Senior Research Associate

Founded in 1965, UC Irvine is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities and is ranked among the nation’s top 10 public universities by U.S. News & World Report. The campus has produced five Nobel laureates and is known for its academic achievement, premier research, innovation and anteater mascot. Led by Chancellor Howard Gillman, UC Irvine has more than 36,000 students and offers 224 degree programs.

It’s located in one of the world’s safest and most economically vibrant communities and is Orange County’s second-largest employer, contributing $7 billion annually to the local economy and $8 billion statewide.

To learn more about UC Irvine, visit www.uci.edu.

The Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery aims to advance the field of otolaryngology through educating medical students, residents and fellows, conducting cutting-edge research and caring for patients in Orange County and beyond.

The Staff Research Associate (SRA) will support NIH-sponsored research projects in hearing-related neuroscience and auditory prostheses, including preclinical studies of cochlear implant technologies. Primary responsibilities include conducting routine behavioral testing, performing non-invasive electrophysiological measurements, and assisting with extracellular neural recording experiments. These duties require handling and training non-rodent animal models in operant-based perceptual tasks; proficiency in auditory electrophysiological recording techniques; and preparing and administering veterinary medications and experimental agents.

The SRA will also provide perioperative support for survival and acute laboratory surgeries. These duties include preparing the operating space, pharmaceuticals, and sterile instruments; assisting with intraoperative procedures and health monitoring; and executing postoperative care protocols. The SRA will maintain accurate research records, help with data management, and utilize programming environments such as MATLAB or Python, with opportunities to contribute to quantitative data analysis.

Additionally, the SRA will support routine laboratory operations, including inventory management and procurement, general lab maintenance, coordinating with veterinary staff to manage animal welfare, and ensuring compliance with university and federal regulatory guidelines. Prior experience with the above-mentioned techniques is advantageous, but supplemental training will be provided.

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant scientific field (e.g., life sciences, behavioral sciences, engineering, or related discipline); or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Experience handling animal models and behavioral training protocols
• Familiarity with electrophysiological recording techniques
• Basic proficiency using MATLAB or Python
• Skills in formulating and administering veterinary medications and providing surgical support (e.g., aseptic technique, health monitoring)
• Experience with maintaining institutional regulatory and safety compliance
• Ability to manage detailed research records and data pipelines
• Demonstrated ability to work independently
• Previous experience working in a research setting, including basic laboratory procedures and managing day-to-day laboratory logistics

• Due to the nature of the experiments, this position will require scheduling flexibility, including occasional work on weekends or during evening hours. The candidate must be willing to work with animals. All studies will be conducted in accordance with the National Institute of Health guidelines and with the approval of the UCI Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee.

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