POSITION OVERVIEW
APPLICATION WINDOW
Open date: June 20, 2023
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Next review date: Tuesday, Jul 4, 2023 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.
Final date: Friday, Sep 8, 2023 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.
POSITION DESCRIPTION
` JUNIOR SPECIALIST POSITION AVAILABLE
~ UC DAVIS CENTER FOR NEUROSCIENCE ~
UC Davis Junior Specialist Recruitment
Apply via :
For full consideration, apply by 14 days after posting
DESCRIPTION: The Cognitive Control Lab at the Center for Neuroscience at UC Davis is dedicated to investigating neural mechanisms underlying essential cognitive control functions, such as visual attention and risky decision-making. Our research aims to enhance our understanding of these functions and develop innovative approaches to improve them. We are currently seeking a highly motivated and detail-oriented individual to join our research team as a Junior Specialist.
DEGREE REQUIREMENT - Bachelor’s Degree in neuroscience, biomedical engineering, neural engineering, psychology, or a related field.
RESEARCH – 90%
The incumbent will focus on helping set up and using a new system to perform extracellular recordings in the prefrontal cortex. The incumbent will be involved in data collection (main contribution at first), data analysis, and publication of the results. Much of the planned research will build on prior work in the lab. The data collection system is the most advanced high-density recording array system capable of recording from several hundreds of neurons at a time.
The incumbent will also be responsible for keeping records related to the experiments and training and mentoring undergraduate volunteers. The incumbent may have the opportunity to creatively contribute to the research by proposing alternative analysis strategies, generating novel projects with existing data, and reviewing literature for manuscript preparation. The incumbent will be actively and significantly involved in publishable research activities, including reading journal articles and engaging in discussions on research and the interpretation of research results with PI and others in the lab. The incumbent will spend a marginal amount of time assisting the current lab manager with administrative tasks, including the maintenance of animal protocols, logging essential data related to the health and well-being of the non-human subjects.
- Complete required training to work in the lab.
- Collect and analyze data related to non-human subjects performing a behavioral task
- Record from 4 to several hundred simultaneously recorded neurons while the subject are performing the behavioral task.
- Spike sort to separate individual neurons from the electrode recording based on their action potential waveform
- Analyze the data related to behavior and how single neurons and populations of neurons respond to different components of cognitive control function, including decision-making and selective visual attention.
- Log fluid-intake, food-intake, and other health-related metrics of non-human subjects
- Assist in surgeries for non-human subjects
- Coordinate research collaborations with faculty at UC Davis (Mainly center for Neuroscience); training will occur in the CC Lab in conjunction with other labs
- Maintain databases of all study data.
- Mentor undergraduate research assistants
- Maintain organized records
- Conduct research activities, including behavior training, data collection, and preliminary data analysis (80% of the role).
- Coordinate with the lab manager to fulfill administrative requirements related to research (20% of the role).
- Strong organizational skills and self-motivation.
- Minimum of one year of research experience.
- Basic programming skills in Matlab/Python.
The ideal candidate will possess a passion for neuroscience research and a desire to contribute to cutting-edge studies. Previous research assistants from our lab have successfully pursued advanced degrees in neuroscience and neural engineering.
The ideal candidate will have strong interpersonal, communication, and decision-making skills, as well as the ability to work independently, and as part of a team. The incumbent may have the opportunity to submit data for presentation at relevant conferences, such as Society for Neuroscience (if funding is available).
- Actively participate in weekly lab meetings, journal club presentations, presentations from outside speakers, and weekly workshops to help incumbents develop their career goals.
- The incumbent will mentor undergraduate student assistants in the lab.
- The incumbent will participate in public outreach activities
QUALIFICATIONS
- BS/BA in Neuroscience, biomedical engineering, neural engineering, psychology, or a related field.
- Strong organizational skills and self-motivation.
- Minimum of one year of research experience.
- Basic programming skills in Matlab/Python.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
Cover Letter
Statement of Contributions to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion - Contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion documented in the application file will be used to evaluate applicants. Visit
- 2-3 required (contact information only)
Help contact: jamunguia@ucdavis.edu
CAMPUS INFORMATION
UC Davis is a smoke and tobacco-free campus (
We are an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer, and particularly encourage applications from members of historically underrepresented racial/ethnic groups, women, individuals’ with disabilities, veterans, LGBTQ community members, and others who demonstrate the ability to help us achieve our vision of a diverse and inclusive community. For the complete University of California nondiscrimination and affirmative action policy see:
Under Federal law, the University of California may employ only individuals who are legally able to work in the United States as established by providing documents as specified in the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. Certain UC Davis positions funded by federal contracts or sub-contracts require the selected candidate to pass an E-Verify check. More information is available at:
The University of California, Davis (UC Davis) is committed to inclusive excellence by advancing equity, diversity and inclusion in all that we do. UC Davis celebrates the multi-cultural diversity of its community by creating a welcoming and inclusive environment demonstrated through a variety of resources and programs available to academics, staff, and students. Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging are core values of UC Davis that are embedded within our Principles of Community and are tied with how to best serve our student population. Our excellence in research, teaching, and service can best be fully realized by members of our academic community who share our commitment to these values, which are included in our Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Vision, our strategic plan: “To Boldly Go,” our Principles of Community, the Office of Academic Affairs’ Mission Statement, and the UC Board of Regents Policy 4400: Policy on University of California Diversity Statement. UC Davis is making important progress towards our goal of achieving federal designation as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and an Asian American, Native American, and Pacific Islander-Serving Institution. The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion offers a plethora of resources on their website, and the Office of Health Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (HEDI) has outlined similar goals in their Anti-Racism and DEI Action Plan.” There are a plethora of links available on the About Us webpage where you can learn more about our Administration, Diversity and Inclusion, Rankings, Locations, Native American Land Acknowledgement, Sustainability, Visiting UC Davis, UC Davis Health, and Campus Safety.
The university is consistently ranked among the top institutions in the world for campus sustainability practices by the UI Green Metric World University Rankings. UC Davis is focused on achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions and repeatedly shown its commitment to preserving a healthy and sustainable environment for generations to come.
As a condition of employment, you will be required to comply with the University of California Policy on Vaccination Programs - With Updated Interim Amendments. All Covered Individuals under the policy must provide proof of receiving the COVID-19 Vaccine Primary Series or, if applicable, submit a request for Exception (based on Medical Exemption, Disability, Religious Objection, and/or Deferral based on pregnancy or recent COVID-19 diagnosis and/or treatment) no later than the applicable deadline. All Covered Individuals must also provide proof of receiving the most recent CDC-recommended COVID-19 booster or properly decline such booster no later than the applicable deadline. New University of California employees should refer to Exhibit 2, Section II.C. of the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) Vaccination Program Attachment for applicable deadlines. All Covered Individuals must also provide proof of being Up-To-Date on seasonal influenza vaccination or properly decline such vaccination no later than the applicable deadline. Please refer to the Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Program Attachment.(Capitalized terms in this paragraph are defined in the policy.) Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.
JOB LOCATION
