The Center for Advanced Hindsight (CAH) is Dr. Dan Ariely’s behavioral economics lab at Duke University. Currently the center is managing $6 million in grants with 75+ researchers, post-doctoral students, interns, undergraduate students, volunteers, and staff at the Duke campus location and at the San Francisco, CA office. At CAH, researchers study the decision-making process in the hopes of helping people lead better, more sensible daily lives. The center is the incubator for 9 start-up companies, partners with 30 organizations through the Common Cents Lab and is supported by 16 sponsors.

Occupational Summary

Research Associates are mid-level researchers at the Center for Advanced Hindsight. They may have advanced degrees and/or 3+ years of experience in behavioral science. They operate with some oversight, provide some mentorship for more junior staff, and are responsible for carrying out some smaller projects independently.

Work Performed

Independently lead research studies – 35%

• Conduct literature reviews to identify gaps, generate new hypotheses, and inform existing streams of research • Contribute to hypothesis generation for field and lab studies and contribute to study designs • Ensure all studies are fielded with fidelity • Sometimes responsible for conducting data analysis, drawing conclusions from study results, and determining next steps, with supervision from Research Scholars or Project Managers • Occasionally responsible for drafting manuscripts for academic publication and popular press • Write IRB applications

Provide support to research studies – 35%

• Program studies in Qualtrics • Create study materials (ex: mailers, prompts, emails, SMS copy, etc.) • Create research protocols for lab and field experiments • Train research experimenters or coordinators responsible for recruiting participants and running lab studies

Manage relationships with partners and sponsors – 15%

• Work with sponsor/partner to determine how to implement agreed-upon studies • Identify opportunities for new research with sponsors/partners • Ensure partner/sponsor expectations are met • Train partners/sponsors on behavioral science content and methods

Provide project management – 15%

• Ensure components of projects are scheduled appropriately and delivered on-time • Take notes during all meetings

Required Qualifications at this Level

Education - Bachelors or master’s degree in a social science or related field

Experience - 3-6 years of research experience since earning a bachelor’s degree

Technical Skills (required)

Familiarity with all research processes and some familiarity with statistics Strong understanding of behavioral science principals Ability to speak and write coherently

Other: • Curiosity and a passion for inquiry • Self-motivated • Strong attention to detail • Working knowledge of psychology and behavioral economics • Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills • Productive, timely, and responsible, with organizational and prioritization skills • Excellent communication (oral and written) • Excellent teamwork and interpersonal skills • Experience working in a research environment, including planning and preparation of research materials, data collection, and data analysis • Ability to work well in a team environment and build relationships with individuals at all levels • Ability to work in changing environments and shift priorities when needed • Ability to adjust rapidly to evolving needs of multiple researchers and projects • Strong time management skills, work ethic • Ability to communicate effectively with people of varied backgrounds • Demonstrated ability to work independently, as well as manage multiple collaborations and research projects at once • Ability to recognize their own limitations and ask for help when needed • Ability to meet strict deadlines and work in a timely manner, keeping researchers up to date with progress on projects

Other (preferred):

• Loves to work occasional nights and weekends • Led some kind of organization in college • Experience with project management • Passionate about coffee and/or tea • Has a hobby

Duke University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas-an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.