Post-Doctoral Associate

Position Overview

The Institute of Child Development, University of Minnesota, is seeking a Post-Doctoral Associate to conduct research in the Developmental Social Cognitive Neuroscience Lab under the direction of Dr. Stephanie Carlson. The candidate will be working on longitudinal research projects examining developmental outcomes among children and adolescents (ages 9-17). Specifically, the remotely conducted studies are investigating the alignment of measures and respective contributions of executive function, personal attributes, and economic preferences to typically developing children's (1) interest and achievement in STEM fields, and (2) physical and mental health outcomes. The work will involve training in developmental science within a lively lab focused on executive function and related academic skills and human flourishing, as well as additional training in the responsible conduct of research, grant writing, manuscript preparation, and professional development.

The candidate will join two ongoing projects around the midpoint of 3-4-year longitudinal studies, each with a sample size targeted at 1,000. Two full-time project coordinators are supporting data collection and related tasks. The Postdoctoral Associate will oversee data management and data analyses, present results at conferences, and co-author publications. The Post-Doctoral Associate will communicate closely with Co-PIs on the projects, including Professor James Heckman (University of Chicago), Dr. Patrick Kyllonen (Educational Testing Service), and Professor Thomas Dohmen (University of Bonn).

This position is based on the Minneapolis east bank campus. Per UMN policy, work may be done remotely when appropriate and approved by your supervisor. All UMN employees are expected to follow applicable public health and safety procedures. This position will report to Stephanie Carlson. The target start date is flexible, beginning as soon as July 1, 2025. The position is planned for two years, with potential for a third year pending funding.

Job Responsibilities

Research implementation (25%)

• Input on design decisions and measure selection
• Supervise daily operations of research staff
• Participate in monthly PI team meetings
• Communicate as needed with local and external team members to accomplish goals

Data management (25%)

• Oversee data cleaning and coding
• Develop or improve data pipelines
• Comply with data security guidelines

Data analysis (25%)

• Data reduction of predictor and outcome measures
• Determine and implement optimal strategies for testing multiple hypotheses
• Utilize appropriate statistical packages
• Prepare data visualization

Dissemination (20%)

• Participate in preparing and presenting data to study investigators and disseminating results to professional and other audiences (e.g., funding agencies)
• Author or co-author, or otherwise collaborate on reports, conference papers, and journal publications

Professional development (5%)

• Professional and career development opportunities within or outside of the department (e.g., ICD Bag Lunch, workshops)

Required Qualifications

• PhD in psychology, human development, or a related field.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with people from a variety of communities, backgrounds, and identities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Research experience, including data collection and analysis, in the field of child development or education
• Familiarity with Qualtrics and Inquisit for data collection
• Proficiency with data pipeline management, including cleaning and coding algorithms (e.g., Python)
• Familiarity with psychometric analyses
• Expertise in conducting advanced statistical analyses (e.g., data reduction techniques, multilevel models, structural equation modeling) in SPSS, Stata, Mplus, or R
• Proficiency in data visualization
• Potential to obtain extramural funding, as evidenced by writing grants, receipt of external funding, and/or coursework in grant writing
• Prior experience publishing scholarly work and presenting at research conferences as lead author.

Department Overview

The Institute of Child Development (ICD) at the University of Minnesota has long been a premier center for scholarship, teaching, and outreach devoted to the understanding and fostering of child development. Founded in 1925, the Institute is one of the oldest departments studying children's development in the United States. From its inception, a key tenet of the department has been to "give away" child psychology. This philosophy has created an environment rich with collaborations, new ideas, and exciting interdisciplinary work. The ICD is housed within the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) and has an undergraduate program within the College of Liberal Arts (CLA).

College Overview

The College of Education and Human Development (CEHD), the University's third largest college, contributes to a just and sustainable future through engagement with the local and global communities to enhance human learning and development at all stages of life. We know diversity is necessary to do our best work and foster our humanity. That's why the CEHD community is collectively dedicated to cultivating an inclusive and equitable environment, embracing and celebrating all identities of our students, staff, and faculty. These values are also a moral imperative requiring continuous proactive measures and a firm stance against prejudice, discrimination, and systemic injustice.

Pay Range: The salary range for this position is $70,000. Final salary offers are dependent on the candidate's experience, skills, and internal equity within the department.

Time Appointment Category: 100% Appointment

Position Type: P&A Staff

Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for more information regarding benefit eligibility.

The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program
• Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and employer-paid life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity
• Financial counseling services
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost
• Employee Transit Pass with free or reduced rates in the Twin Cities metro area

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will have the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume or CV.

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.

This position will remain open until filled.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8647.

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by the Star Tribune as a Top Workplace for 2021, as well as by Forbes as Best Employers for Women and one of America's Best Employers (2015, 2018, 2019, 2023), Best Employer for Diversity (2019, 2020), Best Employer for New Grads (2018, 2019), and Best Employer by State (2019, 2022).