Research Engineering​/Scientist Assistant

Position: Research Engineering/ Scientist Assistant

Research Engineering/ Scientist Assistant

Join to apply for the Research Engineering/ Scientist Assistant role at The University of Texas at Austin

Department: Department of Psychiatry

Position Open To: All Applicants

Weekly Scheduled

Hours:

40

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Earliest

Start Date:

Immediately

Position Duration: Expected to Continue Until Dec 31, 2025

Location: AUSTIN, TX

Job Details: This is a grant‑funded position with an end date of December 31, 2025
. Renewal is contingent upon continued availability of funding, satisfactory work performance, and progress toward stated research goals.
The Dunsmoor lab for Learning, Memory, and Emotion at the University of Texas at Austin is recruiting a candidate to assist with human neuroimaging research investigating how emotion shapes learning and memory. The candidate will primarily be involved in day‑to‑day management tasks of lab activities including scheduling and recruiting participants and assisting with data collection on the lab’s grant‑funded projects. This position is ideal for postgraduates who are seeking research experience before applying to graduate programs.

Research topics relate to cognitive neuroscience of emotion and memory.

Responsibilities

• Provide research assistance/support for research projects and be responsible for day‑to‑day operations of research activities as part of a team of faculty, graduate students, and undergraduate assistants.
• Help with recruitment, participant phone screens, consenting research subjects, and data (MRI and behavioral) collection, entry, and analysis.
• Oversee implementation of new functional neuroimaging protocols, including technical aspects of using 3D visual display and precise collection of psycho-physiological measures during MRI scanning.
• Conduct diagnostic interviews and clinical assessments of patients with posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety disorders, and normative control participants.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a scientific, engineering, or technical field.
• Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Preferred Qualifications

• Some background in basic programming preferred.
• Professional demeanor with tact and respect at all times.
• Ability to address individuals and information with a high degree of sensitivity and confidentiality in various delicate, formal or urgent situations.
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Outstanding organizational and time‑management skills.
• Demonstrated critical thinking skills and excellent attention to detail.
• Demonstrated ability to work well with a culturally diverse group of faculty, staff, and students, including the willingness and ability to train and oversee undergraduate and graduate students.

Salary Range: $32,500 + depending on qualifications

Working Conditions

• May work around standard office conditions
• May work around electrical and mechanical hazards
• Repetitive use of a keyboard at a workstation
• Other working conditions:
  Must be eligible to enter an MRI facility (e.g., no metal implants in the body)
• This position is 100% on‑campus with an expectation to report to work on‑site during the scheduled work week.

Required Materials

• Resume/CV
• 3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor
• Letter of interest

Important for applicants who are NOT current university employees or contingent workers:

You will be prompted to submit your resume the first time you apply, then you will be provided an option to upload a new Resume for subsequent applications. Any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) will be uploaded in the Application Questions section; you will be able to multi‑select additional files. Before submitting your online job application, ensure that ALL Required Materials have been uploaded.

Once your job application has been submitted, you cannot make changes.

Important for current university employees and contingent workers:

As a current university employee or contingent worker, you MUST apply within Workday by searching for Find UT Jobs. If you are a current University employee, log‑in to Workday, navigate to your Worker…