Human Research Technologist - Cognition, Affect, and Temperament Laboratory

Penn State University • University Park, IL

20h

About The Position

The Cognition, Affect, and Temperament Laboratory, headed by Dr. Koraly Pérez-Edgar at Penn State, is seeking a Human Research Technologist to work on the longitudinal, multi-year NIDA-funded HEALthy Brain and Child Development study. This study focuses on pregnant people and their children in the areas of neurodevelopment, behavior, learning, environmental factors, substance exposure, and cognitive functioning. The start date for the Human Research Technologist is as soon as possible, but those who will not be available until early this summer (2026) will also be considered. The majority of the Human Research Technologist’s time will be spent working directly with participants and their families through phone calls, email exchanges, and/or face-to-face interactions.

Requirements

• Good interpersonal skills
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with others
• Willingness to learn and develop computer skills (i.e., Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other programs).
• Associate Degree
• No prior relevant work experience required; previous relevant work experience accepted in lieu of education.

Nice To Haves

• Professional experience working with infants and/or children is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Recruitment of participants
• Coordination of visit scheduling and consent form completion
• Collect and process data from participants
• Prepare and process materials needed for each research visit
• Attend lab meetings, team meetings, and trainings
• Serve on designated committees within the study when appropriate
• Data collection will focus on behavioral assessments of infant and early childhood development, as well as electroencephalograms (EEG) with infants and young children.
• Other data collection components include biological sample collection and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
• The Human Research Technologist will be required to perform weekend and evening work as needed to complete the study’s goals.
• This work will take advantage of the University’s broad resources, including the Child Study Center and the SLEIC Center.
• This is a two-site study in collaboration with Dr. Aleksandra Zgierska at Penn State’s College of Medicine in Hershey, Pennsylvania. As such, study personnel will have cross-site, virtual training opportunities.

Benefits

• Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional well-being.
• In addition to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, employees enjoy robust retirement plans and substantial paid time off which includes holidays, vacation and sick time.
• One of the standout benefits is the generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Associate degree