Research Support Officer for the Erasmus Behavioural Lab (EBL)

The Erasmus Behavioural Lab (EBL) is the experimental research laboratory for all behavioural research at Erasmus University. EBL is the joint research facility of the School of Social and Behavioural Sciences (ESSB) and Erasmus Research Institute of Management (ERIM). This is where new insights are generated based on practical research. Researchers, students and participants work closely together on this.

The Research Support Officer for the EBL facilitates the work conducted at the EBL by RSM’s researchers, with the overall objective of supporting the research process so that it provides robust answers to the formulated research questions. This is a new role, embedded within Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University Rotterdam, and more specifically within the team of the ERIM office. 

In this role, you will prepare and execute research and research practicums (or parts thereof), making use of existing methods, techniques and/or equipment or methods, as well as techniques and/or equipment that is still to be developed and/or designed, in accordance with the test set-up, research integrity and internal research policy and regulations. 

Thanks to your collaborative spirit, you work well with researchers and the existing EBL team (embedded at ESSB). Based on your knowledge and experience, and in dialogue with the researchers, you report on the findings deriving from lab practicums and you propose improvements, for example on the research set-up. 

To succeed in this role, you are required to have strong organisation skills, good time management skills, and the ability to meet deadlines and to work independently (without supervision). 

You will report to the Team Lead Research Support within ERIM (RSM’s research institute).

As Research Support Officer for the EBL, you will be expected to conduct the following tasks: 

• Research coordination: file research requests and needs from all researchers and coordinate them for the best use of participant time and lab space.
• Research support: when applicable, and in close cooperation with the researchers, assist research experiment set-up and active participation in the activities of the research process, for example, data collection.
• Research planning and oversight: Room bookings, participant recruitment and allocation to studies
• Contact point: Be a contact for researchers wishing to make use of the lab facilities, able to answer questions related to participant recruitment and research planning, and potentially provide short workshops to new PhD candidates and faculty wishing to use the Erasmus Behavioural Lab
• Training research assistants for data collection, including recruitment, training and coordination, and creating institutional knowledge resources on related activities.
• Maintaining the subject pools and ensuring they are up to date, with sufficient active participants
• Quality control:
  • Ensuring the enforcement of lab regulations, such as IRB approval, timely and professional debriefing, and silence and tranquility in the lab
  • Taking responsibility (in person and in training research assistants) such that the data collection effort runs smoothly, consistently, professionally and ethically
  • Controlling quality in the registration of participants, troubleshooting, answering participant questions, and ensuring consistency in briefing and debriefing procedures.

You are eligible for this role if you can demonstrate:

• academic thinking capacity and a relevant completed education;
• demonstrable knowledge in the field of experimental behavioural science;
• at least 3 years of relevant work experience, ideally in a Higher Education setting;
• affinity with and/or broad understanding of the research life cycle and research support services;
• fluency in IT skills, including, but not limited to word processing, email, spreadsheets. Affinity with lab-specific equipment is a prerequisite;
• ability to work both independently and as part of a wider group of research support professionals, in a matrix organisation;
• excellent communication (spoken and written communication skills in English).

We encourage you to apply for this role if you:

• are a driven professional with an educational background (MSc or PhD) in management/behavioural/social sciences or a related discipline;
• are a results-oriented, analytical, and sociable team player, with strong interpersonal and intercultural communication skills;
• have the social skills to interact and collaborate with various stakeholders, and build, maintain and manage a network of researchers/academic staff;
• can work independently as well as in a team, with a hands-on and pro-active attitude, and a keen eye for detail;
• have strong communication skills in both written and spoken English (level C1);
• are able to speak and read Dutch or you are committed to learn the language (this can also be obtained after commencing the appointment);
• are committed to high performance and continuous improvement. 

• The position is initially offered as a one-year contract, with the possibility of extension up to a total of four years, subject to the availability of (external) funding.
• The conditions of employment correspond with the collective labour agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU).
• Salary is subject to training and experience and may vary from a minimum of € 3546 up to maximum of € 5538 gross per month (scale 10 CAO NU), based on a full-time contract of 38 hours. PhD holders can discuss additional remuneration.
• Erasmus University has attractive employment conditions, which include a holiday allowance of 8 per cent, an end-of-year bonus of 8.3 per cent, and a considerable amount of vacation days.
   
• We operate a hybrid working model, giving you the freedom to work virtually and on our vibrant campus, when that is applicable, given the nature of the position. You will be joining an international and interdisciplinary team of committed and enthusiastic research support professionals.
• Sustainable, inclusive and diverse work environment with an open culture, where you can be yourself and we pay attention to each other and to the world around us. Make the most of our bicycle budget, or join networks such as Young@EUR, FAME or QuEUR
• Time and space for your development in the broadest sense: development days and a personal career budget and free access to our university library
• Good pension with ABP with a two-thirds contribution from EUR, discounts on various collective insurances with Zilveren Kruis Achmea, Loyalis, and Allianz, and compensation for travel, working from home and home internet use
• A role embedded in a collaborative and ambitious communications team at one of Europe’s top business schools
• Room for professional development

The Erasmus Research Institute of Management (ERIM) was founded in 1998 by two schools at Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR): Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University (RSM) and Erasmus School of Economics (ESE). 

ERIM functions as an interfaculty research platform with two key objectives: to support research excellence in management and economics, and to develop future academic talent through its graduate school, which hosts full-time and part-time PhD programmes in Management and Economics.

ERIM’s mission is to cultivate an academic culture that promotes excellence and integrity in scientific research within the fields of management and economics.

Excellent research requires excellent support. ERIM offers a comprehensive range of resources and quality instruments to ensure both financial and personal backing at the highest level. ERIM's Research Support office consists of Data Stewards, an Ethics advisor, a Research Data analyst, the Office Manager and the Communications manager led by the Team Lead Research Support. 

Further information about this position can be obtained from Dr Chrysoula Papacharalampou, via papacharalampou@rsm.nl 

Please submit your application, including CV and cover letter, before Monday, 18 May. The first round of interviews is planned for 22 May onwards.