Research Assistant Positions: Infant Word Learning and Cognitive Development (fall 2025)

Research Assistant Positions: Infant Word Learning and Cognitive Development
Bergelson Lab, Prof. Elika Bergelson, Psychology/FAS
Fall 2025

The Bergelson Lab is looking to hire 2-3 undergraduate research assistants for Fall 2025. The lab (PI Elika Bergelson, PhD) studies infant word learning and cognitive development using a variety of experimental methods, including eye tracking, EEG, behavioral elicitation, and habituation/discrimination. Additionally, the lab collects and analyzes daylong recordings of infants at home to try to understand more about the relationship between what infants see and hear and what they know. We also explore how infants born blind and/or deaf learn language. To learn more, see www.bergelsonlab.com! Responsibilities: RAs will help recruit, schedule, and run in-lab visits for infants and their families. Additional responsibilities will include annotation and transcription of audio and video recordings and the creation of science communication materials. Requirements and Expectations: Applicants should have an interest in cognitive development and language acquisition, as well as an excellent academic record in relevant coursework (psychology, neuroscience, linguistics). Ideal candidates would be detail-oriented, responsible, and comfortable interacting with infants, toddlers, and their parents. Experience with computer programming and statistical analysis (R, python, etc.) is a plus, but not required! Additional Information: Both course-credit via Psych 2225R and paid (including work-study) opportunities are available. Preference given to sophomores and juniors, and candidates who are prepared to make a multi-semester commitment to the role. Required time commitment is 10 hours/week, scheduled in shifts between 9am and 5pm, Monday through Friday. Possibilities for independent study project in future semesters available. Research Assistants will be paired with a graduate student or postdoctoral mentor who will guide RA in learning about and focusing on one specific research project in the lab. RAs will also meet one on one with Dr. Bergelson occasionally throughout the semester. Students will attend weekly lab meeting and will gain practice reading and presenting recent findings in the field by leading discussion of a recent publication once each semester. To Apply: If interested, please contact lab managers Sophie Schoenbohm (sschoenbohm@fas.harvard.edu), Michika Ito (mito@fas.harvard.edu), and Lilli Righter (larighter@fas.harvard.edu) with a current unofficial transcript and CV/resume with a few sentences about why you're interested in joining the lab. (posted 3/25)