Lab Manager and Research Assistant

Lab Manager and Research Assistant

The Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy at the University of Virginia seeks a Lab Manager and Research Assistant to work with Professor Gerald Higginbotham and Gabrielle (Gabe) Adams.

The Lab Manager will be responsible for day‑to‑day management of multiple research projects, splitting their time equally each week between two professors’ social psychology and behavioral science labs. This will involve administering behavioral studies in the lab and in field settings; preparing datasets and conducting preliminary analyses; and collaborating to produce and program experimental materials and stimuli. The Lab Manager will provide training and supervision of undergraduate research assistants and coordinate data collection.

In addition, the Lab Manager will also be involved in lab administration tasks such as tracking expenses, ordering equipment or materials for studies, leading lab meetings, and meeting with the principal investigators and graduate students weekly about progress, goal‑setting, and other duties as assigned.

This position is an excellent opportunity to gain multidisciplinary research experience in preparation for graduate study in social psychology, organizational behavior, or a related field. The ideal candidate will have an entrepreneurial mindset, the ability to work independently, and a willingness to take initiative and find creative solutions to problems. They should be highly organized and attentive to detail. Start date is negotiable but will ideally begin in July 2026.

This is not a remote position.

• Bachelor’s Degree in psychology, data science, public policy, or a related field by July 2026.
• Two years of behavioral laboratory experience or work as a research assistant; experience gained while a student will be considered.
• Familiarity with social psychology/behavioral science research methods and IRB management.
• Proficient in Excel and an additional statistical program such as R, SPSS, SAS, or Stata.
• Experience in (or willingness to independently learn) programming, e.g., Java script, Python, JSON, and/or working with APIs.
• Experience administering studies in Qualtrics.
• Desire to learn and implement best practices for recruiting participants, both online and in‑person.
• Strong interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.
• Able to occasionally work nonstandard hours (e.g., evenings, weekends), depending on data collection needs.

• Prior experience with data science methods (e.g., web scraping, data cleaning and manipulation).

This position will remain open until filled and anticipated start date is July 1, 2026. This is a non‑exempt, benefited position. For more information on the benefits at UVA, visit the university benefits page. This position is a restricted position and is dependent upon project need, availability of funding, and performance. The position is located in Charlottesville, VA, and the University will perform background checks on all new hires prior to employment.

The University of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer. All interested persons are encouraged to apply, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Learn more about UVA’s commitment to non‑discrimination and equal opportunity employment.