Post-Doctoral Fellow (Cognition and Temperament Lab)

Position Summary

The Post-Doctoral Fellow will work in the Cognition and Temperament Lab on a grant funded project examining the cognitive and environmental factors that help children succeed academically. This position will be responsible for cleaning, analyzing, and interpreting longitudinal data from two cohorts of children. One cohort of children was assessed when they were in preschool, kindergarten, elementary school, and middle school. The second cohort was assessed in elementary school. The Post-Doctoral Fellow will also prepare manuscripts for publication and present findings at professional conferences, among other research duties.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Data Management & Analysis

• Manage all aspects of data organization, quality checks, and data entry workflows.
• Clean, code, and structure large, multi-wave longitudinal datasets.
• Conduct advanced statistical analyses, including but not limited to multilevel modeling, structural equation modeling, growth curve modeling, and longitudinal invariance testing.
• Document data processing steps, syntax, and analytic decisions for reproducibility.

Research & Manuscript Production

• Lead and contribute to manuscripts for submission to peer-reviewed journals.
• Conduct literature reviews, develop theoretical frameworks, and assist in drafting methods, results, and discussion sections.
• Prepare IRB materials, study protocols, and updates as needed.

Presentation & Dissemination

• Develop professional conference posters, talks, and symposia proposals for national organizations (e.g., SRCD, APA, AERA).
• Present findings at regional, national, and international conferences.
• Summarize key findings for funder reports, campus audiences, or community partners.

Student Mentorship & Lab Support

• Train and mentor undergraduate research assistants in data entry, coding, analysis, and professional presentation development.
• Provide feedback on student research projects, abstracts, posters, and manuscripts.
• Assist with lab meetings, collaborative projects, and internal research dissemination.

Project & Operational Responsibilities

• Track project milestones and prepare updates for the Principal Investigator.
• Organize files, documentation, analytic outputs, and regulatory materials.
• Contribute to research planning, grant reporting, and future project development.
• Perform other research-related duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

Doctorate in Psychology, Education, Human Development & Family Studies, or related field required. Strong quantitative background with experience in longitudinal research is required.

Must possess research experience and leadership skills. Requires excellent communication skills in written and spoken English as well as effective decision-making strategies and strategic planning skills, necessary for writing manuscripts. Must be able to handle multiple projects and display attention to detail. Must display excellent customer service and a professional demeanor and time management skills.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must have the ability to perform advanced skills using Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint). Must be knowledgeable of computer data entry and data analysis using statistical software (R, SPSS, MPlus), skills in library research, and a knowledge of the field of child development. Duties may involve assignments that require creating brochures, spreadsheets including formulas, tables, PowerPoint presentations, and computer-generated graphics/reports.