Research Professional 2

About the Job

Position Overview

The University of Minnesota's Institute of Child Development (ICD) has a position open for a half-time Research Coordinator. This position is funded by a National Institutes of Health (NIH) subaward titled, Home-based Parent-Child Intervention to Enhance Executive Function. The project aims to validate a play-based digital application for parent/child use in order to improve preschool children's executive function skills. We seek applicants with prior experience working with child populations.

The Research Coordinator will report to Dr. Stephanie Carlson. Duties will include IRB management, participant recruitment and screening, informed consent and assent, cognitive and behavioral assessment, database management, and onboarding and supervision of undergraduate research assistants. The position has funding through 06/30/2025, with extended time pending funding, contingent upon a 6-month probationary period and successful completion of duties.

This position is based on campus. Per UMN policy, work may be done remotely when appropriate and approved by your manager. All UMN employees are expected to follow applicable public health and safety procedures.

Job Responsibilities

Recruitment of parent/child participants (30%)

• Understand the research and participant recruitment process and comprehend the value and importance of gathering, organizing, and maintaining research data results

• Conduct email and telephone recruitment of child participants by calling families indicating an interest in participating in this or other research projects

• Identify and establish communication with community organizations that could partner in advertising to a broader diverse and representative participant pool

• Screen confidential health information for assessment of inclusion and exclusion criteria to assess study eligibility

• Develop rapport with children and families to ensure a positive research experience

• Draft correspondence and send participant emails or mailing packets, including attachments with information regarding appointments, driving directions, and helpful hints

• Schedule, update, and cancel appointments with families participating in the research study

• Organize and track study files (electronically and by paper) including participant appointment information, calling log, and files to be sent to families such as welcome letters and directions

• Learn and follow all participant recruitment reporting requirements for the project using online reporting tools

Data collection (30%)

• Complete Human Subject ethics training

• Adhere to the study protocol

• Obtain informed consent and assent from participants

• Prepare and maintain electronic surveys for remote data collection

• Reliably administer standardized and research-based behavioral tasks to children

• Monitor and support participants in completing survey measures in a timely manner

• Use standard desktop software to manage documentation and track study progress

• Ensure protection and storage of data and participant information on secure servers

• Work occasional evening and weekend shifts as needed to test participants

• Manage and monitor online participant payment system

• Communicate with Dr. Carlson and the counterpart coordinator at another study site on a regular basis regarding recruitment and assessment progress and any or all issues related to participants.

Data management (20%)

• Learn and follow best practices in data organization and processing streams

• Train and supervise undergraduate research assistants

• Ensure reliable and timely completion of data coding and cleaning

• Perform quality control/quality assurance procedures

• Adhere to data security and privacy practices

• Create tables and figures as directed for project meetings, conference presentations, and publications

General Laboratory Support/Coordination (20%)

• Develop processes to mentor and train undergraduate research assistants in participant recruitment, data collection, and research ethics with child and adolescent participants.

• Support graduate students and lab staff in tracking and monitoring undergraduate research hours.

• Develop standard operating procedures (SOPs) for general lab tasks to support training of new lab personnel and transfer of expertise to new staff.

• Coordinate project meetings among lab personnel.

• Take notes at research meetings and track agenda items.

• Update and monitor lab web resources relevant to the project.

• Work with lab staff to draft the annual lab newsletter.

• Assist the lab in conducting internal audits of IRB materials and research data collection on multiple projects.

• Work with lab members to document and organize study materials and data resources in electronic format.

• Work with department/college staff to address facility needs or information technology needs in the lab.

• Identify areas for improvement in functioning in the lab and work with the PI to develop and implement improvement plans.

• Communicating with study coordinators, lab trainees, and collaborators.

• Attend weekly lab meetings.

• Provide support to faculty and staff preparing manuscripts and conference presentations, including literature searches, article summaries, formatting of text and references, construction of tables and figures, and typographical editing.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• BA/BS with at least 2 years of experience or a combination of related education and work experience to equal 6 years.

• Experience working in a research environment, including interviewing and/or testing children.

• Experience with Microsoft Excel.

• Ability to collaborate effectively with people from a variety of communities, backgrounds, and identities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Coursework in psychology, child psychology, or educational psychology

• At least two-years research experience in a laboratory setting, conducting participant recruitment, telephone screening, and/or informed consent/assent with child or adolescent participants

• Experience conducting consent process and collecting data over a Zoom platform.

• Ability to manage multiple tasks on a daily basis

• Excellent organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills, including attention to detail and documentation of work

• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively, including communication with study faculty, junior and senior research staff, and individual families and children

• Comfort with standard computer resources, including email, web searching, document and spreadsheet software, PDF files, and web-based calendars

• Prior experience using REDCap and Zoom software

• Facility with Qualtrics

• Strong written and spoken language skills

• Demonstrable leadership ability

• Comfortable interacting with children and their parents

• Demonstrated ability to be personable, flexible, and well-organized

• Interest in learning/training in clinical/behavioral assessment for children

• Ability to work well with diverse populations

• Willingness to work flexible hours including evenings and weekends to accommodate family schedules

• Demonstrable experience working collaboratively in a team setting

About the Department

Department Overview

The Institute of Child Development (ICD) at the University of Minnesota has long been a premier center for scholarship, teaching, and outreach devoted to the understanding and fostering of child development. Founded in 1925, the Institute is one of the oldest departments studying children's development in the United States. From its inception, a key tenet of the department has been to "give away" child psychology. This philosophy has created an environment rich with collaborations, new ideas, and exciting interdisciplinary work. The ICD is housed within the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) and has an undergraduate program within the College of Liberal Arts (CLA).

College Overview

The College of Education and Human Development (CEHD), the third largest college and the University, contributes to a just and sustainable future through engagement with the local and global communities to enhance human learning and development at all stages of the life span. We know diversity is necessary to do our best work and foster our humanity. That's why the CEHD community is collectively dedicated to cultivating an inclusive and equitable environment, embracing and celebrating all identities of our students, staff, and faculty. These values are also a moral imperative requiring continuous proactive measures and a firm stance against prejudice, discrimination, and systemic injustice.

How To Apply

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will be given the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume.

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8647.

Diversity

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Employment Requirements

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

About the U of M

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by the Star Tribune as a Top Workplace for 2021, as well as by Forbes as Best Employers for Women and one of America's Best Employers (2015, 2018, 2019, 2023), Best Employer for Diversity (2019, 2020), Best Employer for New Grads (2018, 2019), and Best Employer by State (2019, 2022).