Post-Doctoral Research Associate

University of Texas at Dallas • Richardson, TX

43d • Onsite

About The Position

The Early Learning and Social Cognition Lab directed by Dr. Annelise Pesch is seeking a highly motivated Research Associate (postdoc) to join the lab. Our lab investigates the social and cognitive skills that support early learning and development. We use a variety of methods - including experiments, naturalistic observations, and surveys - to explore how young children learn from others. We aim to build evidence-based foundations for translational efforts that promote early learning in both informal and formal contexts. Our work is guided by community-based participatory research approaches, in which communities are active partners and collaborators throughout the scientific process. The successful candidate will play a central role in several new initiatives that aim to establish community partnerships and embed playful learning opportunities in collaboration with stakeholders throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. The Research Associate will be involved in facilitating codesign workshops with key stakeholders, overseeing collection of observational and survey data in community spaces, manuscript preparation, and grant writing. The scholar will provide supervision and mentorship of undergraduate and graduate students in the lab. This is a full-time, 12-month position with the possibility of renewal, contingent upon performance and funding. The anticipated start date is January 1, 2026, but is flexible depending on availability. This is an in-person position. The successful candidate will be expected to travel to locations throughout Dallas-Fort Worth and to attend in-person meetings and functions at the UT-Dallas campus in Richardson, Texas. This position is in the Department of Psychology in the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences at The University of Texas at Dallas (UTD - bbs.utdallas.edu). UTD is the fastest growing University in Texas, is ranked number 3 in the nation among universities less than 50 years old and houses a vibrant research community. The city of Dallas is an international economic hub with a vibrant cultural atmosphere and world-class sports and entertainment in a temperate climate.

Requirements

• Ph.D in a related field.
• Creative thinking skills and a predisposition for problem solving
• Ability to work collaboratively with excellent oral and written communication skills
• Demonstrate proactivity, independence, and creativity
• Motivation to learn and master new methods and techniques (e.g., community-based participatory research, qualitative and quantitative data analysis)
• Ability to interact professionally with all levels of staff and with community partners
• Persistence, attention to detail, and willingness to troubleshoot
• Proficient in developmental psychology and educational psychology literature
• To the extent this position requires the holder to research, work on, or have access to critical infrastructure as defined in Section 117.001(2) of the Texas Business and Commerce Code, the ability to maintain the security or integrity of the critical infrastructure is a minimum qualification to be hired and to continue to be employed in the position.

Nice To Haves

• Two first author papers published, under review, or in preparation
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Proficiency in mixed methods research
• Experience working in community settings

Responsibilities

• Design and conduct mixed methods studies to investigate the impact of playful learning in community and educational spaces
• Develop codesign strategies and data collection tools to evaluate caregiver-child interactions and language in applied settings
• Lead qualitative and quantitative analyses of codesign workshops and impact assessments using advanced statistical methods
• Work closely with an interdisciplinary team of researchers, students, and external collaborators. Mentor graduate and undergraduate students in experimental and translational research methodologies
• Publish research findings in high-impact peer reviewed journals and present research at national and international conferences. Effectively communicate findings to audiences
• Other duties as assigned

Benefits

• Competitive Salary
• Tuition Benefits
• Internal Training
• Medical insurance - including 100% paid employee medical coverage for full-time employees
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Long and short-term disability
• Retirement Plan Options
• Paid time off
• Paid Holidays
• All UT Dallas employees have access to various professional development opportunities, including a membership to Academic Impressions, LinkedIn Learning, and UT Dallas Bright Leaders Program.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Industry: Educational Services
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees