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JOB DESCRIPTION AND POSITION REQUIREMENTS

Biobehavioral Health is seeking applicants for a part-time Research Support Assistant position.

This Research Support position assists with implementing a behavioral intervention study aimed at increasing optimism among 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 research assistant will support a pilot study housed in the Biobehavioral Health Department at Penn State University. The study evaluates a new mind-body intervention designed to foster optimism, consisting of three components: guided writing exercises, brief resistance training (air squats), and slow-paced breathing. The interventions are delivered remotely (via Zoom) for 30 minutes each day, five days a week, over a 4-week period for each participant. A primary focus of this role is to facilitate the Zoom sessions; therefore, candidates must be available for consistent 2-3 hour blocks each day (e.g., 5:00-8:00 p.m., Monday-Friday) and be willing to meet with participants occasionally on 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

Compensation:

The starting rate for this job is $18/hr.

BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES

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

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Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473.

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