The Cognition, Affect, Life Experience, and Competence Lab (CALiCo; PI: Dr. Danming An) in the Psychology Department at Lehigh University, located at Bethlehem, PA, is seeking a full-time Lab Coordinator/ Predoctoral Research Associate.
The Lab Coordinator will contribute to multiple aspects of an ongoing research project examining the socio-cognitive and emotional factors that link family and community environment to internalizing problems and social competence during middle childhood. Additional opportunities to collaborate with other developmental psychology labs at Lehigh are also possible, depending on funding availability and project progress.
This position provides an exciting opportunity for a junior researcher to gain hands-on experience in developmental psychology research. The Lab Coordinator will develop skills in behavioral coding, data analysis, study and research team management, and may have opportunities to present at conferences and co-author publications, as appropriate.
This position is for 1 year with the possibility to extend to 2 years, contingent on performance, mutual fit, and available funds. The desired start date is June/July 2026.
The Lab Coordinator will work as part of a team of graduate students and undergraduate research assistants and will coordinate the lab’s daily operations. Major responsibilities will include:
Recruiting participants by establishing partnerships with local families and communities, and organizing recruitment events
Collecting behavioral data of parents and children based on existing protocols
Overseeing lab administration, including IRB protocol, data management, purchases, website management, participant recruitment, and data collection
Training, supervising, and mentoring undergraduate students on behavioral coding, processing, data management, and analysis
Conducting literature reviews to help with manuscripts and presentations
Minimum requirements for this position are:
Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Human Development, or a related field
Previous research experience in a related lab setting
A demonstrated interest in children’s socioemotional development
Strong work ethics and skills, including commitment to ethical research practices, attention to detail, time management skills/multitasking, and excellent organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills
Ability to work independently, with other lab members, and with children and parents
Willingness to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends, to accommodate study families
Preferred qualifications:
Experience of conducting research focused on infants and children
Experience with behavioral coding and relevant software (e.g., Datavyu)
Knowledge of data analysis and statistical software (e.g., SPSS, Mplus, R)
Conversational proficiency in Spanish
Familiarity with local communities and/or experience of working with and connecting to families from diverse ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds
Transportation for participant recruitment activities
To apply, please submit the following via email to Dr. An (daa422@lehigh.edu), with “lab coordinator application - FirstName LastName” in the email subject line:
CV
Cover letter explaining your interest in the position, relevant skills and experience, and career goals
College transcript (official or unofficial)
1-2 names and contact information of research supervisor(s), from whom recommendation letters may be requested.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with the aim of concluding the search as soon as an excellent candidate is found. The desired start date is June/July 2026.