Research Engineering / Scientist Assistant

Job Details

General Notes

This is a grant-funded position with an end date of December 31, 2025 . Renewal is contingent upon continued availability of funding, satisfactory work performance, and progress toward stated research goals.

Purpose

The Dunsmoor lab for Learning, Memory, and Emotion at the University of Texas at Austin is recruiting a candidate to assist with human neuroimaging research investigating how emotion shapes learning and memory. The candidate will primarily be involved in day-to-day management tasks of lab activities including scheduling and recruiting participants and assisting with data collection on the lab’s grant funded projects. This position is ideal for postgraduates who are seeking research experience before applying to graduate programs. Research topics relate to cognitive neuroscience of emotion and memory.

Responsibilities

Provide research assistance / support for research projects and be responsible for day-to-day operations of research activities as part of a team of faculty, graduate students, and undergraduate assistants.

Help with recruitment, participant phone screens, consenting research subjects, and data (MRI and behavioral) collection, entry, and analysis.

Oversee implementation of new functional neuroimaging protocols, including technical aspects of using 3D visual display and precise collection of psychophysiological measures during MRI scanning.

Conduct diagnostic interviews and clinical assessments of patients with posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety disorders, and normative control participants.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in a scientific, engineering or technical field.

Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Preferred Qualifications

Some background in basic programming preferred.

Professional demeanor with tact and respect at all times.

Ability to address individuals and information with a high degree of sensitivity and confidentiality in various delicate, formal or urgent situations.

Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.

Outstanding organizational and time-management skills.

Demonstrated critical thinking skills and excellent attention to detail.

Demonstrated ability to work well with a culturally diverse group of faculty, staff, and students, including the willingness and ability to train and oversee undergraduate graduate students.

Salary Range

$32,500 + depending on qualifications

Working Conditions

May work around standard office conditions

May work around electrical and mechanical hazards

Repetitive use of a keyboard at a workstation

Other working conditions : Will work around magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and therefore must be eligible to enter an MRI facility (e.g., no metal implants in the body)

This position is 100% on-campus with an expectation to report to work on-site during the scheduled work week.

Required Materials

Resume / CV

3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor

Letter of interest

Important   for applicants who are NOT current university employees or contingent workers :  You will be prompted to submit your resume the first time you apply, then you will be provided an option to upload a new Resume for subsequent applications. Any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) will be uploaded in the Application Questions section; you will be able to multi-select additional files. Before submitting your online job application, ensure that ALL Required Materials have been uploaded. Once your job application has been submitted, you cannot make changes.

Important for Current university employees and contingent workers :  As a current university employee or contingent worker, you MUST apply within Workday by searching for Find UT Jobs. If you are a current University employee, log-in to Workday, navigate to your Worker Profile, click the Career link in the left hand navigation menu and then update the sections in your Professional Profile before you apply. This information will be pulled in to your application. The application is one page and you will be prompted to upload your resume. In addition, you must respond to the application questions presented to upload any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) that were noted above.

Employment Eligibility :

Regular staff who have been employed in their current position for the last six continuous months are eligible for openings being recruited for through University-Wide or Open Recruiting, to include both promotional opportunities and lateral transfers. Staff who are promotion / transfer eligible may apply for positions without supervisor approval.

Retirement Plan Eligibility :

The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.

Background Checks :

A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.