Lab Assistant, Psychology

Inside Higher Ed; City of Binghamton (NY); On-site; USD 40,834 - 49,909; Full time

Job summary

A public research institution in New York is looking for a Lab Assistant to support behavioral experiments and neuronal development research in the Manzano Lab. Responsibilities include conducting experiments on mice, data analysis in Python or MATLAB, and maintaining lab organization. Qualified candidates should have a Bachelor's degree in a relevant field and at least 6 months of research experience. This is a full-time, temporary position with a salary of $45,372, with possibilities for extension based on funding.

Qualifications

• Must have a Bachelor's degree or higher by November 1, 2025.
• At least 6 months of research experience in relevant fields.
• Demonstrated critical thinking and quantitative skills.

Responsibilities

• Conduct in vivo calcium imaging experiments on mice.
• Perform behavioral assays and maintain the animal colony.
• Analyze data using systems neuroscience approaches.

Skills

Problem-solving creativity

Willingness to learn new skills

Teamwork

Quantitative and critical thinking

Basic familiarity with biology and neuroscience

Effective communication skills

Data analysis and presentation skills

Interpersonal and organizational skills

Ability to work both independently and collaboratively

Research interest in developmental neuroscience

Education

Bachelor's degree in psychology, computer science, engineering, neuroscience, biology, mathematics, or related field

Tools

Python

MATLAB

R

Job description

Overview

Binghamton University is a premier public R1 research institution in the State University of New York (SUNY) system that unites more than 130 broadly interdisciplinary educational programs with some of the most vibrant research in the nation. Our unique character - shaped by our mission, outstanding academics, facilities, and community life - promotes extraordinary student success, research, and service; Binghamton University is where our students, faculty and staff thrive.

Working at Binghamton University is more than about having a great job - it is about having the opportunity to flourish in an exciting, engaging environment. Our faculty and staff appreciate Binghamton's collegial and inclusive culture and its commitment to excellence, education, innovation and civic engagement. Our diverse campus community contributes to our success. We are an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer, and in keeping with this commitment, we welcome all to apply, including veterans and persons with disabilities.

Job Description

Budget Title: Instructional Support Assistant (SL-1)

Salary: $45,372 (full-time, temporary)

The Manzano Lab, located at Binghamton University, is seeking a Lab Assistant to participate in conducting behavioral experiments probing circuit development in mice brains. Research will use mice to model neuronal development. These experiments will entail the creation, validation, and running of behavioral experiments on pre-adolescent, adolescent, and adult animals. The Lab Assistant will also have the opportunity to use novel imaging techniques to probe changes in neuronal processing as mice grow from adolescents into adults. Additionally, Lab Assistants will have the opportunity to get involved in the data analysis of behavioral and calcium imaging data. This would involve data processing and computational analysis, in Python or Matlab. For more information visit the Manzano Lab Website. This position has the possibility to be extended, based on available funding.

Responsibilities

• Performing in vivo calcium imaging experiments aimed at understanding how neural circuits generate complex behaviors in pre-adolescent, adolescent, and adult mice
• Performing all aspects of experiment, including surgeries, behavioral assays, and histology
• Maintaining the animal colony
• Processing calcium imaging data to extract calcium traces via software packages
• Analyzing and interpreting data - applying systems neuroscience approaches to examine high-dimensional neural data. Approaches used include neural network-based approaches, Bayesian inference, and more
• Assisting with the oversight of day-to-day functions of the lab and shared lab spaces dedicated to running research studies
• Assisting in lab management, organization, equipment maintenance, and maintaining a safe work environment

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Ability to solve problems creatively
• Willingness to learn new skills
• Ability to work in a team
• Quantitative and critical thinking skills
• Basic familiarity with biology and/or neuroscience
• Effective oral and written communication skills
• Ability to analyze data and present it in a format suitable for publication
• Effective interpersonal and organizational skills
• Ability to balance the demands of an immersive research project with basic lab managerial tasks
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively
• Ability to adapt to the project's changing needs
• Research interest in developmental neuroscience and/or systems neuroscience in rodent models

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree (or higher) in psychology, computer science, engineering, neuroscience, biology, mathematics, or related field, by November 1, 2025
• At least 6 months of full/part-time experience working in a research setting in developmental psychology, circuit neuroscience, computational analysis, engineering, or related field (This research experience does not need to be consecutive nor paid)
• Demonstrated quantitative and critical thinking skills (through coursework or research experience)
• Demonstrated basic familiarity with biology and/or neuroscience (through coursework or research experience)

Preferred

• Experience in one or more of the following: Python, MATLAB, or R
• Demonstrated debugging skills
• Experience with system neuroscience research using rodent models

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position

Additional Information

Offers of employment may be contingent upon successful completion of a pre-employment background check and verification of degree(s) and credentials. Binghamton University is a tobacco-free campus. Pursuant to Executive Order 161, no State entity, as defined by the Executive Order, is permitted to ask, or mandate, in any form, that an applicant for employment provide his or her current compensation, or any prior compensation history, until such time as the applicant is extended a conditional offer of employment with compensation. If such information has been requested from you before such time, please contact the Governor's Office of Employee Relations at [phone] or via email at [e-mail]

Payroll information can be found on our website https://www.binghamton.edu/offices/human-resources/payroll/

Cover letters may be addressed "To the Search Committee."

Postings active on the website, accept applications until closure.

For Information On The Dual Career Program, Please Visit

https://www.binghamton.edu/offices/human-resources/prospective/dual-career/index.html

Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer

The State University of New York is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. It is the policy of Binghamton University to provide for and promote equal opportunity employment, compensation, and other terms and conditions of employment without discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, religion, disability, national origin, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, veteran or military service member status, marital status, domestic violence victim status, genetic predisposition or carrier status, or arrest and/or criminal conviction record unless based upon a bona fide occupational qualification or other exception.

As required by Title IX and its implementing regulations Binghamton University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the educational programs and activities which it operates. This requirement extends to employment and admission. Inquiries about sex discrimination may be directed to the University Title IX Coordinator or directly to the Office of Civil Rights (OCR). The Title IX Coordinator and OCR contact information, as well as the University's complete Non-Discrimination Notice, may be found here.

Binghamton University is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, contact the ADA Coordinator by completing the Reasonable Accommodation Request Form.

Application Instructions

All applicants must apply via Interview Exchange: http://binghamton.interviewexchange.com/candapply.jsp?JOBID=192913

Deadline for Internal Applicants: October 1, 2025

Deadline for External Applicants: Open until filled

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the vacancy is filled.

Submit

• Cover letter describing their research interests, skills and how they align with this position;
• Curriculum vitae (include your GPA and relevant course work on your resume); and
• Contact information for three professional references (names, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses)

You may add additional files/documents after uploading your resume. After you fill out your contact information, you will be directed to the upload page. Please login to check/edit your profile or to upload additional documents: http://binghamton.interviewexchange.com/login.jsp.