学生研究助理招聘启事

 

PI：魏然 博士 北京大学教育学院 助理教授 研究员

个人简介：https://www.gse.pku.edu.cn/szdw/jxkyry/jyjzx/152820.htm

 

一、岗位设立

学生研究助理将参与由北京大学教育学院主导的研究工作以及与哈佛大学医学院合作的科研项目，依托北京大学教育学院学习科学实验室开展研究，探究儿童语言习得、认知发展及脑发育的神经基础及环境因素。

研究团队采用跨学科、跨文化视角，着眼于发展心理学、心理语言学、神经科学和早期儿童教育的学科交叉，深入探讨家庭环境，尤其是亲子互动及育儿信念对儿童语言、执行功能和脑神经发展的影响，并设计和评估以家庭为基点的干预措施，旨在为家长提供基于实证研究的育儿知识，促进儿童的健康全面发展。研究团队常用的数据收集方法包括实验行为任务、眼动追踪、脑电、LENA以及对亲子互动的详尽分析，并探讨早期语言和认知发展在不同社会、文化和语言环境中的差别，开发基于机器学习的工具，以快捷地评估亲子互动质量。诚邀内驱力强、注重细节、对儿童发展及家庭教育充满热情的本科生及研究生加入研究团队。候选人将尝试运用丰富多样的数据集挖掘影响儿童发展的家庭因素，完整积累学术研究经验。此职位尤其适合有志于申请国内外相关领域研究生/博士，意图丰富科研经历，期待在导师指导下制定个人发展策略的同学。

 

二、助研职责

• 招募被试，安排实验时间
• 参与实验设计和数据分析，并监控数据质量
• 完成实验室文档和手册的维护
• 分析及评估亲子互动质量
• 处理来自LENA设备、问卷、神经成像和行为评估的数据
• 根据个人贡献，有机会参与论文撰写及会议投稿并署名

 

三、助研要求

• 开始日期：首选开始日期是2023年11月，可根据情况提前或推迟。
• 入选资格：欢迎对家庭环境和早期发展有浓厚兴趣的在京本科和研究生申请，学校不限。
• 时间投入：由于入选的研究助理将接受严格、系统的研究训练，要求保证每周至少8-10小时的研究时间投入，持续至少一学年。
• 工作时间：数据分析可按个人节奏进行，提供极大的灵活性。但招募被试及数据收集环节时间相对固定，在晚上或周末可能偶尔工作。
• 沟通能力：由于需要与哈佛大学医学院和其他海外机构合作交流，候选人必须具有出色的沟通能力，并且能熟练使用英语进行学术写作和口头交流。
• 教育背景：心理学、神经科学、计算机、教育学、语言学、人类学等学科相关背景对研究工作有一定的帮助，但并非必要。我们坚信，只要有恒心和内驱力，就一定能掌握必要的技能。
• 工作地点：数据分析可以远程开展，但数据收集必须现场参与，每两周或每三周的项目会议或集中培训须亲临北京大学教育学院参加。

 

四、优先技能（均为加分项，非必须）：

• 脑电及眼动数据收集和分析
• 统计学基础知识
• 机器学习和计算机视觉相关技能
• 编程语言（R、Python或MATLAB等）

• 孟加拉语和罗马尼亚语
• 照护儿童、与家长及儿童互动的经验

 

五、助研待遇

尊重学生自主选择，可按月提供科研补贴或北大相关科研实践要求的证明。若最终成果可发表论文，有足够贡献的同学可署名。

 

六、联系方式

请将以下材料合并为一份PDF文件，发送至ranwei@pku.edu.cn

• 简短的cover letter
• 个人简历
• 英文writing sample（5页之内；加分项，非必须）

职位招满为止，建议尽快递交申请。

 

 

Research Assistant in Developmental/Educational Psychology

Principal Investigator: Ran Wei, Ph.D., Peking University, Graduate School of Education

Profile: https://www.gse.pku.edu.cn/szdw/jxkyry/jyjzx/152820.htm

 

 

We are inviting applications for part-time research assistant positions to join projects centered on the influence of family environments on children's language and neurocognitive development. Operating at the nexus of developmental psychology, neuroscience, linguistics, and early childhood education, Dr. Wei's research delves into the impact of the family environment, especially caregivers' communicative input and beliefs, on the linguistic, EF, and neurocognitive development of young children. We also design and assess interventions aimed at equipping parents from varied ethnocultural and socio-economic backgrounds to bolster their children's learning and overall development. Our core data collection methodologies encompass experimental behavioral tasks, eye-tracking, EEG/ERP, LENA, and fine-grained analyses of both verbal and non-verbal communication. We also develop machine-learning-based tools to assess the quality of parent-child interactions. Adopting an interdisciplinary and cross-cultural perspective, we concentrate on the nuances of early language and cognitive evolution across a spectrum of societies, cultures, and languages.

 

We are in pursuit of self-motivated, dedicated, and detail-oriented candidates with a passion for child development to contribute to our research endeavors at the Peking University Graduate School of Education and to our collaborative initiatives with Harvard Medical School. Successful candidates will acquire expertise in coding and deciphering intricate parent-child interactions and will utilize diverse, rich datasets to unearth factors influencing early childhood development. This role is ideal for those seeking to enrich their research competencies in anticipation of pursuing advanced degrees and aspiring to craft a comprehensive professional growth strategy in concert with the Principal Investigator. This role guarantees funding for a minimum of one year, with potential extensions based on performance reviews.

 

 

Duties:

• Recruitment and scheduling of participants
• Supporting experimental design, data analysis, and ensuring data integrity
• Overseeing lab documentation and manual upkeep
• Evaluating videotaped interactions between parents and children
• Processing data from LENA devices, surveys, neuroimaging tasks, and behavioral evaluations
• Participating in the preparation of presentations and publications as warranted

 

Requirements:

• Start date: Preferred start date is November 2023; however, flexibility exists for earlier or later commencement.
• Eligibility: Open to Beijing-based undergraduate and graduate students with a keen interest in understanding the influence of family environments on early development. Enrollment at Peking University is not a prerequisite.
• Commitment: Because RAs will receive systematic and rigorous training on data collection and analysis, a commitment of 8-10 hours per week for at least one academic year is expected.
• Work Hours: Data analysis can be conducted at your own pace and we offer immense flexibility. However, occasional work during evenings or weekends might be necessary for participant recruitment events and data collection sessions.
• Communication: Due to collaboration requirements with Harvard Medical School and other foreign institutions, candidates must possess exemplary communication skills and be highly proficient in English.
• Education: Background in psychology, neuroscience, computer science, education, linguistics, anthropology, or a related field is advantageous, though not mandatory. With commitment and perseverance, we have faith that anyone can master the required skills.
• Meetings: While remote work is feasible, in-person attendance at bi- or tri-weekly project meetings or trainings is obligatory. In-person participation in data collection is obligatory.

 

Preferred Skills (not obligatory, but will be viewed favorably):

• EEG and eye tracking research experience
• Proficiency in statistical analysis  
• Familiarity with programming languages such as R, Python, or MATLAB.
• Experience with machine learning and computer vision
• Language proficiency in Bengali and Romanian
• Experience caring for or interacting with young children and their parents

 

Compensation:

Students may choose to receive a daily wage or certificates, subject to Peking University's regulations. Research assistants making substantial intellectual contributions to the project may be eligible for co-authorship on publications and presentations.

 

Contact:

Please email one PDF including 1) a cover letter, 2) your CV, and 3) an academic writing sample in English (up to 5 pages; strongly recommended but not required) to Dr. Ran Wei at ranwei@pku.edu.cn. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.