Social Science/Humanities Research Associate I

University of Texas at Austin

2d•$35,000 - $45,000•Onsite

About The Position

Dr. Nicholas Duran, Associate Professor of Psychology at UT Austin, is building a new cognitive and behavioral data science lab and seeks a Social Science/Humanities Research Associate I to set up and operate the lab’s multimodal behavioral data collection infrastructure. The role combines hands-on technical support, lab coordination, and data-processing assistance under the direct supervision of the Principal Investigator.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in psychology, cognitive science, computer science, linguistics, data science, or related field.
Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to work independently.
Excellent written and oral communication.
Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Nice To Haves

One or more years of research-laboratory experience, or equivalent experience in a technical/data-collection environment.
Hands-on experience setting up or maintaining lab equipment (computers, cameras, audio recorders, or comparable hardware).
Coding experience with Python, R, or MATLAB.
Experience with motion-capture systems (e.g., Vicon, OptiTrack, Qualisys, Captury) or other multichannel behavior-capture systems (eye-tracking, physiological recording, VR).
Prior lab-management, project-coordination, or research-operations experience.
Interest in communication, behavioral dynamics, language and motion research, or behavioral data science more broadly.

Responsibilities

Set up, configure, and maintain hardware for multimodal behavior capture: motion-capture systems, cameras, microphones, and related multichannel recording equipment.
Assist in developing and maintaining data-processing pipelines for audio, video, motion, physiological, and language channels.
Apply automated tools, including large language models, for transcription, annotation, and feature extraction.
Coordinate participant scheduling, room reservations, study protocols, and shared documentation.
Assist the PI with onboarding, scheduling, and day-to-day task coordination of undergraduate research assistants.
Support lab meetings (agendas, notes, action items).
Manage purchasing, inventory, and room organization in collaboration with the PI and Psychology Business Office.
Assist with data quality checks and routine analyses under PI supervision.
Maintain shared drives and data consistent with IRB and UT data-management requirements.