Research Assistant - BBH Population Health Lab
About The Position
The position is part of a pilot study housed in the Biobehavioral Health Department at Penn State University. A key responsibility is conducting in-person intake and follow-up interviews at the BBH and HHD buildings; therefore, applicants must be physically located in State College and able to work on-site at the University Park campus. Availability during the week of January 5 is especially valuable. The study evaluates a novel mind-body intervention that incorporates guided writing activities, brief resistance exercises (air squats), and slow-paced breathing. Participants complete 30-minute Zoom sessions five days per week over a four-week period. The research assistant will lead these Zoom-based sessions, which require consistent availability for 2–3-hour time blocks each weekday (e.g., 5:00–8:00 p.m., Monday–Friday) and occasional weekend availability for participant scheduling needs.
Nice To Haves
- Interest in behavioral medicine and psychophysiology
- Strong interpersonal skills, particularly in virtual/Zoom-based communication
- Prior experience with participant-facing roles or data collection is preferred
- Reliability, professionalism, and attention to detail are essential
Responsibilities
- Deliver live, protocol-guided intervention sessions to participants via Zoom, including writing prompts, 2-minute air squats, and breathing exercises
- Recruit, screen, and schedule participants according to IRB-approved procedures
- Describe study goals, procedures, and privacy protections to participants; obtain informed consent as needed
- Collect self-report survey data and manage wearable data (e.g., fitness tracker output)
- Enter, clean, and organize participant data using REDCap or similar platforms
- Monitor intervention fidelity and participant adherence; maintain detailed records
- Attend weekly team meetings and contribute to study operations and troubleshooting
- Assist with IRB documentation and compliance tracking
- Perform other research-related activities as assigned by the Principal Investigator
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What This Job Offers
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
No Education Listed
Number of Employees
5,001-10,000 employees
