APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:
CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process . Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.
CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.
If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click “Apply” and complete the application process for external applicants .
Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location. For additional information on remote work at Penn State, see Notice to Out of State Applicants .
This position is funded for 12 months; continuation past 12 months will be based on university need, performance, and/or availability of funding.
POSITION SPECIFICS
The Cognitive Neuroscience of Creativity Lab, directed by Dr. Roger Beaty at Penn State, is accepting applications for a Human Research Technologist to support a grant-funded research project.
The Cognitive Neuroscience of Creativity Lab focuses on psychological research on human creativity and problem solving. Our lab uses a combination of behavioral, neuroimaging, and computational approaches to investigate the mechanisms underlying human creativity.
We create open-access tools for evaluating creative thinking and examine creativity across a variety of domains, such as music, science, and education.
The Human Research Technologist will support the day-to-day coordination of the project, including participant research, project administration, and data management.
Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
Coordinate participant recruitment, scheduling, and data collection.
Create computerized tasks and stimuli for experiments.
Collect, process, and analyze behavioral, fMRI/fNIRS, and EEG data.
Track project goals and budgets; purchase necessary study supplies.
Oversee, train, and assign tasks to student and volunteer research assistants.
Organize and quality-check data. Create and manage datasets; prepare data for reporting, presentations, and grant submissions.
Support the implementation of study procedures and research tasks.
Track project goals, timelines, meetings, and documentation.
Support IRB compliance and coordination with collaborating research sites.
The Human Research Technologist will receive training on programming (e.g., Python), creating psychological experiments (e.g., PsychoPy), and using AI tools (e.g., large language models and AI coding agents) to assist with experiment design, data analysis, and research workflows.
Qualifications:
Excellent interpersonal skills
Demonstrated ability to work well with others
Ability and willingness to learn
MINIMUM EDUCATION, WORK EXPERIENCE & REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS
If filled as Human Research Technologist - Social Sciences - Intermediate Professional, this position requires:
Associate Degree
2+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience accepted
Required Certifications:
None
If filled as Human Research Technologist - Social Sciences - Professional, this position requires:
Associate Degree
No prior relevant work experience required; previous relevant work experience accepted in lieu of education.
Required Certifications:
None
A Bachelor's degree in psychology or related field is preferred.
Important Application Instructions :
Applicants must submit a cover letter of interest, highlighting relevant skills, and a CV/resume .
Additional Information:
Visit our website to learn more about the work being done in the Cognitive Neuroscience of Creativity Lab.
The College of the Liberal Arts is supportive of flexible work arrangements when aligned with the ability to meet the needs of the unit and the essential duties of the position. Questions related to flexible work should be directed to the…