Junior Specialist in Mind and Brain

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Half-time Junior Specialist Position
Center for Mind and Brain, University of California, Davis

Professor Yuko Munakata seeks to fill a 50% time junior specialist position in the Center for Mind and Brain at the University of California, Davis to begin June 2022 (start date flexible). The position is for 1-2 years with the possibility of renewal based on performance and funding.

The lab studies the development of executive functioning, investigating how children learn to achieve goals by planning ahead, stopping themselves from doing things they shouldn’t do, flexibly switching from one activity to another, and solving problems. The lab also explores social and contextual factors that shape the development of executive function, and implications for intervention.

The junior specialist will work closely with the PI and lab group to support and participate in all aspects of the lab’s research in executive function development. The position will involve collaborating with the PI, postdocs, and grad students to develop new experimental designs and procedures, analyze and interpret data, present research at conferences, and submit manuscripts for publication.

Responsibilities will include:
Research (70%)
● Make substantive contributions to study design, stimulus creation, data analysis and interpretations
● Test child and adult research participants using behavioral, eye tracking, and brain imaging techniques (if we have re-opened the lab post-COVID; otherwise studies will be run on-line)
● Interview and consent participants or their caregivers
● Make substantive contributions to presentations, publications, grant proposals, and grant progress reports
● Participate in weekly discussions of relevant literature, and conduct literature reviews relevant to the work being conducted
● Maintain budgets, order supplies
● Prepare and maintain IRB materials and ensure compliance with those protocols.
● Support outreach efforts to partner with relevant organizations in the community around common interests (e.g., developing mobile research exhibits for children’s museums)
● Prepare figures and text for presentation at research conferences and for manuscripts to be submitted for publication.

University and Public Service (30%)
● Train and mentor undergraduate students on participant recruitment, data collection, coding and analyses protocols. This will provide a university service in that you will be actively facilitating the participation of undergraduate students in research activities.

• Bachelor's degree
• Excellent writing and communication skills
• Excellent organizational and time management skills
• Experience working in a lab/research setting
• Ability to multitask and prioritize
• Ability to work independently under minimal supervision and as part of a team, including remotely
• Computer skills (e.g., Microsoft Excel & Word, Google Calendar, Gmail, Google Drive)

• Bachelor's degree in Psychology or a related field
• Leadership or managerial experience, particularly with peers or more senior individuals
• Experience coordinating/collaborating with multiple teams
• A professional, positive, and flexible attitude
• Experience creating, adapting, and/or documenting protocols (e.g., organizational or personnel procedures)
• Experience with children and families
• Experience in any aspect of developmental cognitive neuroscience
• Experience submitting protocols to an Institutional Review Board (IRB)
• Statistical analysis skills, including experience with analytical software such as R
• Web design and social media skills
• Programming skills (e.g., with Psychopy, Python, E-Prime, and MATLAB)

• 2-3 required (contact information only)

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

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As a condition of employment, you will be required to comply with the University of California SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) Vaccination Program Policy. All Covered Individuals under the policy must provide proof of Full Vaccination or, if applicable, submit a request for Exception (based on Medical Exemption, Disability, and/or Religious Objection) or Deferral (based on pregnancy) no later than the applicable deadline. New University of California employees should refer to Appendix F, Section II.C. of the policy for applicable deadlines. (Capitalized terms in this paragraph are defined in the policy.) Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.