Research Psychologist Jobs

What is a research psychologist?

Research Psychologists, also known as experimental psychologists, study the behavior of both humans and animals. They change variables within a laboratory setting to study how a person or animal reacts to or behaves in certain situations. These are the researchers studying the effects of variables on animals, such as mice, rats and monkeys.

Major areas of study include learning and memory, attention, motivation, effects of substance abuse, and genetic factors affecting behavior. They typically work in universities and private research centers for businesses, non-profit organizations and governmental agencies. There are even research psychologists employed in engineering firms, manufacturing settings and zoos!

What are the responsibilities of a research psychologist?

Research Psychology focuses on expanding understanding of how and why people think, feel, and behave. They use scientific methods as well as experimental techniques to examine basic human behavior and complex social relationships. They also examine how short- and long-term memory works, neurological foundations of addictions, emotional gratifications of specific actions, and all other aspects of human and animal behavior.

Research Psychology starts with the selection of a topic of study, such as prejudice, personal perception, social constructs such as control or cults, nonverbal communication and many other specific topics. They collect information through observation, surveys, and interviews and administer personality, aptitude or intelligence tests.

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Where do Research Psychologists Work?

Research Psychologists work in varied settings. They commonly work in an academic setting, but also work in laboratories and do field work. They work at universities, for private research organizations, and for governments. Some work independently while many work collaboratively with national or global teams.

Research Psychologists work for the military studying post traumatic stress disorder, depression and other issues affecting deployed servicemen and women. They perform medical, alcohol and drug use research; evaluate nutritional issues such as anorexia and other eating disorders, and research the cause and effect of specific human behavior.

What skills are required to get a psychology research job?

Research Psychologists require strong analytical skills. They must be able to work with raw data and numbers and be willing and able to delineate abstract information to draw logical conclusions about relevance. They need keen observation skills and strong judgement and decision-making skills. They should possess critical thinking skills and have proficiency evaluating programs, statistics and research design. Research Psychologists should hone their cognitive skills, being able to use strong perception and reasoning abilities. They must learn the ability of objectivity in order to dispassionately document data and findings.

How Much Money Can You Make in Research Psychology?

Research Psychologists currently earn a median salary of $73,000. That salary varies widely by industry. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that jobs in the category of “all other,” which includes Research Psychology, will increase more than 10% from now through 2022. Research Psychologists working in education services earn $90,000 annually and those who work for the military earn $80,000 per year. Those who work at hospitals earn $84,000 each year while those working in pharmaceuticals earn $90,000 annually. Research Psychologists working as market analysts earn $61,000 and those who specialize in experimental psychology earn an annual salary of $69,000.

Position	Company	Location	Posted
Research Associate I	Public Policy Associates	Lansing, Michigan US	08/09/2022
About PPA Public Policy Associates (PPA) provides clients with the evaluation, research, and strategic consultation they need to make smart public policy decisions that improve lives, enrich communities, and strengthen institutions. PPA assists clients in the areas of education, healthy communities, justice, and economic and workforce development. We work nationally; so far, our projects have taken us to 38 states and Puerto Rico. Our work involves a wide range of data-collection ... More
Research Associate (Non-Tenure Track)	University of Maryland, Baltimore	Baltimore, Maryland US	08/09/2022
Description POSITION SUMMARY Location: University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, Baltimore, Maryland The University of Maryland School of Pharmacy is conducting an open search for a qualified candidate to fulfill the faculty position of Research Associate (non-tenure track) for the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences. The select candidate will engage in laboratory research with activities funded by the NIH. This position primarily involves both ... More
Research Study Coordinator Senior	Northwestern University	Chicago, Illinois US	08/09/2022
Department: MED-Mesulam Ctr Cog Neur & AlzSalary/Grade: NEX/13Job Summary:Coordinates & completes the day to day administrative & technical activities involved in a single complex, large, nationwide or multiple moderately complex concurrent biomedical &/or social-behavioral research study(ies) involving multiple sites& /or longitudinal assessments/ interventions. Ensures that all activities are completed by strictly following Good Clinical Practices ... More
Lect./Sr./Princ. Lect. (Cont.)	University of North Texas	Denton, Texas US	08/08/2022
Position DetailsPosition InformationUNT System Overview Welcome to the University of North Texas System . UNT System includes the University of North Texas in Denton , the University of North Texas at Dallas and the University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth. We are the only university system based exclusively in the robust Dallas-Fort Worth region and we are committed to transforming lives and creating economic opportunity through education. ... More
Lect./Sr./Princ. Lect.(Cont.)	University of North Texas	Denton, Texas US	08/08/2022
Position DetailsPosition InformationUNT System Overview Welcome to the University of North Texas System . UNT System includes the University of North Texas in Denton , the University of North Texas at Dallas and the University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth. We are the only university system based exclusively in the robust Dallas-Fort Worth region and we are committed to transforming lives and creating economic opportunity through education. ... More
Research Associate in the Darden School of Business	University of Virginia	Charlottesville, Virginia US	08/08/2022
The Leadership and Organizations Area of the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia invites applications for a post-doctoral research associate to begin immediately.The research associate will work closely with faculty primarily on research projects focused on fostering social connection, creating belonging, and advancing diversity, equity and inclusion, particularly in online, virtual and tech-focused environments and the entrepreneurial ecosystem. The successful candidates ... More
Licensed Practical Nurse 2 (LPN) - Adolescent Medicine Clinic ($10,000 Sign-On Bonus)	Vanderbilt Health	Nashville, Tennessee  US	08/06/2022
Licensed Practical Nurse 2 Adolescent Medicine Clinic $10,000 Sign-On Bonus# 2116640Job Summary: Supports the licensed healthcare team members in the provision of patient care to include direct patient care, providing healthcare information to patients/families, and following established plan of care. Works in close collaboration with the RN or a licensed healthcare team member to evaluate the patient's plan of care ... More
Multiple Tenure-Track Positions	The University of Mississippi	Oxford, Mississippi US	08/01/2022
HIRING MULTIPLE TENURE-TRACK ASSISTANT PROFESSOR POSITIONS AT THE UNIVERSITY ... More