Social Science/Humanities Research Associate IV, NeuroListening Lab, Moody College of Communication Full-time NEW

Social Science/Humanities Research Associate IV, NeuroListening Lab, Moody College of Communication

This is a grant-funded, in-person position in the NeuroListening Lab at The University of Texas at Austin. This position is currently funded through 12/31/2028, renewable based on performance, progress toward research goals, and continuation of funding.

Postdoctoral candidates are encouraged to apply by contacting jacie.mchaney@austin.utexas.edu.

The NeuroListening Lab in the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences integrates neurophysiological, computational, and translational approaches to understand and remediate speech processing challenges across the adult lifespan. The lab investigates the impacts of aging, hearing loss, and cognition on the neural mechanisms underlying speech perception. Our research goals is to provide a neurobiologically informed foundation for scalable diagnostics and interventions for speech perception challenges that can extend or supplement rehabilitative approaches.

Purpose

This position will support various studies focused on the neural encoding of speech and listening effort. This position will serve as the project coordinator for two funded research projects examining the neural encoding of speech in adults with and without hearing loss.

The position will coordinate participant recruitment, scheduling, and data collection while supporting day-to-day laboratory operations and study progress. The successful candidate will work closely with the Principal Investigator, research team, and participants to ensure organized study operations, high-quality data collection, and a welcoming research experience.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate participant recruitment, screening, and scheduling across funded research projects.
• Serve as a primary contact for participants, communicating study information clearly and maintaining positive, professional relationships.
• Conduct research data collection according to approved study protocols, including EEG and pupillometry/eye tracking.
• Support hearing-related assessments and study procedures as appropriate to training and project needs.
• Maintain accurate participant records, study documentation, and organized research data in accordance with confidentiality requirements and approved protocols.
• Coordinate daily laboratory activities, including preparing equipment and materials and maintaining study schedules.
• Assist with data quality checks, processing, and analysis as appropriate to training and experience.
• Work with the Principal Investigator and research team to monitor study milestones, recruitment goals, and project progress.
• Learn and apply new research methods, equipment, software, and data collection procedures.
• Attend and participate in regular laboratory and project meetings.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• 6 years of experience with a bachelor's degree
• Experience with participant recruitment, scheduling, human-subjects research, or project coordination.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to establish rapport with adult research participants from varied backgrounds, including individuals with hearing loss.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple deadlines, schedules, and competing priorities across two research projects.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively with faculty, staff, and student researchers.
• Ability and willingness to learn new research methods, equipment, and software and to follow study protocols accurately.
• Availability to work in person on the UT Austin campus.
• Ability to manage multiple deadlines and competing priorities

Preferred Qualifications

• Doctoral degree in communication sciences and disorders, speech and hearing sciences, psychology, neuroscience, linguistics, biomedical engineering, or a related field.
• Experience with neuroscience data collection methods, particularly EEG and pupillometry/eye tracking.
• Programming or coding experience in Python, MATLAB, or R.
• Experience with audiology, hearing assessment, or research involving adults with hearing loss.
• Experience organizing, processing, or analyzing behavioral or neuroscience research data.

Salary Range

$50,000+ depending on qualifications

Working Conditions

• Work in an on-campus research laboratory and standard office environment.
• Regular in-person interaction with research participants and laboratory personnel.
• Repetitive use of a keyboard at a workstation.
• Use of EEG and eye-tracking equipment and other research instruments following training.

Work Shift

• 8am-6pm Monday–Friday, with scheduling flexibility to accommodate participant appointments.

Required Materials

• Resume/CV
• 3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor
• Letter of interest describing relevant experience, research interests, and qualifications