Research Specialist Position

Decision Neuroscience and Psychopathology Lab (www.dnpl.pitt.edu)

University of Pittsburgh

Director: Alex Dombrovski

PIs: Tim Allen, Vanessa Brown, Aliona Tsypes

We are seeking to hire several full-time Research Specialists to start as early as April 1, 2023 (though start date is flexible). The candidate will work on several NIH-supported studies of learning and decision-making processes in personality disorders, depression, anxiety and suicide. Our lab uses behavioral experiments, computational modeling, fMRI, and EEG. We take a dimensional, transdiagnostic view of psychopathology, yet experienced clinicians on our team train staff in traditional clinical interviews and conduct consensus conferences. Research Specialists assist with the implementation and administration of our protocols. Core responsibilities include, but are not limited to data collection, data management, participant recruitment and retention, and lab administration. Opportunities to contribute to reinforcement learning modeling and analysis of behavioral and neuroimaging data are also available, contingent upon the applicant’s interest. Prior experience in these latter areas, while advantageous, is not required (we provide the necessary training). The ideal candidate will have strong interpersonal and quantitative skills, programming experience, some experience in psychology or neuroscience research, and an interest in clinical applications of cognitive neuroscience.

The following skills are preferred: experience with psychopathology and behavioral assessment; programming (R, Python, Matlab, Bash or similar); [f]MRI processing and analysis (FSL, AFNI, SPM). The lab environment is collaborative, and staff acquire a variety of technical skills and a rich theoretical foundation. Successful lab members get support with independent data projects, such as conference presentations and manuscript preparation. This is an excellent position for those interested in obtaining research experience prior to graduate (e.g., clinical psychology) or medical school.

Education

Required: BA/BS in neuroscience, psychology, engineering, economics, statistics, math, or any relevant science field.

Given the extensive training required, a 2- or 3-year commitment is preferred. To apply, please submit a CV, cover letter that describes research interests, and a list of three references to Amy Lu (luq2@upmc.edu). Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the positions have been filled. We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions or any other characteristic protected by law.