Kawader Research Assistant Fellow - Psychology
Posted date [2026-09-20]
(ID: 52149)
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Job Description and Requirements
Kawader Research Assistant Fellow - PsychologyJob Snapshot
Role: Kawader Research Assistant Fellow - Psychology
Location: Abu Dhabi, UAE
Industry: Higher Education
Function: Research
Experience: Previous research experience preferred
Job Type: Full Time
Position Overview
New York University Abu Dhabi invites applications for a Kawader Research Assistant Fellow to join the Psychology in Political and Economic Systems (PIPES) Lab in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Supervised by Dr. Jennifer Sheehy-Skeffington, the position explores how psychological processes interact with societal conditions including economic inequality, political polarization, market integration, scarcity, and changing economic environments. The fellow will gain practical research experience spanning experimental methods, large-scale datasets, statistical analysis, human-subjects research, open science, and academic publication.
Job Details
Country: UAE
City: Abu Dhabi
Industry: Higher Education
Function: Research
Salary: Not disclosed
Gender: No Preference
Candidate Nationality: Not specified
Job Type: Full Time
Work Arrangement: On-site
About the Research Program
The PIPES Lab examines psychological processes within
political and economic systems. The successful candidate will work with Dr. Jennifer Sheehy-Skeffington and the wider lab across three interconnected research streams.
Poverty, Inequality, and Decision-Making
This research examines how scarcity and instability in material and social resources affect thought and behavior. Using laboratory and survey experiments alongside large-scale panel and cross-national datasets, the work also considers broader societal conditions such as extreme economic inequality.
Foundations of Political Ideology and Behavior
Drawing on evolutionary, anthropological, and political perspectives, this work investigates the foundations of political preferences and behavior. Research extends beyond conventional left-right ideology to examine relational templates applied to intergroup relations.
Methods include cross-national and panel surveys, administrative registry data, experiments, and multivariate behavioral genetic analyses to investigate the evolutionary and socioecological foundations of ideology and political behavior.
Political Economy in Psychological Perspective
This emerging research stream connects social psychology with political economy through historical, comparative, and institutional perspectives. Current work examines the effects of market thinking on personal and social life and investigates how solidarity, the common good, anomie, and resentment may shape responses to changing economic landscapes.
Key Responsibilities
* Contribute to the design of research protocols and experimental scripts.
* Collect human-subjects data through laboratory and online research settings.
* Clean, organize, and analyze research data using SPSS, R, or related tools.
* Conduct literature reviews and provide bibliographic support for academic manuscripts.
* Contribute progressively to academic publications, with potential for contributions meriting co-authorship as the fellowship develops.
* Develop or extend research directions within the PIPES Lab as research independence increases.
* Prepare and oversee Institutional Review Board protocols.
* Help ensure laboratory practices comply with applicable ethical and regulatory requirements.
* Monitor adherence to open science research practices.
* Coordinate and participate in lab meetings, research discussions, and academic conferences.
* Manage research projects while tracking expenditure, progress, and project milestones.
* Support internal and external reporting of laboratory activities and accomplishments.
* Assist with hiring and supervising undergraduate research assistants.
Required Qualifications
* Bachelor\'s or Master\'s degree in Psychology or a related field.
* Experience using statistical software such as SPSS or R.
* Experience with experimental research tools such as Qualtrics.
* Strong intellectual engagement with the PIPES Lab\'s research agenda.
* Familiarity with Institutional Review Board processes and research ethics compliance.
* Excellent organizational and multitasking capabilities.
* Ability to work independently.
* Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
Preferred Background
Previous research experience in social psychology and experience conducting laboratory-based human-subjects research are preferred.
Training or skills in computational modelling, programming, or data science would also be valuable to the lab\'s research activities.
Applicants should have completed an undergraduate degree in psychology and demonstrate a strong interest in pursuing graduate education and-or continuing a research career.
What the Program Offers
* Full-time paid research position for up to three years.
* Mentorship from NYU Abu Dhabi faculty.
* Professional development and training opportunities.
* Exposure to interdisciplinary research spanning psychology, political behavior, and political economy.
* Opportunities to contribute to academic publications and develop an independent research profile.
* Experience with experimental methods and large-scale datasets.
* Practical exposure to open science research practices.
Application Requirements
Applications must include:
* Statement of interest in the position, limited to one page.
