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Assistant Specialist - Rivera Lab

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Position description

The position of Specialist has a narrow focus in a specialized area and provides technical or specialized expertise (e.g., with instrumentation and research equipment or with social science research methods) in the planning and execution of a research project. The Specialist stays apprised of emerging issues and problems and maintains technical competence in the designated area(s) of specialization. Within this defined area and when appropriate, the Specialist is expected to provide leadership, facilitate teamwork and develop collaborative relationships with colleagues and to supply input into the planning of research and educational programs. Normally, Specialists do not have Principal Investigator (PI) status but may obtain permission by exception and/or collaborate with a PI in preparing research proposals for extramural funding. The Specialist is evaluated for merit and promotion using three basic criteria outlined below.

This particular individual will carry out research in the Neurocognitive Development Laboratory, overseen by Dr. Susan Rivera. Our laboratory uses brain imaging (EEG/ERP and MRI) and eye tracking techniques to investigate questions about how underlying brain activity and behavior supports the development of skills (i.e., attention, visual perception, face processing, sensory processing and emotion regulation) in both typical and atypical development. We are recruiting a Specialist at the Assistant level to play a key role in our work, including, but not exclusive to, supervising the collection of electrophysiological and behavioral data, carrying out data processing procedures in Matlab and R, assisting in the development of advanced statistical analyses, and writing/publishing papers. This will require considerable knowledge of methods, substantial laboratory programming skills, and the ability to stay current in state of the science methods.

Major Responsibilities

I. Research in specialized areas (90%)

Behavioral Experiments and Analysis
This individual will be responsible for supervising collection of electrophysiological (EEG, ERP) and behavioral (eye tracking, psychophysics) data in our laboratory. This will include performing the data collection, training graduate students and postdocs to collect data, and training and supervising laboratory staff (junior specialists, undergraduate assistants, research interns) in data collection. It will also involve keeping abreast of new methods, documenting changes to our methods, and sharing our methods with the scientific community by publishing our protocols.

Writing/Publishing Papers, Protocols and Conference Presentations
This individual will play a key role in the published research from our laboratory. In some cases, this will be noted in the acknowledgments section of a paper (e.g., when the contribution was mainly in supervising data collection). In other cases, the individual will play a significant role in writing the paper and will serve as a co-author (or even lead author). The individual will be encouraged to present work at national and international conferences.

Preparation of Grants and Grants Management
This individual will support the efforts of the laboratory to secure future funding via the activities outlined above, in addition to specific preparation of experimental documents and figures for grants. The individual will assist with preparing grant documents and will provide fiscal oversight and management for the laboratory.

II. Professional competence and activity (5%)
The individual will participate in professional societies and conferences appropriate to his/her specific field. The candidate will attend seminars to present research results and may give oral presentations to public and professional interest groups.

The individual will also coordinate and/or give presentations at seminars, laboratory meetings, and educational functions.

III. University and public service (5%)
The individual will engage in public outreach activities that include presenting scientific research results to the general public and providing relevant advice to individuals and public agencies. The individual will engage in University service activities such committee service as appropriate.

Qualifications

Basic qualifications (required at time of application)

4-year college/university degree in psychology, neuroscience, or related field
2 years or more experience working in an EEG/ERP laboratory
Experience in writing manuscripts for publication
Experience managing budgets and small teams of staff and trainees
Experience working with children who are neurodivergent as well as neurotypical
Interpersonal and communication skills to interact professionally with a diverse group of people including but not limited to children, families, investigators, students and staff.

Preferred qualifications (other preferred, but not required, qualifications for the position)

Experience with using the EEGLAB and ERPLAB toolboxes to analyze data.
Familiarity with using second-order blind identification (SOBI) algorithms for EEG signal processing.

Application Requirements

Document 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 https://academicaffairs.ucdavis.edu/faculty-equity-and-inclusion for guidelines about writing a statement and why one is requested.

Reference requirements
  • 3-5 required (contact information only)
Apply link: https://recruit.ucdavis.edu/JPF04927

Help contact: ycpersonnel@ucdavis.edu

About UC Davis

UC Davis is a smoke and tobacco-free campus (http://breathefree.ucdavis.edu/).

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: http://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4000376/NondiscrimAffirmAct

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: http://www.uscis.gov/e-verify

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.

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Job location

Davis, CA