Undergraduate Research Assistant - Biobehavioral Health

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JOB DESCRIPTION AND POSITION REQUIREMENTS This Research Support position assists with the implementation of a behavioral intervention study aiming to increase optimism in midlife adults. The role involves delivering intervention sessions via Zoom, recruiting and coordinating participants, collecting and managing data, and supporting day-to-day research activities under the supervision of the Principal Investigator and research staff.

The undergraduate research assistant will support a pilot study housed in the Biobehavioral Health Department at Penn State University. The study evaluates a novel mind-body intervention designed to promote optimism, comprising three components: guided writing exercises, brief resistance training (air squats), and slow-paced breathing. The interventions are administered remotely (via Zoom) for 30 minutes per day, 5 times per week, across a 4-week protocol for each participant. A primary responsibility of this role is to facilitate the Zoom sessions; therefore, candidates must be available for consistent 2–3 hour blocks daily (e.g., 5:00–8:00 p.m., Monday–Friday) and be willing to meet with participants on occasional weekends.

SAMPLE WORK ACTIVITIES:

• Deliver live, protocol-guided intervention sessions to participants via Zoom, including writing prompts, 2-minute air squats, and breathing exercises
• Recruit, screen, and schedule participants according to IRB-approved procedures
• Describe study goals, procedures, and privacy protections to participants; obtain informed consent as needed
• Collect self-report survey data and manage wearable data (e.g., fitness tracker output)
• Enter, clean, and organize participant data using REDCap or similar platforms
• Monitor intervention fidelity and participant adherence; maintain detailed records
• Attend weekly team meetings and contribute to study operations and troubleshooting
• Assist with IRB documentation and compliance tracking
• Perform other research-related activities as assigned by the Principal Investigator

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Interest in behavioral medicine and psychophysiology
• Strong interpersonal skills, particularly in virtual/Zoom-based communication
• Prior experience with participant-facing roles or data collection is preferred
• Reliability, professionalism, and attention to detail are essential

BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.

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