What are the responsibilities and job description for the Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience Junior Specialist position at UC Irvine?
Position Overview
Salary range: A reasonable estimate for this position is $53,100- $56,600. See Table Represented, Exempt for the salary range for this position.
Application Window
Open date: July 1, 2025
Most recent review date: Friday, Oct 10, 2025 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications received after this date will be reviewed by the search committee if the position has not yet been filled.
Final date: Tuesday, Jun 30, 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 University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, seeks a Junior Specialist for research in the Translational Cognitive and Affective (TCAN) Laboratory, which studies the neural mechanisms of cognitive dysfunction in individuals with mental illness. This position is to serve a multi-faceted role as a study coordinator for several newly funded and ongoing grant-funded research projects under the direction of Dr. Cameron Carter. These ongoing grants include an investigation of inflammatory factors in the etiology of psychotic illness, MRI predictors of treatment response, the effect of brain stimulation on cognition and symptoms, and optimizing of cognitive tasks to better understand the impact of psychosis across diagnoses.
These projects utilize multiple cognitive neuroscience methodologies, including electrophysiology (EEG), transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to examine high-level cognitive processing in both healthy adults and in individuals with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depression. As such, this position will provide training and the opportunity to gain proficiency in a variety of cognitive neuroscience data collection techniques as well as clinical interviewing.
The ideal candidate will have strong interpersonal, communication, and decision-making skills, as well as the ability to work well independently and as part of a team. Previous experience with programming, data collection, and processing, particularly with tDCS, EEG and/or MRI, is desirable for more technically oriented applicants. Clinical interviewing interest and experience is desirable for more clinically oriented applicants. The incumbent will join a large team of fellow research assistants involved in coordinating these projects and will coordinate a variety aspects of the research study, in collaboration with the team.
This position is offered at a 100%-time appointment for one year with the potential to renew annually.
Salaries are based on University of California salary scales, which are dependent on academic rank and step, and commensurate with experience.
Application Procedure: Interested candidates should apply through UC Irvine’s RECRUIT system located at https://recruit.ap.uci.edu/JPF09626
Qualifications
Basic qualifications (required at time of application)
Required: 1) Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in psychology, neuroscience, neuroimaging, or related field, 2) Excellent oral and written communication skills, 3) Fluency in English for reading research protocols, documenting data into charts, and communicating with research participants, 4) Exceptional record-keeping, organizational, and time-management skills and ability to multi-task, 5) Ability to build and maintain rapport with research participants, colleagues, and international collaborators.
Document requirements
About UC Irvine
The University of California, Irvine is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories covered by the UC anti-discrimination policy .
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.
Job location
Irvine, CA
Salary range: A reasonable estimate for this position is $53,100- $56,600. See Table Represented, Exempt for the salary range for this position.
Application Window
Open date: July 1, 2025
Most recent review date: Friday, Oct 10, 2025 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications received after this date will be reviewed by the search committee if the position has not yet been filled.
Final date: Tuesday, Jun 30, 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 University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, seeks a Junior Specialist for research in the Translational Cognitive and Affective (TCAN) Laboratory, which studies the neural mechanisms of cognitive dysfunction in individuals with mental illness. This position is to serve a multi-faceted role as a study coordinator for several newly funded and ongoing grant-funded research projects under the direction of Dr. Cameron Carter. These ongoing grants include an investigation of inflammatory factors in the etiology of psychotic illness, MRI predictors of treatment response, the effect of brain stimulation on cognition and symptoms, and optimizing of cognitive tasks to better understand the impact of psychosis across diagnoses.
These projects utilize multiple cognitive neuroscience methodologies, including electrophysiology (EEG), transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to examine high-level cognitive processing in both healthy adults and in individuals with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depression. As such, this position will provide training and the opportunity to gain proficiency in a variety of cognitive neuroscience data collection techniques as well as clinical interviewing.
The ideal candidate will have strong interpersonal, communication, and decision-making skills, as well as the ability to work well independently and as part of a team. Previous experience with programming, data collection, and processing, particularly with tDCS, EEG and/or MRI, is desirable for more technically oriented applicants. Clinical interviewing interest and experience is desirable for more clinically oriented applicants. The incumbent will join a large team of fellow research assistants involved in coordinating these projects and will coordinate a variety aspects of the research study, in collaboration with the team.
This position is offered at a 100%-time appointment for one year with the potential to renew annually.
Salaries are based on University of California salary scales, which are dependent on academic rank and step, and commensurate with experience.
Application Procedure: Interested candidates should apply through UC Irvine’s RECRUIT system located at https://recruit.ap.uci.edu/JPF09626
Qualifications
Basic qualifications (required at time of application)
Required: 1) Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in psychology, neuroscience, neuroimaging, or related field, 2) Excellent oral and written communication skills, 3) Fluency in English for reading research protocols, documenting data into charts, and communicating with research participants, 4) Exceptional record-keeping, organizational, and time-management skills and ability to multi-task, 5) Ability to build and maintain rapport with research participants, colleagues, and international collaborators.
- Junior Specialists - Appointees to the Junior rank should possess a baccalaureate degree (or equivalent degree) or equivalent research experience.
Document requirements
- Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
- Cover Letter (Optional)
- 3-5 required (contact information only)
About UC Irvine
The University of California, Irvine is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories covered by the UC anti-discrimination policy .
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.
- “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 or discrimination, 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 .
Job location
Irvine, CA
Salary : $53,100 - $56,600