Postdoctoral Associate - Psychological Sciences

Rice University • Houston, TX

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Rice Space Institute (RSI)’s Center for Space Technologies (CSTx) Human Performance Team at Rice University, directed by Drs. Eduardo Salas, Jing Chen, and Rebecca Brossoit, invites applications for a Postdoctoral Research Associate. The Postdoctoral Research Associate will be involved in interdisciplinary projects that apply human factors, human-robot interaction, human-AI teaming, and well-being research to human space exploration missions as part of a new Texas Space Commission-funded project. They will work collaboratively with the three PIs in the Department of Psychological Sciences and have opportunities to work with collaborators affiliated with NASA and Rice Engineering. This is a one-year term limited position with the possibility of extension based upon need and available funding.

Requirements

• PhD in Human Factors, Human-Computer Interaction, Industrial-Organizational Psychology, Occupational Health Psychology, Organizational Behavior, or related discipline.
• Strong research background and expertise in a relevant field (e.g., Human Factors, Human-Computer Interaction, Industrial-Organizational Psychology, Occupational Health Psychology, Organizational Behavior)
• Excellent listening, verbal and written communication, analytical, and research skills
• Excellent scientific and numerical skills with meticulous attention to details and accuracy
• Ability to work in a team environment, to participate actively, to collaborate and to motivate others in the lab
• Excellent critical thinking, technical, and data collection skills
• Ability to maintain quality, safety and control standards

Nice To Haves

• Interest in human space exploration missions.
• Prior experience in interdisciplinary research
• Interest in research that integrates human factors, human-robot interaction, human-AI teaming, and well-being
• Expertise in psychometrics, advanced statistical modeling, and qualitative approaches
• Flexibility and adaptability in navigating different lab cultures and expectations
• Record of publications in peer-reviewed outlets

Responsibilities

• Lead and support research projects related to human factors, human-robot interaction, human-AI teaming, and well-being research pertaining to human space exploration missions
• Conduct comprehensive cross-disciplinary literature reviews to establish theoretical and empirical foundations for projects
• Design study methodology, measurement approaches, standard operating procedures, and IRB protocols in collaboration with Principal Investigators
• Coordinate and conduct data collections
• Manage data organization, cleaning, and quality control
• Perform quantitative and/or qualitative analysis
• Attend CSTx team meetings and events, lab meetings, and relevant departmental events
• Write and co-author peer-reviewed manuscripts for publication in psychology outlets
• Contribute to progress reports and other deliverables required by the funding agency
• Facilitate information flow across Principal Investigators and lab personnel to ensure work is synchronized across labs
• Mentor graduate and undergraduate students

Benefits

• Salaried position
• Possibility of extension based upon need and available funding
• Access to Rice University HR | Benefits: https://knowledgecafe.rice.edu/benefits

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree