The Department of Cognitive Science promotes the study of learning, perception, action, and interaction in the physical, material, social, and cultural world. The approach is interdisciplinary employing ideas and techniques from a number of contributing disciplines, including anthropology, communications, computer science, ethology, electrical engineering, linguistics, neurology, neurosciences, philosophy, psychology, rhetoric, and sociology. Historically, research in the department has involved a commitment to biological realism, the attribution of a crucial role for experience, and a constitutive role for physical and social context in cognitive activity. Our goal is to transcend theoretical limitations rooted in disciplinary boundaries and pursue a scientific account of cognition.

The Language and Infant Learning (LIL) Lab at UC San Diego, directed by Dr. Martin Zettersten, is seeking a full-time lab coordinator to begin in Summer or Fall of 2024, with a flexible start date. This person will work closely with other lab members to assist in all aspects of running the lab and conducting research.

Research in the lab investigates language learning and cognitive development. Current ongoing projects focus on how infants, children, and adults learn by actively exploring their environment, the development of lexical and semantic knowledge, and how language and cognition interact over the course of development. We conduct both experimental and observational studies and employ behavioral methods (e.g., eye-tracking; tablet-based experiments) with infants, young children, and adults. We collect data in the lab, at preschools in the community, at museums/zoos, and online (e.g., using online platforms such as Prolific and Lookit). The position also presents an opportunity to work very closely with the PI to launch the lab in its first year.

Under the supervision of Dr. Zettersten, the lab coordinator will work closely with graduate and undergraduate researchers to assist in all aspects of running the lab and conducting research. Responsibilities include recruiting and scheduling infant, toddler, and adult study participants; communicating with collaborating sites and local children's museums; coordinating social media outreach; maintaining a database of recruitment information; conducting behavioral studies with human children and adults and managing experimental data. In addition, the lab coordinator will also train undergraduate research assistants, assist with data coding and analysis, and assist with literature searches and writing. The research coordinator will also organize and attend weekly lab meetings and is encouraged to attend other scientific talks and be a member of the intellectual community at UCSD. The position will involve working closely with the PI and will present the opportunity to build skills in designing experiments and analyzing, presenting, and publishing data.

• Ability to work on weekends, as needed for data collection with families that cannot participate during the week.

• Two years of applicable college-level coursework in experimental Psychology, Cognitive Science, Neuroscience, or a related field; or equivalent lab experience.

• A minimum of one year of experience working in a lab, and demonstrated interest in behavioral or developmental research.

• Experience working with adults, infants, children, and parents, preferably in a research setting

• Highly self-motivated and able to troubleshoot problems independently and with initiative.

• Demonstrated strong interpersonal skills for interacting with parents, lab members, departmental staff, and other adults in a professional setting.

• Strong organizational skills and exceptional attention to detail.

• Ability to supervise and train lab student assistants in the use of laboratory equipment and testing procedures.

• Ability to act professionally, and work effectively with a range of personnel, including laboratory staff, faculty and visitors.

• Ability to maintain confidentiality under Human Subjects requirements.

• Background Check required.

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