What You'll Do
Position Summary
We are seeking a full-time Research Technician to support pediatric research with infants, toddlers, and their parents. This position is well suited to an early-career research professional or recent graduate who enjoys working with children and families, is organized and dependable, and is interested in gaining hands-on research experience before graduate school, medical school, public health training, or another professional path.
This role offers exposure to pediatric, developmental, behavioral, and family-centered research in an academic medical center setting. We will provide training in study procedures, participant communication, data collection, REDCap/data entry, behavioral coding, and human-subjects research requirements. Prior formal research experience is helpful but not required.
We welcome applicants with a range of academic, work, volunteer, and lived experiences. The ability to communicate respectfully with families from diverse backgrounds is important in this role. If you are excited about this role but are unsure whether your experience is a perfect match, we encourage you to apply. Many relevant skills can come from childcare, service work, volunteering, teaching, mentoring, or other family-facing roles.
The final appointment level and salary will be determined based on University guidelines and the selected candidate?s qualifications and experience. This is a one-year term-limited appointment, with the possibility of renewal depending on funding, performance, and project needs. Candidates interested in continuing for a second year or longer, if renewal is possible, are encouraged to apply.
What You?ll Do
The Research Technician will help with several aspects of a family-based research study, including:
- Contacting families by phone and email to explain the study, answer questions, and help determine eligibility.
- Scheduling and supporting in-person study visits with parents, infants, and toddlers in home and community settings.
- Following study procedures to collect accurate research data.
- Entering and organizing study data using research databases such as REDCap.
- Learning to code videos of parent-child interactions using a structured behavioral coding system.
- Helping maintain study materials, supplies, documentation, and participant records.
- Participating in team meetings and required research trainings.
- Completing other duties as assigned to support the team and laboratory
Required Qualifications*
- Valid driver's license.
- High School diploma or GED.
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
- Comfort communicating with parents and interacting with young children.
- Dependability, professionalism, and willingness to learn and follow detailed research procedures.
Desired Qualifications*
- Bachelor?s degree in psychology, child development, public health, neuroscience, biology, health sciences, education, social work, or another field relevant to child, family, health, behavioral, or human-participant research.
- Experience working with children or families through babysitting, nannying, childcare, teaching, mentoring, coaching, volunteering, clinical work, community work, or customer service.
- Prior research experience through coursework, student laboratory experiences, volunteer work, and/or prior positions.
- Experience with data entry, REDCap, participant recruitment, behavioral coding, or IRB documentation.
- Interest, coursework, or experience related to child development, pediatrics, psychology, public health, health sciences, family research, medicine, social-behavioral science, or human-participant research.
How You'll Grow
The technician will receive training and support from the study team and principal investigator. This role provides experience in human-subjects research, participant recruitment and informed consent, family-centered data collection, research data management, behavioral coding, and research coordination.
Depending on study needs and the candidate?s interests, there may be opportunities to contribute to posters, presentations, or other scholarly products.
Modes of Work
Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.
Work Schedule
This is a full-time, 40-hour-per-week position. The role includes a mix of in-person family visits, laboratory- and office-based work, and remote administrative work when appropriate.
Some evening or weekend availability is needed to accommodate family schedules. Hours are coordinated with the team and flexible when appropriate.
This is a community-facing role and includes visits to participants? homes or other community settings.
Background Screening
The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background checks. Background checks are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
U-M EEO Statement
The University of Michigan is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.