Social Science/Humanities Research Associate III

Job Posting Title: Social Science/Humanities Research Associate III — Hiring Department: Population Research Center — Position Open To: All Applicants — Weekly Scheduled Hours: 40 — FLSA Status: Exempt from FLSA — Earliest Start Date: Immediately — Position Duration: Expected to Continue Until Aug 31, 2027 — Location: UT MAIN CAMPUS Job Details General Notes This position is currently funded for 1 year from start date. What benefits do I receive with UT? The university offers an impressive benefits package. For more details on benefits, please see: and For more information about the College of Liberal Arts, please visit: Our college seeks to build a supportive, growth‑minded community and cultivate outstanding and courageous leaders. For more information on the college staff leadership academy, please visit: For more information on college staff professional development, please visit: Purpose The Social Science/Humanities Research Associate III will work with Dr. Legare and a team of postdoctoral researchers, graduate students, and undergraduate research assistants to lead the research and administrative operations of the Center for Applied Cognitive Science (CACS). CACS is a multi‑disciplinary center that advances global cognitive science by connecting researchers in the biological, cognitive, social, and educational sciences with practitioners, designers, and community partners, harnessing insights about how the mind works to advance the science of learning and design more effective behavioral and social change interventions. The Center conducts interdisciplinary, comparative research using mixed methodologies that emphasize community engagement and international development. Its work spans public health, education, cognitive science, and child development, and includes projects such as Learning to Innovate (jointly funded by UKRI/ESRC and NSF), the NSF AccelNet‑funded Cultures of Learning global network, ed tech collaborations, and museum‑university‑community research partnerships. Responsibilities Become deeply familiar with the design and data of the Center’s research projects, including Learning to Innovate, the Cultures of Learning network, and ed tech collaborations Develop and implement standard operating procedures for data collection, coding, file management, and quality assurance across projects, including cross‑cultural and community‑based studies Conduct data analysis for ongoing studies, from data cleaning through descriptive and inferential statistics, and prepare results for reports, presentations, and publications Train and supervise undergraduate research assistants, in collaboration with graduate students, in coding observational and behavioral data (e.g., video of parent‑child interactions) Coordinate the research team, delegating tasks and setting deadlines to keep projects on track Manage day‑to‑day administrative operations, including scheduling, record keeping, and internal and external communications Manage Institutional Review Board (IRB) protocol submissions, amendments, renewals, and compliance, including for international research sites Support grant and budget administration with department staff, including purchasing, reimbursements, and expense tracking Onboard and offboard personnel and maintain Center documentation, shared resources, and website content Serve as primary liaison to collaborators and funders—including museum, school, health, ed tech, and international partners—providing progress updates and attending project meetings Required Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline (e.g., Psychology, Education, Cognitive Science, Data Science, Information Science, Public Health, Computer Science) At least 4years of experience in a research lab (Psychology, Education, or related), including conducting human subjects research Background in data science, including quantitative analysis with statistical software (e.g., R, Python, SPSS, or Stata) and building and maintaining data infrastructure Background in research administration, such as scheduling, record keeping, purchasing, or compliance Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail Strong leadership and communication skills, with experience leading a team Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate Preferred Qualifications Master’s degree in a relevant discipline (e.g., Psychology, Education, Cognitive Science, Public Health, Data Science, Information Science, Computer Science) with 2years of related experience Experience with cross‑cultural, community‑based, or international research Experience preparing IRB protocols and managing research compliance Experience with grant administration or budget tracking in a university setting Advanced proficiency in statistical programming (e.g., R and/or Python), including data pipelines and reproducible analysis workflows Salary Range $50,000+depending on qualifications Working Conditions Typical Office/Lab Environment. Occasional work will be done at community partner sites (e.g., museums and schools) Required Materials Resume/CV3work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor Letter of interest Employment Eligibility Regular staff who have been employed in their current position for the last six continuous months are eligible for openings being recruited for through University‑Wide or Open Recruiting, to include both promotional opportunities and lateral transfers. Staff who are promotion/transfer eligible may apply for positions without supervisor approval. Retirement Plan Eligibility The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20hours per week and at least 135 days in length. Background Checks A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position. Equal Opportunity Employer The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions. Pay Transparency The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. Employment Eligibility Verification If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I‑9 form. You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States. Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment. Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university. 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Named by Forbes as one of America’s Best Large Employers for the sixth year in a row in 2025, UT offers both a dynamic work environment and a gateway to vibrant local culture. Whether you’re at the forefront of the student experience, conducting world‑changing research or supporting the engine that drives Texas’ flagship university, working at UT means making a lasting impact on our city, our state and our world. Our more than 20,000 faculty and staff empower 55,000+ students to challenge ideas, pursue passions and shape their futures. Joining UT, you’ll become part of a community dedicated to making a meaningful impact on campus and throughout the world. Looking for a student job? Please see our Student Employment site. Comments and Inquiries Email comments to View email address on click.appcast.io. For questions or concerns regarding equal opportunity only, contact Equal Opportunity Services. 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