Program Manager, Human Subjects Research - Social Science, Economics (3-Year Fixed-Term)

Position Overview

New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) invites applications for the role of Program Manager overseeing Human Subjects Research in the domains of Social Science and Economics. This full-time position, reporting to the Director of the Social Science Experimental Laboratory and the Program Head of the Master’s of Science in Economics, is responsible for managing human subject research activities, ensuring ethical compliance, and administrating program operations effectively over a fixed term of three years. Emirati candidates are strongly encouraged to apply in alignment with UAE employment policies.

Key Responsibilities

• Maintain and foster partnerships with universities and local organizations to promote a culture of research participation.
• Create project-specific experimental research instruments and materials tailored to distinct participant groups.
• Coordinate recruitment strategies for human subjects aligned with faculty projects across Social Science and Science divisions.
• Engage and establish new contacts within the local community to support human subjects research at NYUAD.
• Supervise recruitment processes by presenting research projects and procedures to prospective participants.
• Lead communications and outreach to potential subjects, including university community members, campus contract workers, students from UAE universities, and volunteer organizations.
• Oversee experimental session logistics, including test administration, program management, and financial tracking.
• Assist research teams in navigating human subjects research approval processes within the UAE, expediting access to participants.
• Develop recruitment strategies compliant with ethical, legal, administrative, and federal rules governing human subjects research.
• Coordinate recruitment activities collaboratively with other Outreach Specialists and NYUAD departments.
• Manage timely preparation and submission of all Institutional Review Board (IRB) documentation including initial submissions, amendments, and reviews.
• Provide expert guidance to faculty on ethical standards and compliance related to human subjects research.
• Ensure that research activities align with requirements from IRB and the Health Authority of Abu Dhabi (HAAD).
• Update recruitment materials and procedures in response to regulatory changes and improve recruitment tracking and database maintenance.
• Conduct small group presentations covering recruitment challenges, opportunities, and administrative processes.
• Manage online content for the Social Science Experimental Laboratory (SSEL), including webpages, newsletters, and social media platforms focused on human subjects research.
• Develop and revise multimedia promotional materials, including videos, for human subjects research outreach.
• Create recruitment materials tailored for both internal and external target audiences and oversee their translation into prevalent regional languages.
• Monitor and maintain the human subjects database to keep volunteers informed and engaged with research opportunities.
• Plan, budget, and manage logistics for conferences such as the annual WESSI conference.
• Administer budgets for postdoctoral researchers affiliated with SSEL and oversee the overall financial management of the laboratory.
• Prepare relevant reports for annual planning, budget assessments, and faculty grant proposals.
• Recruit, train, and supervise SSEL internships and external volunteers who assist with experimental research, including oversight of ethical compliance and experiment administration.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline.
• Minimum of 5 years in administrative roles related to experimental research.
• At least 1 year in supervisory capacities focusing on research administration and compliance with research ethics.
• Completion of training on human subjects research is mandatory.
• Demonstrated ability to operate effectively in international and culturally diverse environments.
• Strong proficiency in English coupled with familiarity with regional languages such as Arabic, Urdu, Hindi, Malayalam, Filipino, Sinhala, and Tamil is preferred to enhance recruitment efforts.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite (PowerPoint, Excel, Word) and a willingness to learn new software tools as needed.

Additional Information

NYU Abu Dhabi is an internationally-oriented research university offering integrated liberal arts and sciences education spanning Arts, Sciences, Humanities, Social Sciences, and Engineering. As a key element of NYU’s global academic network, NYUAD promotes international scholarly collaboration and mobility. Located at the crossroads of the Arab world, NYUAD serves as a prominent center for academic innovation, research excellence, and creative exchange within a multicultural context.