PSY: Research Lab Manager (S99790)

Summary, Scope, and Responsibilities

The Youth Community Action and Transformation (ACT) Lab is a new research collective housed in the Bates Psychology Department and led by new Psychology professor, Elena Maker Castro. The Youth ACT lab recognizes that young people are at the forefront of social change across the globe. We also recognize that young people face systemic oppression that can both catalyze social change and obstruct it. We believe that we need to better understand the conditions under which young people can thrive in their social change efforts and broader developmental trajectories. Therefore, we 1) engage young people in collaborative research approaches that center youth agency and voice; 2) leverage research to expose and redress the ways in which systemic oppression harms young people’s healthy development; 3) amplify the work young people are already doing to support their healthy development and create a more just and equitable society.

The Basics


Department:Psychology
Supervisor: Elena Maker Castro
Office Location: 370 Pettengill Hall
Email: emakercastro@bates.edu
Pay Grade:
Hours: 6
Workers: 1

Qualifications, Requirements, and Responsibilities

Responsibilities


The core research responsibilities for the lab manager are the same as for the research assistants, and include: -Attend weekly lab meetings. Lab meetings will be held on either Mondays or Wednesdays between 9am-4pm, depending on group availability. If you are generally not available at all during those times/days, you will not be eligible for this position -Work independently for 2-4 hours a week on research tasks (e.g., coding interview transcripts, supporting literature reviews) -Work collaboratively with lab members and external research partners on all aspects of the research process (i.e., from starting new studies to drafting manuscripts and conference presentations) -Support the creation of a new research lab at Bates, which includes fostering new community partnerships and building an engaged and supportive lab community In addition, the lab manager will be expected to spend about 1 hour per week tasks including but not limited to: -Organizing and leading team building exercises and events (e.g., planning a group lunch) -Tracking lab expenses -Leadership on organizing and executing certain research tasks (e.g., the lab manager might take the lead on managing scheduling for interviews or ensuring all documents are organized for analysis)

Requirements


-Practice core values of quality, respect, and ethics -Communicate clearly and effectively -Demonstrate strong organizational skills -Have taken courses in relevant fields (e.g., in Psychology, Education, Sociology, Political Science, or Public Health) -Seek expertise in social science research methods (completion of a research methods course or participated in previous social science research is strongly preferred) -Leadership experience in an office, business, and/or volunteer setting - Demonstrate interest in adolescent and young adult healthy cognitive and social development and/or youth civic engagement (i.e., the development of knowledge, skills, and attitudes for active participation in one’s community)

Reporting


You will be expected to communicate proactively and work collaboratively with all other lab members. You will also be expected to lead peers on certain lab tasks and report progress to Professor Maker Castro.

Working Conditions