Laboratory Assistant

Florida Atlantic University; Boca Raton (FL); On-site; USD 25,000 - 32,000; Part time

Job summary

Florida Atlantic University’s Department of Psychology seeks a part-time Laboratory Assistant in Boca Raton, FL. You will help establish a new neuroscience lab and receive mentorship in EEG and fMRI methods, data processing, and scientific writing.

The role offers hands-on training, opportunities to contribute to publications, and collaboration within a supportive research team focused on aging and cognitive neuroscience. Monday–Friday, up to 29 hours.

Qualifications

• Minimum qualifications: high school diploma or equivalent.
• Laboratory setup, maintenance, and troubleshooting.
• Familiarity with EEG and fMRI data workflows and basic analysis.

Responsibilities

• Establishing laboratory infrastructure and workflows.
• Set up and troubleshoot EEG or other equipment.
• Develop EEG preprocessing and analysis pipelines.
• Assist with fMRI preprocessing and analysis pipelines.
• Program behavioral experiments (PsychoPy, PsychoJS, E-Prime, MATLAB).
• Participate in study design and interpretation of findings.
• Manage research databases and data quality.
• Assist with participant recruitment, scheduling, and testing.
• Supervise and train undergraduate researchers.
• Contribute to manuscript writing and conference presentations.
• Perform general lab management and administrative tasks.

Skills

EEG

fMRI

MATLAB

PsychoPy

PsychoJS

E-Prime

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

PsychoPy

PsychoJS

E-Prime

MATLAB

Job description

For more information on everything FAU has to offer, please visit www.fau.edu/jobs. Note: Current FAU employees must apply as an internal applicant by logging into their existing Workday employee account.

The Department of Psychology at Florida Atlantic University is seeking a highly motivated part-time Laboratory Assistant in Boca Raton, FL. The research for Dr. Pehlivanoglu's lab investigates resilience and vulnerability in cognitive, affective, and social functioning across adulthood and aging by employing a multimethod approach that integrates behavioral experiments/surveys with physiological (e.g., eye-tracking) and neuroimaging (EEG/ERP, and fMRI) measures.

The Laboratory Assistant will play a central role in establishing a new laboratory from the ground up while receiving extensive mentorship in research design, cognitive neuroscience methods, EEG and fMRI data acquisition and analysis, statistical analysis, and scientific writing. The position also offers extensive training in cognitive and affective aging research within a collaborative and supportive research environment. The Laboratory Assistant will also have opportunities to contribute to scientific publications and conference presentations.

This is a part-time, 1-year position with the possibility of renewal for a second year based on performance. This position is ideal for an individual interested in pursuing training in neuroscience, psychology, biomedical engineering, computer science, cognitive science, or a related field after gaining intensive research experience.

The Laboratory Assistant will work closely with the principal investigator on all aspects of research, including:

• Assisting with the establishment of laboratory infrastructure and research workflows.
• Setting up, maintaining, and troubleshooting EEG or other research equipment.
• Developing and optimizing EEG preprocessing and analysis pipelines.
• Assisting with fMRI preprocessing and analysis pipelines.
• Programming behavioral experiments (e.g., PsychoPy, PsychoJS, E-Prime, MATLAB).
• Participating in study design, project development, and interpretation of research findings.
• Managing research databases and ensuring high-quality data organization.
• Assisting with participant recruitment, scheduling, and testing.
• Supervising and training undergraduate research assistants.
• Assisting with statistical analyses, data visualization, and reproducible research workflows.
• Contributing to manuscript preparation, conference presentations, and grant-related activities.
• Performing general laboratory management and administrative tasks as needed.
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned.

Explore Living in Palm Beach County

Florida Atlantic University has six different campuses. The goal is to provide local employers and new employees in the area a comprehensive guide with places to live.

Minimum Qualifications:

A high school diploma or equivalent from an accredited institution is required.

Salary:

$18.00 USD - $23.00 USD hourly

Non-Exempt Other Personnel Service (OPS)

College or Department: College of Science

Location:

Boca Raton

Work Days and Hours:

Monday - Friday, part-time up to 29 hours.

Application Deadline:

2026-10-23

Special Instructions to Applicant:

Temporary positions are not established positions and are paid from OPS funds. Temporary positions are usually not eligible for benefits and retirement; however, they may be eligible for health insurance coverage depending on the average hours worked per week. They provide full-time or part-time employment in an exempt or non-exempt employment situation based on job duties and salary in accordance with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Temporary positions do not have layoff rights and may be terminated without prior notice. Applicants hired into Temporary positions may apply for a regular appointment should a vacancy become available.

Application Documents Required:

Resume Cover letter OFFICIAL SEALED TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED: Final candidate will be required to have official, sealed transcripts and original NACES evaluation, if applicable, sent from their educational institution to Human Resources prior to the start of employment.

Pre-employment Screenings Required:

Selected candidates must successfully complete and pass all employment screenings prior to the start of employment. Employment screenings may include a criminal background check (level I and level II), motor vehicle check, credit check, reference checks, alcohol, and drug screening check.

Request for Accommodations:

Individuals with disabilities requiring accommodations may contact the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX at 561-297-3004 or send an email at [e-mail].

To contact Human Resources, please call 561-297-3057. For communication assistance call 7-1-1.

About Florida Atlantic University:

Florida Atlantic University is Where Tomorrow Begins. As a nationally recognized Carnegie R1 research institution and one of only 13 universities nationwide to also hold Carnegie designations for Opportunity and Community Engagement, Florida Atlantic is advancing discovery, driving economic growth, and preparing graduates to lead in a rapidly changing world. As South Florida's Hometown University, Florida Atlantic serves as a destination for learning, culture, athletics, and community engagement. Through NCAA Division I athletics, world-class performing arts and cultural events, public lectures, gallery exhibitions, environmental education programs, and one of the nation’s largest Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes, Florida Atlantic welcomes thousands of residents, visitors, and learners to its campuses each year. From inspiring environmental education programs to providing enriching experiences for retirees, professionals, families, and sports fans, Florida Atlantic is deeply connected to the communities it serves. Through these experiences and partnerships, the university helps strengthen the region's cultural vitality, workforce, economy and quality of life. For more information, visit www.fau.edu.

Florida Atlantic University is an equal access/equal opportunity employer that complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination. If you require an accommodation to participate in any part of the recruitment process, please contact Florida Atlantic’s Office of Civil Rights and Title IX at 561-297-3004 or send an email to [e-mail]. To contact Human Resources, please call 561-297-3057 or email [e-mail]. For communications assistance, call 7-1-1. Clery Act Information Consumer Information Visit Florida Atlantic’s Consumer Information page for more information about financial aid, its campus, facilities, student athletes, campus security, fire safety, as well as preventing drug and alcohol abuse. Paper copies are available upon request by contacting the Office of Student Financial Aid. Florida Statute 1010.35 – Screening Foreign Researchers Pursuant to Florida law, any applicant or student seeking employment in a research or research‑related support position who is a citizen of a foreign country and not a permanent resident of the U.S., or who is a citizen or permanent resident but is affiliated with or has had at least 1 year of employment or training in China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela, or Syria is subject to additional screening. Applicants meeting those criteria will be required to provide the following information before any offer of employment can be made: every institution of higher education attended; all previous employment since the applicant’s 18th birthday; list of all published material, current and pending research funding from any source, including details about the research, your role, funding source, and amount; list and description of any non‑university professional activities; any affiliation with an institution or program in a foreign country. Selected applicants will be required to provide additional information per the Statute, including a complete copy of your passport; and, if available, the most recently submitted DS‑160 (Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application).