* Transcript of degree or degrees.
* Curriculum Vitae.
* Two letters of recommendation from faculty members or research supervisors.
UAE nationals are encouraged to apply.
Supervision
The Kawader Research Assistant Fellow will work under the supervision of Dr. Jennifer Sheehy-Skeffington and collaborate with researchers participating in the PIPES Lab\'s multidisciplinary research program.
About the Kawader Program
The NYU Abu Dhabi Kawader program is a national capacity-building research fellowship that provides outstanding graduates with experience in an advanced academic research environment. The individually tailored program can extend for up to three years and includes pathways designed for Emirati graduates considering graduate study or a continuing career in research.
Poverty, Inequality, and Decision-Making
This research examines how scarcity and instability in material and social resources affect thought and behavior. Using laboratory and survey experiments alongside large-scale panel and cross-national datasets, the work also considers broader societal conditions such as extreme economic inequality.
Foundations of Political Ideology and Behavior
Drawing on evolutionary, anthropological, and political perspectives, this work investigates the foundations of political preferences and behavior. Research extends beyond conventional left-right ideology to examine relational templates applied to intergroup relations.
Methods include cross-national and panel surveys, administrative registry data, experiments, and multivariate behavioral genetic analyses to investigate the evolutionary and socioecological foundations of ideology and political behavior.
Political Economy in Psychological Perspective
This emerging research stream connects social psychology with political economy through historical, comparative, and institutional perspectives. Current work examines the effects of market thinking on personal and social life and investigates how solidarity, the common good, anomie, and resentment may shape responses to changing economic landscapes.
Key Responsibilities
* Contribute to the design of research protocols and experimental scripts.
* Collect human-subjects data through laboratory and online research settings.
* Clean, organize, and analyze research data using SPSS, R, or related tools.
* Conduct literature reviews and provide bibliographic support for academic manuscripts.
* Contribute progressively to academic publications, with potential for contributions meriting co-authorship as the fellowship develops.
* Develop or extend research directions within the PIPES Lab as research independence increases.
* Prepare and oversee Institutional Review Board protocols.
* Help ensure laboratory practices comply with applicable ethical and regulatory requirements.
* Monitor adherence to open science research practices.
* Coordinate and participate in lab meetings, research discussions, and academic conferences.
* Manage research projects while tracking expenditure, progress, and project milestones.
* Support internal and external reporting of laboratory activities and accomplishments.
* Assist with hiring and supervising undergraduate research assistants.
Required Qualifications
* Bachelor\'s or Master\'s degree in Psychology or a related field.
* Experience using statistical software such as SPSS or R.
* Experience with experimental research tools such as Qualtrics.
* Strong intellectual engagement with the PIPES Lab\'s research agenda.
* Familiarity with Institutional Review Board processes and research ethics compliance.
* Excellent organizational and multitasking capabilities.
* Ability to work independently.
* Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
Preferred Background
Previous research experience in social psychology and experience conducting laboratory-based human-subjects research are preferred.
Training or skills in computational modelling, programming, or data science would also be valuable to the lab\'s research activities.
Applicants should have completed an undergraduate degree in psychology and demonstrate a strong interest in pursuing graduate education and-or continuing a research career.
What the Program Offers
* Full-time paid research position for up to three years.
* Mentorship from NYU Abu Dhabi faculty.
* Professional development and training opportunities.
* Exposure to interdisciplinary research spanning psychology, political behavior, and political economy.
* Opportunities to contribute to academic publications and develop an independent research profile.
* Experience with experimental methods and large-scale datasets.
* Practical exposure to open science research practices.
Application Requirements
Applications must include:
* Statement of interest in the position, limited to one page.
* Transcript of degree or degrees.
* Curriculum Vitae.
* Two letters of recommendation from faculty members or research supervisors.
UAE nationals are encouraged to apply.
Supervision
The Kawader Research Assistant Fellow will work under the supervision of Dr. Jennifer Sheehy-Skeffington and collaborate with researchers participating in the PIPES Lab\'s multidisciplinary research program.
About the Kawader Program
The NYU Abu Dhabi Kawader program is a national capacity-building research fellowship that provides outstanding graduates with experience in an advanced academic research environment. The individually tailored program can extend for up to three years and includes pathways designed for Emirati graduates considering graduate study or a continuing career in research.
