JR. SPECIALIST for The Bauman & Schumann Lab

University of California - Davis; Davis (CA); On-site; USD 57,000 - 61,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of California, Davis seeks a Junior Specialist to join the MIND Institute research team. The role involves assisting in studies on primate brains, preparing tissue, data collection, and contributing to manuscript preparation.

Requirements include a Bachelor's in neuroscience or related field, strong lab skills, and ability to work in a team; bachelor's plus three years experience acceptable. The position is based in Davis, CA with standard state benefits.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in neuroscience or related field required.
• Previous neuroscience laboratory experience and basic lab skills preferred.
• Ability to maintain accurate records and work in a team.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical support for ongoing primate brain research projects.
• Perform tissue processing, sectioning, staining, and data collection.
• Assist in writing journal articles and grant background data; support brain banking tasks.

Skills

Record keeping

Teamwork

Data analysis

Lab techniques

Education

Bachelor's degree in neuroscience or related field

Tools

Excel

Microsoft Word

PowerPoint

Outlook

Job description

Position overview

Salary range: A reasonable estimate for this position is $57,000 at Step 1 or $60,700 at Step 2.

Application Window

Open date: August 24, 2026

Next review date: Tuesday, Sep 8, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)

Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.

Final date: Wednesday, Sep 30, 2026 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.

Position description

In general, it is inappropriate to appoint an individual with a Master's or doctoral degree in the relevant discipline or a baccalaureate degree plus three or more years of experience with the specialized methods as a Junior Specialist.

The incumbent for this position will be involved in interdisciplinary studies focusing on questions in research on human and nonhuman primate brains at a laboratory at the MIND Institute. The candidate will also summarize data, prepare figures, and have the opportunity to assist in writing manuscripts for publication and grant proposals. The incumbent will also provide support for human brain banking programs (assist with donations, process brains, and organize storage and records). General responsibilities include:

I. RESEARCH ACTIVITY (85%)

• Specific research and technical activities: Provide technical support for ongoing research projects that focus on (i) understanding the impact of maternal infection on offspring brain development (preclinical models) and (ii) the development of amygdala in autism.
• Section and mount tissue, perform immunochemistry on tissues, collect and analyze results, participate in lab meetings and discussions, analyze slides and collect data. Assist with writing journal articles and assembling background data needed for publications.
• Specific duties: Sectioning, mounting, and staining glass slides of human, monkey and rat tissues using various techniques including, but not limited to, cell-body and immunohistochemical stains. Assist in further processing of tissues such as sectioning human brains on a microtome, mounting on slides and staining. Data collection using quantitative neuropathological techniques with a microscope and computer-aided software for data collection and quantitative analyses of tissue using, but not limited to, light, fluorescence, confocal, and electron microscopy. Knowledge of chemical principles and basic laboratory techniques are required for this function. Maintain general use chemicals and cleanliness of the laboratory. Provide assistance to other technicians, students, and postdoctoral researchers.
• Brain Bank Support Role: Available weekdays, nights, and occasional weekends to process incoming human brain donations on short notice. This includes preparing space for tissue handling, precisely sectioning unfixed human brains, freezing tissues with the use of liquid nitrogen, and taking photos and detailed notes during sectioning and cleanup. Maintain storage and database management of brain samples.

II. PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE AND ACTIVITY (10%)

• Assist principal investigators in formatting figures for presentations, manuscripts, and grants.
• Attend local lectures and conferences
• Present abstracts at local meetings

III. UNIVERSITY AND PUBLIC SERVICE (5%)

• Assist PI in STEMM outreach efforts.
• Assist in outreach and education to the public on the importance of research.
• Assist with lab and specimen setup, preparation and cleanup for when PI is teaching graduate students and postdocs.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in neuroscience or related field.
• Previous experience in neuroscience laboratory with demonstrated basic lab skills. (e.g., preparing laboratory reagents, maintaining laboratory equipment).
• Ability to maintain excellent and accurate records.
• Ability to transport self to and from community site locations.
• Ability to work as part of a team.

ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS:

• Advanced knowledge of spreadsheet software such as Excel to create and edit data, manage data sets in spreadsheet, perform mathematical tasks accurately using formulas, and create documents.
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft applications including Microsoft Word and Powerpoint, electronic calendaring and e-mail software (Outlook).
• Excellent organization skills, ability to focus and work with multiple interruptions.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Operation of a computer system of data entry several hours each day.
• May be required to lift items weighing as much as 25 lbs, may be required to do bending, stooping, and sitting for periods of time.
• Ability to operate basic laboratory equipment (pipette, centrifuge).
• Ability to operate sliding microtome and cryostat via sitting for extended periods of time and performing repetitive motions involved in tissue sectioning.
• Must be able to wear lab appropriate clothing and personal protective equipment such as lab coats, gloves, face shield, and goggles.

Qualifications

Basic qualifications (required at time of application)

Bachelor's degree in neuroscience or related field (required at the time of start)

Additional qualifications (required at time of start)

• Previous experience in neuroscience laboratory with demonstrated basic lab skills. (e.g., preparing laboratory reagents, maintaining laboratory equipment).
• Ability to maintain excellent and accurate records.
• Ability to transport self to and from community site locations.
• Ability to work as part of a team.
• Advanced knowledge of spreadsheet software such as Excel to create and edit data, manage data sets in spreadsheet, perform mathematical tasks accurately using formulas, and create documents.
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft applications including Microsoft Word and Powerpoint, electronic calendaring and e-mail software (Outlook).
• Excellent organization skills, ability to focus and work with multiple interruptions.

Application Requirements

Document requirements

• Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
• Cover Letter (Optional)
• Statement of Research (Optional)
• Statement of Teaching (Optional)
• Authorization to Release Information Form - This form is required for all applicants applying to academic recruitments. Please see the Employment Disclosure Requirements webpage for more information. Download, complete, sign, and upload the form.

Reference requirements

• 3-5 required (contact information only)

Help contact: [e-mail]

About UC Davis

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct.

• "Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at