Research Specialist II

Rice University•Houston, TX

1d•$57,000 - $60,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Human Performance Team in the Rice Space Institute (RSI)’s Center for Space Technologies (CSTx) at Rice University is seeking a Research Specialist for interdisciplinary projects. These projects will 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. The specialist will collaborate with three Principal Investigators (PIs) in the Department of Psychological Sciences and potentially with collaborators from NASA and Rice Engineering. The ideal candidate is an innovative and collaborative researcher in human factors, human-AI teaming, human-robot interaction, or occupational health psychology, eager to apply psychological science to the demands of space missions and work effectively in interdisciplinary teams. This is a one-year term-limited position with the possibility of extension based on need and funding.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree (In lieu of the education requirement, additional related experience, above and beyond what is required, may be substituted on an equivalent year-for-year basis.)
Two or more (2+) years of related experience (In lieu of the experience requirement, additional related education above and beyond what is required may be substituted on an equivalent year-for-year basis.)
Strong research background and expertise in a relevant field (e.g., Human Factors, Human-Computer Interaction, Industrial-Organizational Psychology, Occupational Health Psychology, Organizational Behavior)
Good 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
Good critical thinking, technical, and data collection skills
Ability to maintain quality, safety and control standards

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree
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, 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.