Postgraduate Associate – Neural mechanisms of maternal psychological risk

 

The Before and After Baby Lab (The BABL) seeks a postgraduate research associate to work on a NICHD funded study entitled “Neural mechanisms of psychological risk on mother and infant adjustment in African American and European American families” (PIs Helena Rutherford and Ashley Groh). The primary objective of this project is to understand the interplay of maternal psychological risk and neural reactivity to infant cues (using EEG/ERP) on maternal and infant health and well-being across the perinatal period in a diverse sample of women. The postgraduate associate will be responsible for study management and behavioral and EEG data collection and analysis. The postgraduate associate will be overseen by Dr. Rutherford at Yale University. 

The postgraduate associate will also support other tasks related to the team’s research, such as manuscript preparation, grant writing, presentations at conferences, design of future studies, and other duties as assigned. The position provides opportunities for publication and supervision by national leaders in parenting, neuroscience, and child development. This is an ideal position for a highly motivated and enthusiastic individual looking to gain more research experience on topics related to parent-child relationships, neural processes (EEG/ERP), and development before pursuing a PhD in a related field (e.g., development psychology, neuroscience, clinical psychology, HDFS).

This position is a one-year appointment with renewal contingent upon satisfactory performance and availability of funding and with a start date in June 2024. 

 

Skills & Qualifications

Qualified candidates will have completed, or will be about to complete, a bachelor’s degree in psychology, child development, neuroscience, or a related field. Prior experience with EEG/ERP is preferable but not required – training will be provided. 

 

The successful candidate will have:

• Experience working with parents and infants/children

• Strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in science and practice 

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills 

• Exceptional project management skills, including good attention to detail 

• The ability to work both independently and in a collaborative environment

 

To Apply

Interested applicants should submit via e-mail a cover letter, resume or CV, and contact details for two referees to: thebabl.positions@yale.edu. Please make “BABL NICHD Postgrad Position” the subject line of your e-mail. Reviews of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled; for best consideration, please submit your application by 1st April 2024. 

 

About the BABL

The BABL is a research group located at the Yale Child Study Center in New Haven, CT. Our mission is to use our prenatal findings to reliably identify families that may need additional support and guidance during pregnancy and the postpartum period to optimize parent and child well-being. 

Yale University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer. Yale values diversity among its students, staff, and faculty and strongly welcomes applications from women, persons with disabilities, protected veterans, and underrepresented minorities.