Junior Specialist - Moxon Lab
Position overview
Application Window
Open date: August 10, 2026
Next review date: Tuesday, Aug 25, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.
Final date: Tuesday, Sep 15, 2026 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
The Department of Biomedical Engineering invites applications from qualified candidates forJunior Specialist positions in the laboratory of Professor Karen Moxon. The successful candidate will join the Neurorobotics Lab, led by Professor Karen Moxon.
NATURE AND PURPOSE
The position of Junior Specialist has a narrow focus in a specialized area and provides technical or specialized expertise (e.g., with instrumentation and research equipment, or with research methods) in the planning and execution of a research project. Junior Specialists are required to be actively and significantly involved in publishable research activities, including reviewing journal articles and engaging in discussions on research and the interpretation of research results. Junior Specialists are also expected to participate in appropriate professional/technical societies or groups and other educational and research organizations as well as review research proposals, journal manuscripts, and publications as applicable related to their research area of expertise.
JOB SUMMARY AND DESIGNATED AREA OF EXPERTISE
The candidate will join the Neurorobotics Lab, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California Davis, led by Professor Karen Moxon. The lab is focused on developing computational methods to analyze neural data. Under the direction of the PI, the candidate is expected to collect, organize, and present data, engage in lab meetings and discussions on research, and assist in the interpretation and publication of those data. The candidate will be mentored regarding career paths in academia or industry and be supported to present data at conferences and contribute to the publication of peer reviewed manuscripts. The candidate’s significant and meaningful contributions will lead to authorship or acknowledgement on published work.
MAJOR RESEARCH RESPONSIBILITIES (60% EFFORT)
• Using existing data in the lab, apply cutting edge computational approaches to the analysis of the data. Working with the PI, become familiar with the existing data structures and computational approaches.
• Design hypothesis driven research questions to analyze the data that provide new understanding of the systems under study.
• Identify creative ways to address any need for revision of experimental protocols.
• In collaboration with PI and other lab personnel, support the writing and reviewing of manuscripts and presentation of data at conferences.
Read, review, and summarize literature pertinent to neural engineering and/or the direction of the research.
• Present research results during lab meetings.
• Lab maintenance and organization including pre-purchasing efforts, scheduling volunteer activities, documenting lab software and computer hardware.
• Animal care pre and post operative.
PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE AND ACTIVITY (30% EFFORT)
• Candidate will participate in appropriate professional/technical societies or groups and other educational and research organizations.
• The candidate will present their work formally to the team in an open forum once every two months and meet with the PI weekly to discuss progress.
• The candidate will attend workshops related to scientific writing and be fully supported to improve writing and presentation skills.
• The candidate will have opportunities to present abstracts describing their work at national meetings and be first author on key publications of their work.
• The candidate is expected to attend workshops at Davis or other institutions for writing skills for both grants and manuscripts, as well as other topics including plagiarism, presentation skills, diversity and inclusiveness and academic job hunt.
• With support from the PI and other researchers in the lab, write journal articles based on the research conducted, analyzed and synthesized.
UNIVERSITY AND PUBLIC SERVICE (10% EFFORT)
• Help organize meetings, workshops and public outreach events in neuroengineering.
Qualifications
A bachelor's degree in biomedical engineering, engineering, neurobiology, biology or related field, or equivalent research experience is required.
Application Requirements
Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
Cover Letter (Optional)
Statement of Research (Optional)
Authorization to Release Information Form - This form is required for all applicants applying to academic recruitments. Please see the Employment Disclosure Requirements webpage for more information. Download, complete, sign, and upload the form.
Help contact: edpanguito@ucdavis.edu
About UC Davis
As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct, are currently being investigated for misconduct, left a position during an investigation for alleged misconduct, or have filed an appeal with a previous employer.
- “Misconduct” means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant’s previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer.
- UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
- UC Anti-Discrimination Policy for Employees, Students and Third Parties
- APM - 035: Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment
To implement this process, UC Davis requires all applicants for any open search to complete, sign, and upload the form entitled, "Authorization to Release Information" into UC RECRUIT as part of their application. If an applicant does not include the signed authorization with the application materials, the application will be considered incomplete, and as with any incomplete application, will not receive further consideration.
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