Virginia Affect and Interoception Research Program Assistant

The University of Virginia Department of Psychology strives to advance the science, methodology and the application of psychology through research, teaching, graduate training, and engagement in our community. Specifically, we are committed to:

• Conducting rigorous collaborative research aimed at understanding the human condition, solving societal problems, and generating breakthrough discoveries;
• Using our scholarship to guide practice, policy, education, and future research;
• Teaching and mentoring the next generation of psychological scientists and psychologically-literate citizens and leaders

The Virginia Affect and Interoception Lab (VAIL; PI: Dr. Jennifer MacCormack) in the University of Virginia's Department of Psychology invites applications for a full-time, in-person Research Program Assistant to start in late Summer or early Fall 2026. We study how the body, brain, and mind shape the nature of affect and interoception across the lifespan and, in turn, how these processes matter for downstream sociality, behavior, and health. We use multi-method approaches, including longitudinal assessments, laboratory experiments, psychophysiology, and human neuroimaging. For more information on the lab, please visit: https://www.virginiaaffectlab.com/

Responsibilities:

• Coordinate ongoing lab projects on stress, emotion, psychophysiology, and interoception
• Managing related data and documentation
• Supervise and train research assistants
• Processing psychophysiology data (electrocardiography, impedance cardiography, blood samples)
• Assist with preparations for a new fMRI study.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in a related field

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Psychology or a related discipline
• History of prior research experience in psychology or a related field
• Candidates with a prior history of research and/or strong interest in emotion, stress, health, psychophysiology, and/or the neural bases of behavior may be especially well
• Prior experiences include preparing IRB protocols, conducting basic statistical analyses in R,programming study tasks in PsychoPy, Qualtrics, or Eprime
• Collecting or working with psychophysiological and/or fMRI data.

Physical Demands

This is primarily a sedentary job involving extensive use of desktop computers. The job does occasionally require traveling some distance to attend meetings, and programs.

Salary Range

• Salary will be commensurate with education and experience.

Position Type & Work Location

• This is a non-exempt-level, benefited position.
• This position is based in Charlottesville, VA, and must be performed fully on-site. Occasional travel may be required.
• This is a restricted position, which is dependent on funding and is contingent upon funding availability.

About UVA and the Community

To learn more about UVA and in the Charlottesville area, visit UVA Life and Embark CVA.

Application Timeline

Application review will begin May 26, 2026. The position will remain open until filled.

Additional Requirements

• Background checks will be conducted on all new hires prior to employment.
• This position will not consider candidates who require immigration sponsorship at this time.

How to Apply

Please apply online, by searching for requisition number R0083352. Complete an application with the following documents:

• Resume
• Cover Letter

Upload all materials into the resume submission field. You can submit multiple documents into this one field or combine them into one PDF. Applications without all required documents may not receive full consideration.

Reference Check Process

Reference checks will be completed by UVA's third-party partner, SkillSurvey, during the final phase of the interview. Five references will be requested, with at least three responses required.

Contact

• For questions about the application process, please contact Melanie Sponaugle, unw5dq@virginia.edu.

The University of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer. All interested persons are encouraged to apply, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Learn more about UVA's commitment to non-discrimination and equal opportunity employment.