Position Summary

The Neta Lab Technician plays a key role in supporting innovative psychology and behavioral science research within Dr. Neta’s research program. This position provides hands-on technical and operational support for multiple research studies by coordinating participant recruitment, managing research data, and ensuring compliance with Institutional Review Board (IRB) requirements. Working closely with faculty, students, and research staff, the role helps maintain the smooth operation of research projects while supporting high-quality, ethical human subjects research. This is an exciting opportunity for an organized, detail-oriented professional who enjoys research coordination and contributing to impactful scientific discovery in a collaborative laboratory environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Coordinate participant recruitment, scheduling, and study logistics while supporting multiple research projects and maintaining project timelines.
• Manage IRB processes, including protocol submissions, amendments, continuing reviews, and regulatory documentation for human subjects research.
• Organize, maintain, and secure research data, participant records, and study documentation in compliance with confidentiality and data security standards.
• Prepare research materials, consent forms, study supplies, and other resources needed to support ongoing behavioral research activities.
• Collaborate with faculty, graduate students, undergraduate researchers, and community partners to support research operations and project success.

Why Join Us?

• Contribute to innovative psychology and behavioral science research with real-world impact.
• Gain hands-on experience in research coordination, IRB compliance, and project management.
• Work alongside faculty and student researchers in a collaborative, research-intensive environment.
• Develop expertise with research technologies, participant management, and data collection systems.
• Join a team committed to ethical research, scientific excellence, and advancing knowledge through discovery.

Position Information

• This is a full-time (1.0 time-base), benefits eligible, temporary position with an anticipated end date of six months and one day of hire date, with the possibility of reappointment. 
• This position is designated non-exempt under FLSA and is eligible for overtime compensation.
• Standard SDSU work hours are Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., but may vary based on operational needs.
• The individual hired into this role will work on campus at SDSU in San Diego.

As part of the California State University (CSU) system, San Diego State University helps power one of the largest and most impactful public university systems in the nation. See what it’s like to work at the CSU—watch our video and imagine your future here: Working at the CSU.

Department Summary

The Department of Psychology at San Diego State University (SDSU) is one of the largest academic departments on campus and plays a central role in supporting undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral education in the behavioral sciences. Among the joint doctoral programs in which SDSU participates, the SDSU–UC San Diego (UCSD) Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology (JDP) is the largest and most established. The JDP is a collaborative program between SDSU and UCSD that provides advanced training in clinical psychology through integrated instruction, research, and clinical practice.

The program includes active participation from more than 170 faculty members across the SDSU Department of Psychology, the SDSU School of Public Health, and the UCSD Department of Psychiatry within the School of Medicine. The program has produced more than 360 alumni and currently enrolls approximately 77 doctoral students. Each year, the program receives approximately 700 applications for approximately 12 available admission slots. Students are admitted into one of three specialized training tracks, and both faculty and students are affiliated with these tracks as part of the program’s training structure.

The employing unit provides the administrative, operational, and programmatic support necessary to ensure the effective functioning of the Joint Doctoral Program. This includes coordinating program administration, maintaining student and alumni records, supporting accreditation and compliance activities, managing program communications, and facilitating collaboration between SDSU and UCSD program partners. The unit also supports faculty, students, and program leadership by maintaining program databases, coordinating meetings and events, assisting with reporting and documentation requirements, and serving as a liaison with university offices, including the Graduate Division, departmental administration, and clinical training partners.

Through these activities, the employing unit supports the program’s mission to provide high-quality doctoral education and training in clinical psychology while maintaining compliance with institutional and national accreditation standards.

For more information regarding the Department of Psychology, click here.

Education and Experience

Equivalent to two years of experience providing instructional support services for a unit or discipline, acting as a student assistant, or in producing materials or supplies related to the discipline.

OR

Equivalent to two years of college with 16 semester units in courses involving extensive use of materials, supplies, or equipment and in a discipline related to the area to which assigned may be substituted for one year of the required experience.

OR

Equivalent to four years of college with 16 semester units in courses involving extensive use of materials, supplies, or equipment and in a related discipline may be substituted for the experience.

Key Qualifications

• Working knowledge of Institutional Review Board (IRB) processes, including protocol submissions, amendments, continuing reviews, compliance tracking, and documentation requirements for human subjects research.
• Experience coordinating participant recruitment, scheduling, and study logistics while managing multiple research projects, tracking timelines, maintaining accurate records, and communicating effectively with faculty, students, research participants, and community partners.
• Experience organizing, maintaining, and securing research data and documentation in compliance with confidentiality standards, with proficiency in data entry, spreadsheet/database management, and research tools such as Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, Qualtrics, or similar platforms.
• Ability to prepare and maintain research materials, study supplies, participant records, consent forms, and other electronic and physical research documentation while demonstrating strong organizational, time-management, and communication skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment.
• Full-time experience in research coordination, project management, laboratory management, or related roles is preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree preferred; Master’s degree desired in psychology, public health, social work, or a related field is preferred.
• Experience working in psychology, behavioral science, social science, or community-engaged research environments, including participant recruitment, human subjects research, client-facing interactions, and independently managing IRB submissions and regulatory processes is preferred.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex research projects with multiple deadlines and stakeholders, coordinating multi-site or field-based data collection, and collaborating effectively with faculty, graduate students, undergraduate research assistants, and interdisciplinary research teams is preferred.
• Experience supervising or mentoring undergraduate research assistants and familiarity with research and project management platforms such as REDCap, Airtable, Asana, SONA, Basecamp, or similar systems is preferred.

