Job Description

A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume.  The cover letter should address why you are interested in this position and outline specific skills and experience that make you particularly appropriate for this position.

In addition to applying at the UM Careers website , submit a cover letter, CV, research-related writing sample of any length (e.g., article, blog, literature review, grant application), and sample of data cleaning script in R. At the end of the cover letter, please include the email addresses of 2 individuals who may provide letters of recommendation.

The deadline is March 15th, 2025. Send the writing and code samples to email address: thomascc@umich.edu

A Research Technician Senior position is open in the Behavior, Culture, and Inequality Lab at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. The lab conducts experimental social and cultural psychology research towards the goal of mitigating systems of poverty, inequality, and prejudice. This research entails lab, online, and field experiments and intervention development domestically and in low- and middle-income countries. It is often conducted with interdisciplinary teams in partnership with nonprofits and governments and with interdisciplinary teams of economists and sociologists.  

The Research Tech Senior will work closely with Dr. Thomas and any graduate students to help support the lab's core research projects. The ideal candidate will have an extensive understanding of and experience with research in behavioral science and international development initiatives. In addition, the candidate must have exceptionally strong organizational and interpersonal skills. The Research Technician Senior will be solving new problems with a large degree of independence in a fast-moving, cutting-edge environment in behavioral science and economic development, while facilitating the lab's day-to-day operations. The Research Technician Senior will also be guided to develop their own research project while in the lab and contribute to manuscript preparation.

• Support in social psychological intervention development and implementation both in field settings and in digital technologies
• Data cleaning, analysis, visualization, and interpretation. This includes intermediate to advanced skills in R for analyzing quantitative descriptive and experimental data and text data.
• Project management for intervention implementation, field experiments, and online experiments, including managing timelines, partnerships, field teams, data systems, IRB applications, and budgets.
• Designing and programming instruments/questionnaires and survey experiments in Qualtrics and/or SurveyCTO 
• Literature reviews for theoretical questions and measurement strategies
• Identification and writing of grants.
• Setting up lab infrastructure and organizing meetings and gatherings
• Manuscript preparation based on research (figures, supplementary materials, etc.) 
• Travel to project field sites as needed domestically and internationally.

• Bachelor's degree in Psychology, Behavioral Science, or a related discipline.
• 1 or more years of relevant research experience in social psychology, behavioral science, clinical psychology, or related disciplines
• Evidence of outstanding organizational, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work independently.
• Data cleaning and analysis skills in R

• Master's degree preferred in Psychology, Behavioral Science, or a related discipline
• Experience in or skills for designing social psychological and/or behavioral science interventions for low-resource populations and contexts
• Experience in or skills for conducting field experiments in low-resource contexts, including formative qualitative research, pilot testing of interventions, implementer training, enumerator training, ethics training, monitoring, data collection, data cleaning, data analysis 
• Project management experience, particularly in social science research, nonprofits, or policy
• Willingness to learn methods for analysis of text data

• The salary range is $37,900 to $47,380. Please note a higher salary may be offered based on equity and the selected candidate's experience.
• This is a 12-month term-limited position with the possibility of renewal. The anticipated start date is August 1st, 2025.

As one of the world's great liberal arts colleges, LSA pushes the boundaries of what is understood about the human experience and the natural world, and we foster the next generation of rigorous and empathetic thinkers, creators, and contributors to the state of Michigan, the nation, and the world.

To learn more about diversity, equity, and inclusion in LSA, please visit lsa.umich.edu/lsa/dei.
To learn more about LSA's Mission, Vision and Values, please visit lsa.umich.edu/strategicvision.

The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background checks.  Background checks are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

The mission of the University of Michigan is to serve the people of Michigan and the world through preeminence in creating, communicating, preserving and applying knowledge, art, and academic values, and in developing leaders and citizens who will challenge the present and enrich the future.

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days.  The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled anytime after the minimum posting period has ended.

The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.

About University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

A great university is made so by its faculty and staff, and Michigan is recognized as one of the best universities to work for in the country. The Michigan culture is known for engaging faculty and staff in all facets of the university to create a workplace that is vibrant and stimulating.For two consecutive years, the Chronicle of Higher Education has placed U-M in its "Great Colleges to Work For" survey. In particular, the university earns high marks for strong relations between faculty and administrators, a collaborative system of governance, strong pay and benefits, and a healthy work/life balance.

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