Affective Neuroscience Assistant Research Scientist at University of Maryland College Park, MD

Job Description Summary

Affective Neuroscience Assistant Research Scientist at the University of Maryland College Park. The Applied Research Laboratory for Intelligence and Security (ARLIS) was established in 2018 under the auspices of the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence to be a strategic asset for research and development in social systems, autonomy and augmentation, and advanced computing. ARLIS is one of only 15 Department of Defense University Affiliated Research Centers in the nation and the only UARC focused on supporting the intelligence community.

The laboratory conducts both unclassified and classified research spanning basic to applied system development and serves the U.S. government as an independent, objective, trusted agent.

The Assistant Research Scientist will contribute interdisciplinary human‑subject research projects within ARLIS, focusing on neurophysiological measurement techniques including functional near‑infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) and electroencephalography (EEG). This role supports ARLIS’s mission to advance applied research in human performance, cognition, and emotion science for national security and defense. Scientists in this role design, conduct, analyze, and publish experimental studies and contribute to broader research programs in experimental psychology and neuroscience.

A U.S. security clearance is required.

• Design and conduct research studies involving fNIRS and EEG with human subjects.
• Implement experimental protocols rooted in emotion and cognitive psychology.
• Recruit, consent, and manage research participants in compliance with IRB protocols.
• Analyze complex neurophysiological and behavioral datasets using statistical methods.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams and contribute to publications, reports, and briefings.
• Apply open science practices and maintain thorough documentation of procedures.
• Participate in internal reviews, sponsor briefings, and project planning meetings.
• Assist in grant writing and funding proposal development as needed.

• Doctoral degree (Ph.D. preferred) in Psychology, Neuroscience, Cognitive Science, or a related field.
• At least 1 year of hands‑on experience conducting fNIRS and/or EEG research with human participants.
• Familiarity with experimental design, data collection, and analysis in emotion or cognitive research.
• Experience with human subjects research protocols and compliance.

• Expertise in EEG and/or fNIRS methodology.
• Strong foundation in experimental psychology and human subject research methods.
• Familiarity with emotion research, especially in applied or experimental contexts.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a cross‑functional team.
• Statistical analysis skills, including multilevel modeling (MLM), regression, and/or machine learning.
• Proficiency in scientific programming (R and/or Python preferred).
• Strong written and oral communication skills for technical and non‑technical audiences.
• Commitment to ethical research, continuous learning, and team collaboration.

Primarily sedentary work in a professional office or lab environment. Regular use of computers and laboratory equipment. In‑person attendance at research study sessions and participant training required. Occasional travel for conferences or site coordination.

• Experience with multivariate statistical analysis.
• Proficiency in R and/or Python for data analysis and visualization.
• Experience analyzing emotion‑related or affective neuroscience data.
• Demonstrated interest in applying research to defense, intelligence, or operational contexts.
• Active TS/SCI clearance.

• No licenses required.
• IRB and human subjects research training (e.g., CITI certification) preferred.

This rank is generally parallel to Assistant Professor. Appointees shall have demonstrated superior scientific research ability and should be qualified and competent to direct the work of others such as technicians, graduate students, and other research personnel. An earned doctoral degree is a normal minimum requirement for appointment at this rank.

Cover Letter, Resume, List of References.

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The University of Maryland, College Park is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment. Please read the University’s Equal Employment Opportunity Statement of Policy.