Junior Specialist - Ghetti Lab

University of California - Davis; Davis (CA); On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of California - Davis is seeking a full-time Research Assistant for the Center for Mind and Brain. The position involves working on projects investigating neural development in infants. Key responsibilities include participant recruitment, data collection, and assisting with neuroimaging sessions.

Qualifications include a college degree in psychology or neuroscience and research experience with children. Strong organizational and communication skills are necessary. The role provides opportunities to develop important research skills. Preferred qualifications include online survey software experience and familiarity with UC Davis protocols.

Qualifications

• College degree in psychology or neuroscience.
• Prior experience conducting research with children.
• Excellent interpersonal, writing, organizational, and time-management skills.
• Proficiency in research software.
• Experience with statistical analysis, e.g., using R.
• Experience with neuroimaging data collection.

Responsibilities

• Recruit and schedule research participants by phone.
• Assist with data collection, including behavioral assessments.
• Conduct neuroimaging scanning sessions.
• Clean, manage, and process data.
• Maintain human subject protocols and consent forms.
• Purchase laboratory supplies.
• Participate in literature reviews and manuscript preparation.
• Prepare figures and text for presentations.
• Assist in community outreach.
• Train undergraduate students on protocols.

Skills

Excellent interpersonal skills

Writing skills

Organizational skills

Time-management skills

Proficiency in Microsoft Excel

Statistical analysis using R

Experience with neuroimaging data collection

Education

College degree in psychology or neuroscience

Tools

Research software

Qualtrics

Job description

Position Overview

Full-time Research Assistant Position, Center for Mind and Brain, University of California, Davis. Dr. Simona Ghetti in the Psychology Department seeks to fill a full‑time research assistant position at the Junior Specialist level, beginning August 1, 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter. The position will last one year, with the possibility of extension for another year. The successful candidate will work on research projects investigating neural development underlying word learning and retention, and emerging episodic memory in infancy and early childhood. The role will provide exposure to all aspects of the research process and opportunities to acquire important research and intellectual skills.

Responsibilities

• Recruit and schedule research participants by phone.
• Assist with data collection with adult and child participants and their parents, including administering behavioral assessments and measuring height, weight, and blood pressure.
• Conduct neuroimaging scanning sessions, primarily at night.
• Clean, manage, and process behavioral and neuroimaging data.
• Maintain human subject protocols, consent forms, and communicate with the IRB.
• Purchase laboratory supplies.
• Participate in frequent discussions of relevant literature and conduct literature reviews.
• Contribute to writing and preparation of manuscripts for publication.
• Prepare figures and text for presentations and manuscripts.
• Assist in preparing and submitting presentations for international conferences.
• Participate in community outreach to disseminate findings.
• Train undergraduate students on participant recruitment, data collection, coding, and analysis protocols.
• Assist in dissemination activities in the community.

Qualifications

• College degree in psychology or neuroscience.
• Prior experience conducting research with children in psychology or neuroscience.
• Excellent interpersonal, writing, organizational, and time‑management skills.
• Proficiency in research software (Microsoft Excel, Word, Google Calendar).
• Experience with statistical analysis, e.g., using R.
• Experience with neuroimaging data collection.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with online survey software such as Qualtrics.
• Experience with UC Davis IRB‑approved protocols.
• Experience with neuroimaging analytical pipelines, e.g., FSL.
• Experience working with infants and toddlers in research settings.

Application Requirements

• Curriculum Vitae (most recently updated).
• Cover Letter (optional).
• Authorization to Release Information form (required).
• References: 2–3 required (contact information only).

Apply link: https://recruit.ucdavis.edu/JPF07705

Job Location

Davis, CA

Equal Opportunity Employer

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, UC Davis may employ only individuals who are legally able to work in the United States. Certain UC Davis positions funded by federal contracts or sub-contracts require the selected candidate to pass an E-Verify check.