2 Student Research Assistant Positions

12 hours per week per position / 12 months / start as soon as possible

The Faculty of Psychology is one of seven faculties of the oldest university in Switzerland. With our core focus on Society & Choice and Health & Interventions, we are successful both nationally and internationally in our research and study programs.

Dr. Loreen Tisdall (Center for Cognitive and Decision Sciences, www.cds.unibas.ch') ) is seeking two enthusiastic and highly motivated Student Research Assistants to join an original research project investigating age-related differences in decision-making about personal risk and safety in prosocial contexts. The study employs advanced methodologies, including decision-tree scenarios, virtual reality simulations, and AI-based language analysis.

Your position

Two student research assistant positions of 12 hours per week (each position). The appointment is for 12 months, starting 1 January 2025. The successful candidates will support both online and laboratory components of the research project. They will assist in designing and administering an online survey, including participant recruitment and data management. In the lab, they will facilitate virtual reality sessions, manage equipment, and interact with participants. They will also engage with open science practices and ensure ethical standards and participant welfare are maintained throughout.

Your profile

The ideal candidates will hold a Bachelor’s degree in psychology or a related discipline and demonstrate a strong interest in conducting research, particularly in project-relevant areas such as decision-making, aging, prosocial behavior or related fields. Applicants should have strong programming skills in R, or exhibit a high motivation to develop programming expertise. Familiarity with, or willingness to learn, programming online experiments using platforms like Prolific and Qualtrics is essential. Candidates must possess excellent organizational and communication skills and be comfortable working collaboratively within a research team. While prior experience with virtual reality systems or AI-based analysis tools is advantageous, it is not required. Fluency in both English and German is required, as research materials will be prepared in German and data collection will also be conducted in German.

We offer you

The Center for Cognitive and Decision Sciences offers a cooperative, flexible and friendly work environment, in which the successful applicants will have the opportunity to be involved in a broad range of research activities. These positions provide an excellent opportunity to develop hands-on experience with cutting-edge research methods and tools in a supportive environment. The center’s working language is English.

• Letter of intent stating motivation to apply for the position, past and current research experience, and research interests (please, no AI-generated content)
• Curriculum vitae
• Bachelor’s certificate