Undergraduate Research Assistant - Biobehavioral Health

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Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location. For additional information on remote work at Penn State, see Notice to Out of State Applicants.

JOB DESCRIPTION AND POSITION REQUIREMENTS

This Research Support position assists with the implementation of a behavioral intervention study aiming to increase optimism in midlife adults. The role involves delivering intervention sessions via Zoom, recruiting and coordinating participants, collecting and managing data, and supporting day-to-day research activities under the supervision of the Principal Investigator and research staff.

The undergraduate research assistant will support a pilot study housed in the Biobehavioral Health Department at Penn State University. The study evaluates a novel mind-body intervention designed to promote optimism, comprising three components: guided writing exercises, brief resistance training (air squats), and slow-paced breathing. The interventions are administered remotely (via Zoom) for 30 minutes per day, 5 times per week, across a 4-week protocol for each participant. A primary responsibility of this role is to facilitate the Zoom sessions; therefore, candidates must be available for consistent 2-3 hour blocks daily (e.g., 5:00-8:00 p.m., Monday-Friday) and be willing to meet with participants on occasional weekends.

SAMPLE WORK ACTIVITIES:

• Deliver live, protocol-guided intervention sessions to participants via Zoom, including writing prompts, 2-minute air squats, and breathing exercises
• Recruit, screen, and schedule participants according to IRB-approved procedures
• Describe study goals, procedures, and privacy protections to participants; obtain informed consent as needed
• Collect self-report survey data and manage wearable data (e.g., fitness tracker output)
• Enter, clean, and organize participant data using REDCap or similar platforms
• Monitor intervention fidelity and participant adherence; maintain detailed records
• Attend weekly team meetings and contribute to study operations and troubleshooting
• Assist with IRB documentation and compliance tracking
• Perform other research-related activities as assigned by the Principal Investigator

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Interest in behavioral medicine and psychophysiology
• Strong interpersonal skills, particularly in virtual/Zoom-based communication
• Prior experience with participant-facing roles or data collection is preferred
• Reliability, professionalism, and attention to detail are essential

BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES
Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.

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