Sleep Lab Manager

Position Details

Position Information

Announcement Number STAFF - VA - 26237

For questions regarding this position, please contact:

Cara Palmer

cara.palmer@montana.edu

Classification Title Research Professional

Working Title Sleep Lab Manager

Brief Position Overview

We’re seeking a Lab Manager to help drive innovative, hands-on research by coordinating lab operations, managing staff, and supporting longitudinal studies with families and children.

Position Number 4C0076

Department Psychology

Division College of Letters & Science

Appointment Type Research Professional

Contract Term Fiscal Year

Semester

If other, specify From date

If other, specify End date

FLSA Exempt

Union Affiliation Exempt from Collective Bargaining

FTE 1.0

Benefits Eligible Eligible

Salary Starting at $50,000 annually, commensurate with experience, education, and qualifications

Contract Type LOA

If other, please specify

Recruitment Type Open

Position Details

General Statement

This position includes the management of two federally funded projects in the Sleep and Development Lab, housed within the Department of Psychology, with children and their families to investigate sleep and mental health.

The Department of Psychology at Montana State University offers one of the largest undergraduate majors (http://catalog.montana.edu/undergraduate/letters-science/psychology/psychological-science-applied-psychology-options/) on campus, an undergraduate minor (http://catalog.montana.edu/undergraduate/letters-science/psychology/psychology-minor-nonteaching/) , as well as advanced degrees through our graduate program (https://www.montana.edu/psychology/graduate.html) . With a large and varied student body, we strive to provide a home to individuals from all walks of life – our goal is to make everyone feel a sense of belonging here in Bozeman.

As educators, researchers, practitioners, and advocates, our passion is to help you explore your own connections within the field of Psychology. We hope to spark your interest in the discipline, foster new ways to understand the human experience, provide pathways to meaningful careers, and offer the foundation for lifelong learning about the human mind and behavior. In the last 5 years, more than 500 students have earned their Bachelor’s degree in Psychology at Montana State, and we are currently home to over 600 Psychology majors. Each year over 1,000 other non-Psychology majors from across campus take at least one of our courses.

Our faculty are actively engaged in research, pushing the boundaries of Psychological Science and its application to real-world problems. In the past 5 years, MSU Psychology faculty have published over 250 articles and scholarly works. We have had faculty funded by a range of agencies, including the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, and the National Institute of Mental Health.

The Department seeks to use our expertise in Psychology, and our collaborations with a variety of different partners, to serve our local communities, the State of Montana, and the nation.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Contributed to the development and refinement of research protocols, ensuring methodological rigor and compliance with study requirements.

• Oversaw equipment set-up, calibration, and routine maintenance to support consistent, high-quality data collection.

• Managed daily staff operations, including task delegation, workflow coordination, and scheduling.

• Training and supporting new researchers in the lab.

• Maintained and monitored laboratory inventory, including ordering supplies and tracking usage.

• Organized and safeguarded research data through systematic data management procedures.

• Led participant recruitment efforts and coordinated assessments and longitudinal follow-ups with children and families to support ongoing study engagement.

• Participated in manuscript preparation and writing for dissemination of research findings.

Required Qualifications – Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in psychology or related field.

• Demonstrated experience with project management.

• Experience supervising undergraduate students.

• Working knowledge of word processing, spreadsheet software, and survey-based software and platforms..

Preferred Qualifications – Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills

• Master’s degree in psychology or related field.

• Experience with related methodologies, including structured diagnostic interviews, behavioral paradigms, actigraphy, and polysomnography.

• Working knowledge of sleep and/or mental health research.

The Successful Candidate Will

• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

• Ability to work in a team environment.

• Be detail-oriented.

• Have the ability to interact with lab workers, external collaborators, and participants in a professional, positive manner.

Position Special Requirements/Additional Information

Some occasional weekend and/or evening work occurs as needed.

This position is contingent upon continued grant funding.

This position is not eligible for sponsorship.

This job description should not be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements, but a general description of the job. Nothing contained herein restricts Montana State University’s rights to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

Physical Demands

Exposure to blood-borne pathogens.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodations. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

This position has supervisory duties? Yes

Posting Detail Information

Number of Vacancies 1

Desired Start Date Upon completion of a successful search

Position End Date (if temporary)

Open Date

Close Date

Applications will be:

Screening of applications will begin on January 14, 2026; however, applications will continue to be accepted until an adequate applicant pool has been established.

Special Instructions

This position is not eligible for sponsorship.

EEO Statement

Montana State University is an equal opportunity employer. MSU does not discriminate against any applicant on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, political ideas, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, national origin, physical or mental disability, or any other protected class status in violation of any applicable law.

In compliance with the Montana Veteran’s Employment Preference Act, MSU provides preference in employment to veterans, disabled veterans, and certain eligible relatives of veterans. To claim veteran’s preference, please complete the veteran’s preference information located in the Demographics section of your profile.