HDFS - Research Associate II

Colorado State University • Fort Collins, CO

5d • $55,000 - $70,000

About The Position

The Research Associate II will play a key role in supporting multiple federally funded research projects focused on early neurodevelopment in clinical populations. This position involves conducting advanced neurodevelopmental assessment visits with infants, toddlers, and young children, including participants with developmental delays or neurogenetic conditions. The RA will administer standardized developmental measures and observational assessments, requiring prior experience with early childhood developmental testing in clinical or research settings. Experience administering the ADOS 2 is strongly preferred.

Requirements

• A bachelor’s degree that reflects training in Human Development and Family Studies or related field
• At least 3 years' prior research experience and training with human subjects.
• Prior experience working with children and adolescents with developmental disabilities (e.g., Down syndrome).
• 3+ years' experience
• Experience and training with neurodiverse populations
• Hands‑on experience conducting early childhood developmental assessments in clinical or research settings
• Training in standardized assessment administration (e.g., cognitive, language, or behavioral measures)
• Experience with data scoring, data entry, and basic data management
• Ability and willingness to travel regionally and nationally for off‑site assessment visits
• Excellent communication skills and comfort working with families of young children
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple schedules across projects

Nice To Haves

• 3+ years' experience
• Experience and training with neurodiverse populations
• Hands‑on experience conducting early childhood developmental assessments in clinical or research settings
• Training in standardized assessment administration (e.g., cognitive, language, or behavioral measures)
• Experience with data scoring, data entry, and basic data management
• Ability and willingness to travel regionally and nationally for off‑site assessment visits
• Excellent communication skills and comfort working with families of young children
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple schedules across projects

Responsibilities

• Conduct Neurodevelopmental Assessments: Administer standardized early developmental and behavioral assessments with infants, toddlers, and young children in clinical research populations; maintain fidelity to assessment protocols; ADOS‑2 administration preferred.
• Travel for Off‑Site Visits: Coordinate and complete neurodevelopmental assessment visits regionally and nationally for families unable to travel to campus, ensuring high‑quality data collection in diverse settings.
• Data Scoring and Management: Score developmental and observational assessments; manage, clean, and transform data; perform quality checks to ensure accuracy and readiness for analysis across multiple funded projects.
• Project Coordination and Compliance: Collaborate with multidisciplinary research teams, maintain scheduling across studies, adhere to IRB and study protocols, and communicate effectively with families to support positive assessment experiences.
• Decision Making: This position involves day-to-day decision-making necessary to provide oversight for and to complete a research study, for instance, pertaining to recruitment, retention, participant assessments, and data management.
• Supervision: Supervision and mentorship of undergraduate research trainees, supporting their skill development in data collection, scoring, and regulatory compliance while ensuring high‑quality contributions to study activities. (20% FTE per week)

Benefits

• Colorado State University is not just a workplace; it’s a thriving community that’s transforming lives and improving the human condition through world-class teaching, research, and service.
• With a robust benefits package, collaborative atmosphere, and focus on work-life balance, CSU is where you can thrive, grow, and make a lasting impact.
• Review our detailed benefits information here.
• Explore the additional perks of working at CSU here.
• For the total value of CSU benefits in addition to wages, use our compensation calculator.
• Lastly, click here for more information about why Fort Collins is consistently ranked in the top cities to live in!

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 1-10 employees