Research Technical Assistant

Department

SSD Institute for Mind and Biology:
Staff and Temporary Employees

About the Department

The Institute for Mind and Biology is comprised of 12 faculty members from the Departments of Comparative Human Development and Psychology. In addition to their department appointments, Members contribute significantly to the University's interdisciplinary approach to Neuroscience and Committees on Computational Neuroscience, Evolutionary Biology, Integrative Neuroscience, and Neurobiology. Members also collaborate with other faculty at UChicago in the Biological Sciences Division and Division of Social Sciences as well as colleagues from around the globe.

The Kay laboratory uses behavioral neurophysiology to examine how context, perceptual history, learning and physiological state interact within the brain during sensory perception. The lab studies the physiology of sensory and perceptual processing and learning in the olfactory and limbic systems, using laboratory rats and mice, with several behavioral paradigms designed to uncover different behavioral and cognitive states. Recording and analytical techniques span several scales, from the single neuron to small populations, large populations, and distributed systems of cortical and subcortical regions.

Theoretical interpretations are aimed at understanding system level dynamics and pathology and at examining neural coding hypotheses using framework of complex dynamical systems.

Job Summary

The job provides basic technical support activities related to scientific research projects. Complies with institutional, state, and federal regulatory policies, procedures, directives and mandates. Assists in drafting presentations on research findings.

Responsibilities

• Provide support for research projects, including coordination and preparation of multiple experimental set-ups, running experiments according to protocols.
• Providing general administrative support to and interact with all research support staff and student research assistants.
• Assists with the maintenance of records on the lab’s central server files.
• Collects and enters data. Assists in analysis of data and with preparation of reports, manuscripts and other documents.
• Provides routine or standardized laboratory duties by collecting data in support of research projects under direct supervision.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Minimum requirements include vocational training, apprenticeships or the equivalent experience in related field (not typically required to have a four-year degree).

Work Experience: Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through < 2 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Preferred Qualifications Education

• MA degree in Psychology, Biological Sciences, related coursework, or equivalent knowledge.

Experience

• Prior experience working with rodents and animal behavior.
• Prior experience working with electrophysiology in awake, behaving rodents, experience with survival surgery in rodents.
• Prior experience managing an animal colony with strict adherence to circadian and seasonal controls.

Technical Skills or Knowledge

• Knowledge in relevant scientific field – olfactory behavior and neuroscience.
• Research techniques or methods – operant behavior in rodents, survival surgery in rodents, genotyping animals.
• Knowledge of regulatory policies and procedures.
• Some experience with Matlab, Python, or R.
• Neurophysiological data acquisition.

Preferred Competencies

• Communicate effectively and with influence.
• Lead performance and flawless execution.
• Effectively manage performance of self and team.
• Foster partnership and collaboration.

Application Documents

• Resume (required)
• Cover Letter (required)
• References (required)

Job Family

Research

Role Impact

Individual Contributor

Scheduled Weekly Hours

37.5

Drug Test Required

No

Health Screen Required

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No

Pay Rate Type

Hourly

FLSA Status

Non-Exempt

Pay Range

$18.30 - $23.68

The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Benefits Eligible

Yes

The University of Chicago offers a wide…