Pre-Doctoral Research Associate - Technical

Pre-Doctoral Research Associate - Technical

Location: Notre Dame, IN
Open Date: 2026-05-22
Deadline: Jun 15, 2026 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time

Description:The Research Support team at the Mendoza College of Business, University of Notre Dame, is seeking a Behavioral Research Associate, informally, a 'Pre-Doctoral Research Associate,' to begin in Fall 2026.

This is a full-time, one-year position with the option to renew for a second year based on performance and funding availability. It is designed for individuals who have completed an undergraduate or master's degree and are considering future doctoral study. The position is paid via stipend through the Office of Postdoctoral Scholars at a competitive rate ($50,000/year).

This role is oriented toward candidates with strong quantitative and computational skills. The Research Associate provides direct technical support to the Behavioral Data Scientist and serves as a hands-on technical resource within the Behavioral Lab.

Day-to-day work includes programming and maintaining experiment infrastructure, supporting data workflows, and assisting with the technical execution of in-person and online studies. The role also provides continuity coverage for technical lab operations, ensuring studies can run reliably. Candidates should be comfortable working at the intersection of software, data, and behavioral research.

Specific responsibilities include:

• Providing direct technical support to the Behavioral Data Scientist on active research projects, data pipelines, and computational workflows
• Programming and deploying behavioral experiments and surveys using platforms such as Qualtrics, jsPsych, and related tools
• Serving as the in-lab technical resource during in-person study sessions, including A/V, software, and peripheral management
• Building and maintaining data pipelines, automation workflows, and reproducible analysis scripts (Python, R, or similar)
• Supporting the integration of LLMs and advanced computational tools into research workflows
• Managing data storage, compute infrastructure, and backup protocols for active research projects
• Assisting with randomization, logic implementation, and technical troubleshooting across studies
• Contributing to documentation and code standards to support continuity and knowledge transfer across the team

This position is well-suited for candidates interested in pursuing future PhD study in fields such as computer science, human-computer interaction, cognitive/behavioral/industrial-organizational psychology, neuropsychology, marketing, organizational behavior, information technology/systems, analytics, or a related discipline. Candidates will gain direct exposure to rigorous empirical research methods and work alongside world-class faculty at a top-ranked business school.

Qualifications:
Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Psychology, Statistics, Economics, or a related field, completed or near completion at the time of appointment.

Proficiency in at least one programming language commonly used in behavioral research (e.g., Python, R, JavaScript).

Experience or strong interest in experimental design, behavioral research methods, or data analysis.

Familiarity with survey or experiment programming platforms (e.g., Qualtrics, jsPsych) is highly desirable.

Ability to manage and process datasets, including data cleaning, integration, and feature engineering.

Strong attention to detail, intellectual curiosity, and commitment to research rigor.

Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively with faculty and interdisciplinary research teams.

Interest in pursuing doctoral studies in a related field is preferred.