Research Assistant - BBH Population Health Lab

Penn State University • University Park, PA

32d • Onsite

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

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Industry: Educational Services
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees