Sr. Research Specialist

Department

BSD PSY - Lyons Lab

About The Department

To transform mental health through compassionate, innovative interdisciplinary care, pioneering research, and the education of future leaders dedicated to advancing the well-being of individuals, families, and their communities.

Job Summary

The Senior Research Specialist Team Lead manages the design and delivery of effective educational experiences. This role collaborates closely with other teams to align curriculum, training methods, and learner needs. By combining instructional design expertise with people-centered leadership ensures that teaching and learning practices are engaging, effective, and accessible.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and support for the Teaching & Learning Specialists.
• Develop and maintain SOPs for the team, reviewing and updating them regularly.
• Coach and train staff to strengthen instructional practices and professional growth.
• Collaborate with Training & Certification and IDEA teams to align curriculum and ensure consistency across learning initiatives.
• Work with the Technology & User Support Team to ensure course design aligns with technical delivery.
• Review and refine training content, applying adult learning principles and best practices.
• Resolve escalated issues related to training content or delivery.
• Provide updates and recommendations to leadership on teaching and learning strategies.
• Contribute to cross-team and organizational projects beyond core duties, including event logistics and process improvements.
• Experience leading jurisdiction-based training systems, supervising trainers, and supporting statewide adoption.
• Provides expertise to researchers on compliance of research activities with institutional, state, and federal regulatory policies, procedures, directives and mandates.
• Provides expertise to researchers and research support staff. Oversees activities related to data collection and analysis.
• Leads the establishment of new laboratories and provides assistance with purchasing new laboratory equipment; ensuring efficient operation of laboratory, including overseeing maintenance and repair of laboratory equipment.
• Improves financial, personnel, planning, compliance and other administrative aspects of research project. Collaborates with other researchers on long-range plans for research projects. Leads, investigates, modifies and applies new procedures, techniques or applications of technology. Establishes goals and operating procedures, practices, and guidelines.
• Performs other related work as needed.
  
  

Education

Minimum Qualifications

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

Work Experience

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications

Preferred Qualifications

Experience

• Expertise in instructional design, pedagogy, and adult learning.
  
  

Technical Skills Or Knowledge

• Knowledge in computational methods and statistical tools for the analysis of large-scale neural data.
• Knowledge of research regulatory policies and procedures.
• Instructional design, pedagogy, and adult learning.
  
  

Preferred Competencies

• Strong project management and organizational skills.
• Excellent communication and coaching abilities.
• Strategic thinker who can balance innovation with consistency.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office 365 and LMS platforms.
• Prior supervisory or leadership experience.
• Organizational skills.
• Verbal and written communication skills.
• Work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
  
  

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter (required)
  
  

When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family

Research

Role Impact

Individual Contributor

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

Drug Test Required

No

Health Screen Required

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No

Pay Rate Type

Salary

FLSA Status

Exempt

Pay Range

$80,000.00 - $120,000.00

The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Benefits Eligible

Yes

The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

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