Junior Specialist-Toprani Lab

Position overview

Salary range:

Exempt: A reasonable estimate for this position is $55,000 at Step 1 or $58,600 at Step 2.

Non
- Exempt: A reasonable estimate for this position is $26.35/hr at Step 1 or $28.07/hr at Step 2.

Open date: May 21, 2026

Most recent review date: Saturday, Jun 6, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)

Applications received after this date will be reviewed by the search committee if the position has not yet been filled.

Final date: Friday, May 21, 2027 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)

Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

The Department of Neurology at the University of California, Davis, invites applications for a Junior Specialist position under the guidance of Dr. Sheela Toprani. This role focuses on advancing research in neurophysiology with a specific emphasis on epilepsy.

The Junior Specialist will provide technical expertise in the planning and execution of research projects. The role involves analyzing complex biological data to advance our understanding of neurological conditions, specifically epilepsy. This position encourages collaboration with principal investigators to contribute to research proposals and secure funding.

The Junior Specialist will be responsible for lab data and codebase organization, management, and pipeline development. This position will also provide hands‑on support in analysis for iEEG projects, which will include data pre‑processing, event extraction, time‑frequency analysis, event related potential analysis, phase‑locking analysis and network coherence analysis. Familiarity with various computer environments (Windows, Mac OSX), coding skills (Matlab, R, Python), and codebase repositories (Git Hub) is essential.

Previous work with electrophysiological data is preferred.

The selected candidate will be expected to contribute to academic publications published in peer‑reviewed journals, participate in lab meetings and attend relevant talks/meetings. The ideal candidate should possess strong communication and decision‑making skills, have a strong interest in neuroscience, and must be able to work well independently and as part of a team.

• Conduct comprehensive data analysis, focusing on EEG and neuroimaging data, to investigate brain function and network dynamics in epilepsy.
• Utilize advanced statistical and computational models, applying programming skills in Python, MATLAB, and R.
• Prepare and publish research findings in peer‑reviewed journals, ensuring meaningful contributions to the field.
• Disseminate research outcomes through presentations at national and international conferences, workshops, and symposia in collaboration with principal investigators.
• Develop and maintain a codebase that highlights new analytical capabilities introduced during the research.
• Take initiative and engage in critical problem‑solving with enthusiasm for advancing neurophysiological research.

• Participate in appropriate professional/technical societies or groups and other educational and research organizations.
• The candidate may have the opportunity to review research proposals, journal manuscripts, and publications related to the area of expertise.

• Participate in committee activities within the department, college, campus, and other university entities, as appropriate.

• Experience in data analysis and computational modeling related to biological or neurological research.
• Proficiency in Python, MATLAB, R, including related data analysis toolboxes such as Field Trip, and codebase management using Git Hub.
• Experience organizing and managing data processing pipelines.
• Experience with large data signal processing.
• Great communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently, take initiative, critical problem‑solving, and enthusiasm.
• Knowledgeable about issues with computer…