Junior/Assistant Specialist - Kidd Lab and the Computational Cognitive Science Lab

The Department of Psychology at the University of California, Berkeley seeks applications for an Junior/Assistant Specialist in the Kidd Lab and the Computational Cognitive Science Lab directed by Professors Celeste Kidd and Bill Thompson. The position will report to Professor Celeste Kidd. The Junior/Assistant Specialist will support the PIs, graduate students, and the software development team to investigate: 1) children's use and understanding of large language models (LLMs); and 2) how children's intellectual character and beliefs are shaped by the use of LLMs. These studies are funded by the John Templeton Foundation.

Job Duties and Responsibilities:

-Support the PI and graduate students in designing and conducting behavioral experiments with children aged 8-18

-Facilitate collaboration between the research team and the software development team to align software development with research goals

-Monitor and communicate software development progress, providing regular updates to the research team and ensuring necessary adjustment

-Incumbent will assist with the recruiting and training of undergraduate research assistants

-Recruit and coordinate with testing sites (preschools, museums, etc.)

-Oversee the recruitment and scheduling of human subjects in coordination with research assistants

-Place purchase orders for supplies and equipment's

-Contribute to writing pre-registrations and scripts, and prepare stimuli for experiments

-Maintain and update human subjects protocols when necessary

-Supervise data collection and ensure proper database management

Conviction History Background

This is a designated position requiring fingerprinting and a background check due to the nature of the job responsibilities. Berkeley does hire people with conviction histories and reviews information received in the context of the job responsibilities. The University reserves the right to make employment contingent upon successful completion of the background check.

Mandated Reporter

This position has been identified as a Mandated Reporter required to report the observed or suspected abuse or neglect of children, dependent adults, or elders to designated law enforcement or social service agencies. We reserve the right to make employment contingent upon completion of signed statements acknowledging the responsibilities of a Mandated Reporter.

Bachelor's degree (or equivalent international degree) or enrolled in a bachelor's degree program (or equivalent international degree program) at the time of application.

Bachelor's degree or equivalent international degree by the start of employment.

-1+ years of developmental research and behavioral study methodologies

-Previous experience working with children in a research context

-Excellent organizational skills, especially the ability to coordinate multiple studies

-Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively with research team members, parents, preschool administrators, and teachers

-Strong oral and written communication skills

-Experience in designing, implementing, and analyzing behavioral experiments

-Strong quantitative skills (i.e. experience with programming, statistics, and experimental design)

-Ability to quickly learn and adapt to new technology tools, including software developed specifically for the research team

-Experience facilitating communication between research and technical teams, ensuring alignment on project goals and deliverables

• 2-4 required (contact information only)

UC Berkeley is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. The excellence of the institution requires an environment in which the diverse community of faculty, students, and staff are welcome and included. Successful candidates will demonstrate knowledge and skill related to ensuring equity and inclusion in the activities of their academic position (e.g., teaching, research, and service, as applicable).

The University of California, Berkeley 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, age, or protected veteran status.

Please refer to the University of California's Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment Policy and the University of California's Anti-Discrimination Policy.

In searches when letters of reference are required all letters will be treated as confidential per University of California policy and California state law. Please refer potential referees, including when letters are provided via a third party (i.e., dossier service or career center), to the UC Berkeley statement of confidentiality prior to submitting their letter.

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct, are currently being investigated for misconduct, left a position during an investigation for alleged misconduct, or have filed an appeal with a previous employer.

• "Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer.
• UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
• UC Anti-Discrimination Policy for Employees, Students and Third Parties
• APM - 035: Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment