Research Lab Technician II

The University of Southern California (USC), founded in 1880, is located in the heart of downtown L.A. and is the largest private employer in the City of Los Angeles. As an employee of USC, you will be a part of a world-class research university and a member of the “Trojan Family,” which is comprised of the faculty, staff, and students that make the university a great place to work.  

The USC Dana and David Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences is seeking a fixed-term Research Lab Technician II in the Psychology department. The largest and oldest of the USC schools, USC Dornsife functions as the academic core of the university, offering courses and advancing knowledge across the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences.

The Research Lab Technician II will provide research-related supervision and oversee activities in USC’s Brain, Emotion, and Attention Development Lab. The Research Lab Technician II will work on existing and new studies investigating behavioral and neural correlates of self-regulation and other attentional processes. The studies examine the impact of early risk factors such as temperament and early environmental factors (e.g., perinatal exposures, SES, and parenting) on social and emotional development (e.g., emotion regulation, internalizing and externalizing problems). This position is part of a highly collaborative lab environment, supported by grants from the Gates Foundation, NIH, and NSF. For more details on these projects and the lab visit: https://dornsife.usc.edu/bead/studies/.

This position will begin August 2026 and continue through summer 2027 with possibility of extension, based on performance and grant funding.

Responsibilities will include but are not limited to: 

• Helping with administrative tasks
• Coordinating Institutional Review Board (IRB) submissions
  • Completing new submissions
  • Making amendments to protocol templates
  • Submitting continuing review forms
• Coordinating data collection, including participant recruitment, screening, assessments, and participant payment
• Collecting EEG and behavioral data from infants, children, and caregivers during lab visits
• Conducting literature reviews for manuscript publication, conference presentations, and grant submissions
• Managing undergraduate research assistants  

• Identifying community organizations to establish partnerships
• Facilitating and maintaining community partnerships

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with EEG or other psychophysiological methods is highly preferred but not required. Training will be provided.
• Advanced technical skills like R, Matlab, Excel, PowerPoint and Microsoft Word.
• Excellent writing skills, organization skills, and careful attention to detail 
• Ability to take on leadership for assigned work related tasks, both independently and as part of a team
• Coursework in quantitative, qualitative mixed and/or advanced research methods 
• Ability to manage one’s time and complete tasks in a timely and efficient manner
• Ability to work successfully under strict deadlines
• Understand and follow policies and procedures, including handling confidential materials with discretion
• Experience with Zotero, Qualtrics, and RedCap is preferred
• Fluency in spoken and written Spanish is desirable.
• Grant writing experience and knowledge of grant submission process is also preferred

Salary range: The hourly rate range for this position is $25.71 - $28.00. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.

Performs other related duties as assigned or requested. The university reserves the right to add or change duties at any time.

Required Documents and Additional Information:

• Resume and cover letter required (may be uploaded as one file). Please do not submit your application without these documents.
• Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis. Priority will be given to candidates who apply by August 1st. The candidate can expect to start around September 1st, 2026.
• Fixed-term position.
• Job openings are posted for a minimum of (5) five business days. This job may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended, so please apply on the same business day if interested.
• USC has excellent benefits, including health benefits for staff and their family with access to the renowned university medical network; eligibility for retirement plans with employer contributions after six months of employment; tuition benefits for staff and their family; free Professional Development classes; central Los Angeles location with easy access to commuter trains, buses and free tram pick up services; discounts to sporting and other campus events.

 

Minimum Education: Associate's degree, Specialized/technical training, Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education
Minimum Experience: 2 years
Minimum Field of Expertise: Working knowledge of laboratory equipment and research protocols. Knowledge of computer analysis techniques and ability to provide routine analysis and interpretation of research data.

                                                  

USC is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or USC policy. USC observes affirmative action obligations consistent with state and federal law. USC will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal records in a manner consistent with applicable laws and regulations, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for employers and the Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and with due consideration for patient and student safety. Please refer to the Background Screening Policy Appendix D for specific employment screen implications for the position for which you are applying. 

We provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact USC Human Resources by phone at (213) 821-8100, or by email at [email protected]. Inquiries will be treated as confidential to the extent permitted by law.

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If you are a current USC employee, please apply to this  USC job posting in Workday by copying and pasting this link into your browser:

https://wd5.myworkday.com/usc/d/inst/1$9925/9925$150749.htmld