courtesy while working respectfully with people from a wide variety of backgrounds.
• Demonstrate or gain familiarity with emerging open science practices in psychological sciences (e.g., pre-registration plans; use of data repositories and material sharing archives, such as Open Science Framework or ResearchBox) and assist faculty in the use of these practices.

New employees are required to show proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 or request a Pomona College-approved medical or religious exemption on or before their first day of employment.  If you are unable to do so, at the College’s sole discretion, it will work with you to reasonably adjust your start date.  Please let your Human Resources know if you are unable to provide proof of vaccination or want to request a religious or medical exemption before or on your first day of employment.  Note that if you request a religious or medical exemption, it may delay your start date so that we can review and discuss your request.

ADDITIONAL POSITION DETAILS: Regular, full-time, non-exempt position. Salary: $34.76 per hour.  All staff positions are ineligible for visa or permanent resident card sponsorship.  As a California employer, Pomona College requires all employees to be residents of California.

REQUIRED HOURS: The regular hours for this full-time position are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday – Friday, except during the designated summer period when office hours end at 4:30 p.m. Overtime, holiday, weekend and evening work hours may be required. Regular hours may vary due to needs of the College or division.

TO APPLY: Please submit your resume and cover letter.  You may submit both resume and cover letter as one attachment in the My Experience section of the application under the "resume/CV" upload section. Once you submit your application, you will not be able to attach additional documents.

https://theclaremontcolleges.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/POM_Careers/details/Psychological-Science-Lab-Coordinator_REQ-4674

POMONA COLLEGE REWARDS:  Pomona College offers a wide variety of benefits and perks including health, dental, and vision plan options; paid time off; flexible spending accounts; retirement benefits; tuition assistance; fitness and wellness programs; rideshare incentives; and so much more! 

Pomona College prides itself in being an open, competitive, and equal opportunity employer.