Licenses/Certifications Required

Valid California Driver’s License or the ability to obtain one within 30 days of hire.

Compensation and Benefits

San Diego State University offers competitive compensation and a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your well-being and professional growth.

Compensation:
Step placement will be determined based on relevant qualifications and professional experience, in alignment with the department’s budget and equity guidelines.

• Initial step placement is not expected to exceed Step 4 ($4,440).
• Salary step placement for internal applicants will follow the CSUEU Collective Bargaining Agreement.
• CSU Classification Salary Range: $4,184 – $6,096 per month (Step 1 – Step 20).
• Future increases, including step advancements, are subject to contract negotiations.

Full Benefits Package Includes:

• Generous Time Off: 15 paid holidays, vacation, and sick leave.
• Retirement: CalPERS pension plan with retiree healthcare, and reciprocal agreements with other California public retirement systems, including the UC.
• Health Coverage: Medical, dental, and vision options at low or no cost.
• Education Support: CSU tuition fee waiver for employees and eligible dependents.
• Optional Offerings: FlexCash, life and disability insurance, legal and pet plans.
• Campus & Community: Access to the library, campus events, employee groups, and volunteer and social activities.

Our benefits are a significant part of total compensation. Learn more at the SDSU Benefits Overview.

SDSU Values

At SDSU, our diversity gives us power and benefits every single member of our community.  Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, SDSU provides equal opportunity for all in education and employment.  We encourage all members of our community to purposefully learn from one another through open and respectful dialogue and responsible engagement. We strongly preserve the right to free expression and encourage difficult conversations that help lead to improved individual and community learning and cohesion.

Principles of Community

At San Diego State University, we are a community of diverse individuals who have and represent many perspectives, beliefs, and identities. This diversity lends our community strength, and we commit to creating and sustaining an inclusive and intellectually vibrant environment that benefits all members of our university. 

SDSU’s Principles of Community is an aspirational statement that is intended to evolve over time. The statement reflects the ideals we are encouraged to uphold in our interactions with one another. 

Equal Opportunity and Excellence in Education and Employment

All university programs and activities are open and available to all regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, San Diego State University (SDSU) provides equal opportunity in education and employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every student and employee has access to the resources and support they need to thrive and succeed in a university environment and in their communities. SDSU complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws, and CSU’s Nondiscrimination Policy. We prohibit discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all university programs, policies, and practices. 

SDSU is a diverse community of individuals who represent many perspectives, beliefs and identities, committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful, and intellectually vibrant environment. We cultivate a culture of open dialogue, mutual respect, and belonging to support educational excellence and student success. Through academic programs, student organizations and activities, faculty initiatives, and community partnerships, we encourage meaningful engagement with diverse perspectives. As a higher education institution, we are dedicated to advancing knowledge and empowering individuals to reach their full potential by prioritizing inclusive curriculum development, faculty and staff training, student mentorship, and comprehensive support programs. At SDSU, excellence is built on merit, talent, diversity, accessibility, and equal opportunity for all.

Supplemental Information

Apply by August 16th, 2026 to ensure full consideration. Applications submitted after this date will be reviewed on an as-needed basis, and the position will remain open until filled.

The person holding this position is considered a ‘mandated reporter’ under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment. 

San Diego State University is not a sponsoring agency for staff or management positions (e.g., H-1B visa). Applicants must currently be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. Offers of employment are contingent upon the presentation of documents that demonstrate a person's identity and authorization to work in the United States, which are consistent with the provisions of the Immigration Reform and Control Act. 

Education Code 89521 Requirements: Applicants will be required to disclose whether they have received a final administrative decision or final judicial decision determining that they have committed sexual harassment within the last 7 years only after a determination is made that they meet the minimum qualifications for the position, and before an offer of employment is extended. Applicants who reach the final stages of the application process must also sign a release form that authorizes the release of information by the applicant’s current and/or former employers to the CSU concerning any substantiated allegations of misconduct.

A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily and is required for employment. SDSU will make a conditional offer of employment, which may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the continued employment of a current SDSU employee who was conditionally offered the position.

SDSU is a smoke-free campus. For more information, please click here.

Reasonable accommodations will be provided for qualified applicants with disabilities who request an accommodation by contacting Danan Pacheco (dpacheco@sdsu.edu).