Junior Specialist- Graf Estes Lab

Dr. Katharine Graf Estes with the Center for Mind and Brain at the University of California, Davis seeks to fill a research assistant position at the Junior Specialist level starting as soon as September 15, 2025. This is an 75% position and is for one year. There may be a possibility for extension depending on funding. The successful candidate will participate in all aspects of research in language development in infancy, from stimulus creation to data analysis to presentation of research findings in seminars, conferences, and manuscripts submitted for publication. The successful candidate will communicate with monolingual (English- or Spanish-speaking) and bilingual (Spanish and English-speaking) parents and infants. The position will involve developing, in collaboration with the PI and graduate students, experimental designs, stimuli, and procedures. The person hired is expected to independently analyze data, create materials for presentation at conferences, and present research at national and international conferences.

The successful candidates will be responsible for:

Research (80%)

Preparing stimuli and other experimental materials using Photoshop, Praat, and other software and programming environments

Testing infant and adult (parent) research participants in the lab and at participants' homes

Recruiting, interviewing, and consenting parents

Preparing and maintaining IRB materials and ensuring compliance with those protocols

Using R, Datavyu, and Excel to process and analyze data to prepare results and figures for presentation at research conferences and for manuscripts to be submitted for publication

Contributing to scientific manuscripts and research presentations in the form of literature reviews, data analysis, and writing

University and Public Service (20%)

Training and mentoring undergraduate research assistants

Maintenance of budgets, ordering supplies, and overseeing day-to-day running of the lab

Leading community outreach efforts to promote research participation and to share information about research

Bachelor's degree in Psychology or related field

Bilingual (English and Spanish)

Valid US Driver's license (travel to and from subjects may be necessary)

Ability to drive within 2 hours of Davis, CA for participant outreach and testing

Experience with human participants in a laboratory setting

Strong organizational skills, time management, and attention to detail

Experience with testing infants or young children in behavioral research

Knowledge of experimental methods to study early language and/or cognitive development

Familiarity with human subjects protocols, experience conducting interviews or consenting potential research participants

Knowledge of most or all of the following software: R, Python, Excel, Adobe Photoshop

Ability to run occasional sessions and outreach events on weekends if some participants need it

Fluency in Spanish and English reading, writing, and speaking

• 2-3 letters of reference required

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct, are currently being investigated for misconduct, left a position during an investigation for alleged misconduct, or have filed an appeal with a previous employer.

• "Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer.
• UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
• UC Anti-Discrimination Policy for Employees, Students and Third Parties
• APM - 035: Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment

To implement this process, UC Davis requires all applicants for any open search to complete, sign, and upload the form entitled, "Authorization to Release Information" into UC RECRUIT as part of their application. If an applicant does not include the signed authorization with the application materials, the application will be considered incomplete, and as with any incomplete application, will not receive further consideration.

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The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state for federal law.

Under Federal law, the University of California may employ only individuals who are legally able to work in the United States as established by providing documents as specified in the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. Certain UC Davis positions funded by federal contracts or sub-contracts require the selected candidate to pass an E-Verify check. More information is available at: http://www.uscis.gov/e-verify

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