Lab Manager, Roman Family Center for Decision Research

About the department

The University of Chicago Booth School of Business is the second-oldest business school in the U.S. and second to none when it comes to influencing business education and business practices. Since 1898, the school has produced ideas and leaders that shape the world of business. Their rigorous, discipline-based approach to business education transforms students into confident, effective, respected business leaders prepared to face the toughest challenges. Chicago Booth has the finest set of facilities of any business school in the world. Each of the four campuses (two in Chicago, one in London, and one in Hong Kong) reflects the architectural traditions of its environs while offering a state-of-the-art learning environment.

Job summary

The Roman Family Center for Decision Research (RFCDR) is devoted to the study of how individuals form judgments and make decisions. Researchers at the RFCDR examine the processes by which intuition, reasoning, and social interaction produce beliefs, judgments, and choices. The Lab Manager provides managerial and administrative support within the RF-CDR Labs’ research operations.

Responsibilities

• Manages recruiting, interviewing, hiring, training, approving hours, and overseeing RF-CDR Labs research assistants, providing ongoing oversight of research assistant interaction with Lab visitors and support of research assistant professional development activities.
• Covers coordination with University partners including the Career Services office staff in recruiting and supporting student research assistant staff.
• Coordinates with RF-CDR Communications team members in developing and delivering recruitment content.
• Maintains current training in research ethics, including the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI Program), and assists in training and overseeing the RF-CDR Labs research assistants as they engage with participants, as well as maintaining documentation of RF-CDR team member’s ethics training.
• Manages science communications, demonstrating expertise in providing educational information to Lab visitors and participants about the field of behavioral science, and training and overseeing research staff members’ science communications, to support the Mindworks team’s ability to serve as positive ambassadors for the RF-CDR.
• Coordinates with the Mindworks Chief Scientist in overseeing and enhancing science communications and visitor engagement carried out by the Mindworks staff.
• Maintains operational IRB protocol records in support of research lab operations, updating team member and ethics training records as needed.
• Manages and analyzes operational datasets, providing descriptive and statistical analysis of operational and accounting records maintained for the Labs.
• Optimizes lab operations in the RFCDR Labs, by maintaining and reviewing operational records for the Labs, supporting ongoing operational initiatives, and conducting and presenting data analysis as needed from these records, such as for quarterly meetings.
• Manages procurement and management of inventory.
• Manages and reconciles expenses using UChicago systems, including GEMS, etc.
• Affords assistance in managing RFCDR Center and Labs team meetings.
• Affords assistance in managing RFCDR Administrative Office on projects and events as needed.
• Maintains technical and administrative support for a research project.
• Maintains recruiting and scheduling research subjects; assisting with developing or amending study protocols; assisting with developing data collection tools; assisting with building databases; and providing general administrative support.
• Has general awareness in research techniques or methods, regulatory policies and procedures, and relevant scientific field.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Education

• Minimum Qualifications: Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

Work experience

• Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through < 2 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Preferred qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in the areas of psychology, organizational behavior, marketing, other behavioral science discipline.
• Experience: Familiar with managing research assistants and research operations within in-person and/or online behavioral research labs.
• Technical Skills Or Knowledge: Demonstrated proficiency with MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook).
• Preferred Competencies: Outstanding verbal, written, and presentation skills, as well as organizational skills. Works independently with little supervision; possesses a self-motivated disposition; identifies opportunities for improvement and recommends effective changes, all while achieving key objectives resulting in desired outcomes. Excellent strategic planning, critical thinking, attention to detail, analytical, and persuasion skills. Handles multiple detailed tasks/projects simultaneously and meets strict deadlines with frequent interruptions. Demonstrated ability to work effectively and diplomatically with colleagues, as well as with students, faculty and corporate contacts in a multitude of communication methods, including in person, email, and phone. Professional demeanor, including tact, discretion, and a customer service-oriented approach.