Overview
Skills
Job Details
Behavioral Science Research Specialist (Focus Area: Research Lab)
Location: St. Louis, MO (Remote)
Term: 12 Months (1 Year) | Possible Extension and Conversion
Travel: Up to 2 trips per year (expenses covered by client)
About the Role
We are seeking a Behavioral Science Research Specialist to help design, launch, and lead a Behavioral Science Research Lab for our client. This is an exciting opportunity to apply behavioral science to real-world financial decision-making improving investor outcomes and financial advisor engagement.
You ll be responsible for building out the infrastructure of the Behavioral Science Lab, leading behavioral research projects from concept to publication, and developing thought leadership initiatives that translate behavioral insights into actionable business strategies.
Key Responsibilities
Thought Leadership & Strategy
Co-develop and execute a behavioral science thought leadership strategy aligned with enterprise goals and brand positioning.
Identify and cultivate partnerships with academics, researchers, and industry leaders to co-create research, publications, and public engagements.
Represent the firm in industry forums, conferences, and media events.
Research & Experimentation
Design, conduct, and manage behavioral research projects and experiments (e.g., RCTs, A/B tests) from concept through publication.
Establish frameworks for testing, measurement, and evaluation of behavioral interventions.
Partner with internal teams to design studies that test interventions improving investor and advisor decision-making.
Translate complex behavioral insights into clear, actionable recommendations for retail investors and financial advisors.
Behavioral Science Lab Development
Design and create a Behavioral Science Research Lab from scratch, including:
Determining platforms, infrastructure, and tools needed for behavioral testing.
Understanding research cost structures (per test) and building a scalable, repeatable testing process.
Collaborate with internal teams and external partners to build lab capabilities, infrastructure, and testing pipelines.
Support other behavioral scientists with lab-based testing and data-driven insights.
Start with ~10 tests in Year 1, scaling up to ~100 tests in Year 2 (with potential staffing expansion).
Vendor & Partnership Management
Lead relationships with external vendors and research partners, ensuring high-quality, strategically aligned deliverables.
Build and manage partnerships with academic institutions, behavioral research organizations, and thought leaders.
Communication & Publication
Communicate research findings through engaging, accessible narratives for both internal and public audiences.
Support publication of behavioral science insights in public or industry-facing outlets.
Build thought leadership platforms or public-facing research programs that position Edward Jones as a leader in applied behavioral finance.
Required Qualifications
Education:
Master s degree in Behavioral Science, Behavioral Economics, Psychology, Organizational Behavior, Behavioral Finance, or related social science field.
Doctorate (Ph.D.) preferred but not required.
Technical Research Expertise:
Strong technical acumen in research design, experimental methods, and data analysis.
Proven ability to design, execute, and publish rigorous behavioral research studies.
Professional Skills:
Exceptional communication skills with the ability to simplify and narrate complex behavioral findings.
Strong vendor management and partnership development experience.
Experience working across business teams to integrate behavioral insights into strategy and design.
Demonstrated experience leading behavioral research projects from design to actionable insight and publication.
Desired Skills & Experience
Ph.D. in Behavioral Science, Psychology, Behavioral Economics, or related discipline.
Experience building thought leadership programs or public-facing behavioral research initiatives.
Exposure to digital product design or UX environments applying behavioral insights.
Familiarity with financial decision-making, investor psychology, financial therapy, or financial literacy.
Strong record of academic or industry publications and conference presentations.
Certification as a Financial Therapist (preferred, not required).