MAB Lab Research Assistant

and the job listing Expires on September 6, 2026

The Mind and Body (MAB) Lab, directed by Prof. Daniel McIntosh, PhD, is seeking one to five undergraduate and/or masters-level students. Undergraduates should be majoring or minoring in Psychology and master’s applicants should be in Psychology, Social Work, Counseling or related human science field.

Work study students will be trained and participate in active data collection, psychological and physiological data processing and coding, and related administrative tasks for studies examining religious/spiritual behaviors (e.g., psychological processes involved in labyrinth walking), beliefs, and experiences (e.g., exiting a religion of one’s childhood), social-emotion perception of others (e.g., based on non-verbal behavior), and emotional and social processes in well-being (e.g., emotion-labor).

Work study students will also participate in lab training and discussion related to these projects and social psychology and affective science research more generally.

Please note that this position does require in person work on campus, and all study staff are expected to follow the MAB Lab and DU employment protocols.

This position requires 6-15 hours per week starting Fall Quarter 2026. Due to the significant training involved, the position does require a three consecutive quarter commitment. We will not consider applicants who do not indicate in their cover letter that they are willing to make a three consecutive quarter commitment if selected.

• Collecting psychological and psycho-physiological data in the lab and at community sites. Note that data collection can require work on weekends and evenings.
• Processing and coding qualitative, psycho-physiological, video, and similar data.
• Literature searches and completion of literature review spreadsheets for grant applications and student projects
• Data management: preparing participant packets for data collection, data entry and validation, basic data management tasks.
• Participation in lab discussions and training, providing feedback on projects
• Recruitment of participants at university, community events/activities

• Academic, work, or volunteer experience related to the field of psychology, or other social sciences
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Checking email at least once daily (including on days when not scheduled for lab hours) to accept meeting invitations
• Initiative, follow-through, reliability, timeliness, organization
• Ability to work with others as part of a research team
• Proficiency in use of Microsoft Word and Excel
• Ability to speak and act in professional and friendly manner with participants
• Detailed-approach to tasks and ability to follow very specific research protocols
• Ability to follow closely laboratory protocols and procedures.
• Strong note-taking skills during meetings in order to successfully complete assigned tasks.

• Current DU undergraduate or graduate student enrolled for the  academic year
• Work a minimum of 8 hours per week for the full 11-week quarter, for three consecutive quarters. Work is done in person at the MAB lab on campus. Some data collection is done at community sites off campus.
• Due to the significant amount of training involved, student must be able to work for the entire  academic year.
• Must have work study award
• Must have taken Introduction to Psychology or equivalent
• If undergraduate student, must be registered as a Psychology major or minor
• If graduate student, must be registered as a Master’s student in CAHSS Department of Psychology, Morgridge College of Education, Graduate School of Social Work, Graduate School of Professional Psychology, or DU/Iliff joint PhD program.

• Prior experiences with community members in work capacity
• Coursework in Social Psychology, Emotions, Non-Verbal Behavior Psychology;
  Statistics and Research Methods

This position primarily includes in-person work at the MAB Lab in the DU Psychology Department. Data collection usually includes work at community sites. Occasionally the PI will assign tasks that can be completed remotely; however, work study…