Junior Specialist- Munakata Lab

Position Overview

Professor Yuko Munakata seeks a full‑time lab coordinator junior specialist in the Center for Mind and Brain at the University of California, Davis. The position is for 1–2 years with potential renewal based on performance and funding, beginning Summer 2026 (start date flexible). Salary estimate: $55,000 at Step 1.

The lab investigates executive function development in children, focusing on goal planning, self‑control, flexibility, problem‑solving, and the social/contextual influences on these abilities.

• Develop research materials (10%): make substantive contributions to study design, stimulus creation, data analysis and interpretation.
• Research dissemination (20%):
  • Contribute to presentations, publications, grant proposals and progress reports.
  • Participate in weekly literature discussions and lead relevant reviews.
  • Disseminate findings and support undergraduates in presenting at conferences and local events, such as the UC‑Davis Undergraduate Research Day.
• Undergraduate research assistant recruiting, training, and mentoring (20%):
  • Interview, train, and mentor undergraduate students on recruitment, data collection, coding and analysis protocols.
• Conducting research (30%):
  • Test child and adult participants using behavioral, eye‑tracking, and brain‑imaging techniques.
  • Interview and consent participants or their caregivers.
• Administrative lab tasks (20%):
  • Maintain subject‑funding budgets and order supplies.
  • Prepare and maintain IRB materials and ensure compliance.
  • Support outreach to partner organizations in the community, e.g., developing mobile research exhibits for children's museums.

• Bachelor's degree
• Excellent writing and communication skills
• Excellent organizational and time‑management skills
• Experience working in a lab/research setting
• Computer skills (e.g., Microsoft Excel & Word, Google Calendar, Gmail, Google Drive)

• Bachelor's degree in Psychology or a related field
• Leadership or managerial experience with peers or more senior individuals
• Experience coordinating/collaborating with multiple teams
• Experience creating, adapting, or documenting protocols (e.g., organizational or personnel procedures)
• Experience with children and families
• Experience in EEG data acquisition and processing
• Experience submitting protocols to an Institutional Review Board (IRB)
• Statistical analysis skills, including experience with R
• Web design and social media skills
• Programming skills (e.g., with Psychopy, E‑Prime, and MATLAB)

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.

Under Federal law, the University of California may employ only individuals who are legally able to work in the United States and certain positions funded by federal contracts may require an E‑Verify check.

Applicants must comply with applicable University policies and collective bargaining agreements. As part of the application, the candidate will be required to disclose any relevant misconduct or investigation history as outlined by UC Davis policy.

Davis, CA