Project Assistant – Psychology and Cognitive Sciences

Darwinbox Digital Solutions Pvt. Ltd.; Sonipat; On-site; INR 300,000 - 450,000; Part time

Job summary

Ashoka University in Sonipat, Haryana invites applications for a Project Assistant in Psychology and Cognitive Sciences to support an fMRI research programme. The role involves coordinating with the scanner facility, study participants, and collaborating researchers, with hands‑on sessions and data preparation.

The ideal candidate holds a Master’s degree in Psychology or related field, with at least 12 months of research experience and familiarity with fMRI data collection.

Qualifications

• Master's in Psychology, Cognitive Science, Neuroscience or related field.
• At least 1 year of research experience with fMRI/neuroimaging.
• Familiarity with fMRI data collection and/or analysis.
• Basic programming knowledge in Python, MATLAB or R.

Responsibilities

• Assist in setup and day-to-day running of fMRI studies, including recruitment and scheduling.
• Standardise scanning protocols and coordinate with the scanner facility.
• Support data collection, organisation and preliminary analysis of neuroimaging data.
• Ensure adherence to ethical and safety protocols and document procedures.

Skills

Quantitative data handling

Attention to protocol

Coordination skills

Education

Master's degree in Psychology, Cognitive Science, Neuroscience

Tools

Python

MATLAB

R

Job description

Project Assistant – Psychology and Cognitive Sciences Psychology (Support) Sonipat, Sonipat, Haryana, India 1 - 2 Years

Job Description

Project Assistant : Psychology and Cognitive Sciences

Location : Ashoka University Campus, Sonipat, Haryana (Delhi-NCR)

Department: Psychology and Cognitive Sciences

Reports To: Dr Sneha Shashidhara, Assistant Professor, Psychology and Cognitive Sciences

Role Type: Contractual – Initial appointment of 2 months, renewable up to 2 years based on performance and project requirements

Experience: Minimum 1 year of research experience, including some hands-on experience with fMRI research

ABOUT THE ROLE

As Project Assistant, you will support Dr Sneha Shashidhara's fMRI research programme in the Department of Psychology and Cognitive Sciences, working closely with the scanner facility, study participants, and collaborating researchers. You will play a hands-on role in running scanning sessions, standardising protocols, and organising study data. By six months, you should be able to coordinate scanning sessions independently and deliver reliable, well-documented data ready for analysis.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assist in the setup and day-to-day running of fMRI research studies, including participant recruitment, scheduling, and scanning sessions.
• Test and standardise fMRI scanning protocols; this will involve travel to the scanner facility.
• Support data collection, organisation, and preliminary analysis of neuroimaging and behavioural data.
• Help with study administration, documentation, and adherence to ethical and safety protocols.
• Coordinate with collaborators, facility staff, and study participants as required.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

Qualifications

• Education: Master's degree in Psychology, Cognitive Science, Neuroscience, or a related discipline.
• Experience: Minimum 1 year of research experience, with some prior hands-on experience in fMRI/neuroimaging research.
• Familiarity with fMRI data collection and/or analysis.
• Basic quantitative and data-handling skills, with working knowledge of a programming language such as Python, MATLAB, or R.

Who You Are

• You bring precision to protocol-driven work, standardising scanning procedures and documentation carefully so results stay consistent and reliable across sessions.
• You coordinate easily across faculty, scanner facility staff, and study participants, keeping scheduling, consent, and communication running smoothly across a study.
• You take initiative on the ground, troubleshooting a scanning hiccup or a scheduling clash in the moment rather than waiting to be told what to do.
• Y ou are comfortable with the physical rhythm of an active study — regular travel to the scanner facility and hands-on time with participants and equipment.

ABOUT ASHOKA UNIVERSITY

Ashoka University is India's premier interdisciplinary higher education and research-focused institution, offering world-class opportunities in the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities. Established in 2014 by leaders, thinkers, academics, and philanthropists from diverse fields, it operates on a unique model of collective philanthropy, integrating exemplary governance standards with cutting-edge pedagogy and a faculty body of international acclaim.

Today, the University has a community of 3000+ students and operates seven Schools imparting industry-oriented education, professional skills, and values-based learning to prepare students for global careers. The University espouses principles of inclusivity and diversity, having more than 57% women, 4% international scholars, 100+ students with disabilities, and over 47% students on scholarships. Since its inception, Rs 723 crores have been awarded in scholarships with over 2,000 students receiving full-tuition fee waivers cumulatively and 5400+ students being supported through scholarships. In addition, nearly 5500 of Ashoka's alumni are pursuing careers of their choice in reputed organisations and leading universities across the world.

Ashoka University continues to reaffirm its commitment to building an inclusive institution of excellence in teaching and research, nurturing responsible leaders for India and the world. In 2025, Ashoka University was honoured with the 'University of the Year (Emerging)' award at the 20th FICCI Higher Education Summit 2025 - one of India's notable industry platforms celebrating excellence in academia and innovation. The University also secured the first position in the Indian Institutional Ranking Framework (IIRF) 2025 in two prestigious categories.

The Ashoka advantage will continue to equip its students with the skills to see the big picture - to critically analyse, question, interpret, craft compelling arguments, and find sustainable solutions. It is a collective effort towards nation-building. This is where tomorrow's leaders are born.

Check out the Ashoka Website to know more : https://www.ashoka.edu.in/