Research Assistant – Center Brain, AI and Child

University of Denver – DU – Psychology Department

Job listing expires on July 23, 2026.

The Center for the Brain, AI, and Child (see the website for more information) is seeking advanced undergraduate or masters‑level students to assist with research tasks related to child and adolescent development, artificial intelligence (AI), and mental health. The first research project (the Teen & AI Chat Project) examines how teenagers respond to different AI chatbot conversational styles and how AI may relate to adolescent development, advice‑taking, and brain responses.

The second set of projects examines how artificial intelligence (AI) impacts children, families, and development, including studies on the use of ChatGPT in interactive storytelling, the effects of conversational AI on adolescent mental health, and related topics. Research assistants may support participant recruitment, screening, scheduling, data collection with child and adolescent participants, data entry and management, and general lab administrative tasks.

Depending on project needs and training, duties may also include helping with lab visits, behavioral tasks, AI interaction tasks, and neuroimaging‑related data collection. This experience may be especially relevant for students interested in psychology, child and adolescent development, neuroscience, AI/technology, mental health, or human‑computer interaction. The position requires approximately 6–15 hrs per week.

• Assist with participant recruitment, screening, scheduling, and follow‑up communication with families
• Make recruitment calls and help track outreach progress using lab recruitment materials
• Support data collection for studies involving children, adolescents, and parents, including behavioral tasks and AI interaction tasks
• Enter, check, and manage research data using lab data systems
• Attend weekly lab meetings and scientific article discussions
• Assist with general study‑related administrative tasks

• Academic and/or work experience related to the field of psychology or other social sciences
• Experience with statistics and/or coding
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Detail‑oriented, reliable, and able to take initiative
• Ability to work with others as part of a research team
• Must be able to work with sensitive and confidential information

• Current DU undergraduate or graduate student enrolled for the 2026‑27 academic year

• Experience or interest in working with children, adolescents, and/or families
• Experience using SPSS and/or coding
• Open‑office environment
• Unexpected interruptions often occur, and stress level is moderate to high
• Noise level is quiet to moderate

• Ability to sit in front of a computer for an extended period
• Occasionally required to move about the office/campus
• Capability of transporting objects up to 20 lbs

The University of Denver 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, or status as a protected veteran. For more information, please see the University of Denver’s Non‑Discrimination Statement.

All offers of employment are based upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history background check. These are required for all part‑time, full‑time and student employee hires.