Postdoctoral Associate (Tian Lab)

New York University; New York (NY); On-site; USD 63,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

New York University’s Center for Neural Science invites applications for a Postdoctoral Associate position focused on the neural basis of cognition. The role leads projects combining neuroscience and cognitive science in a multidisciplinary team.

Based in NYU’s Washington Square campus, the position involves animal and human behavioral work, computational modeling, and electrophysiology with onsite responsibilities. Competitive salary between $62,500 and $70,000 plus benefits.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in neuroscience, computational neuroscience, cognitive science, computer science, bioengineering, or a related field.
• Demonstrated ability to design and execute research projects.

Responsibilities

• Leading the design and execution of projects at the intersection of neuroscience and cognitive science.
• When appropriate, mentoring students and research assistants.
• When appropriate, engaging in collaborations within the lab and across labs.
• Helping to build a lab culture of rigor, curiosity and collegiality.

Skills

Quantitative skills

Programming (Python)

Education

Ph.D. in neuroscience or related field

Job description

New York University: NYU - NY: Arts and Science (A&S): Center for Neural Science

Location

New York, NY

Open Date

Oct 15, 2026

Description

Postdoctoral Associate in the neural basis of cognition.

Laboratory of Cognitive Neural Systems (PI: Lucas Tian)

Center for Neural Science & Department of Biomedical Engineering | New York University

This position is based in New York and the selected candidate will be expected to work onsite as of their effective start date.

The Laboratory of Cognitive Neural Systems, based in NYU’s Washington Square campus, is seeking a postdoctoral associate to lead a project studying the neural basis of intelligence—focusing on how neural systems learn and generalize by representing the world's abstract, compositional structure and reorganizing it to solve novel problems, in the context of rich motor and cognitive tasks.

The successful candidate will join a multidisciplinary team (including neuroscientists, cognitive scientists, and engineers) and lead a project involving one or more of the following approaches:

• Behavior and electrophysiology in animal models;
• Computational modeling of behavior and neural activity;
• Behavior and neural recordings in humans.

Responsibilities

• Leading the design and execution of projects at the intersection of neuroscience and cognitive science.
• When appropriate, mentoring students and research assistants.
• When appropriate, engaging in collaborations within the lab and across labs.
• Helping to build a lab culture of rigor, curiosity and collegiality.

In compliance with NYC’s Pay Transparency Act, the annual base salary range for this position is $62,500- $70,000. New York University considers factors such as (but not limited to) the specific grant funding and the terms of the research grant when extending an offer.

Qualifications

Required qualifications

• Ph.D. in neuroscience, computational neuroscience, cognitive science, computer science, bioengineering, or a related field.
• Demonstrated ability to design and execute research projects.

Preferred qualifications

• Strong quantitative and programming skills (preferably Python).
• Experience with behavior and electrophysiology in animals or humans.

NYU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to a policy of equal treatment and opportunity in every aspect of its recruitment and hiring process without regard to age, alienage, caregiver status, childbirth, citizenship status, color, creed, disability, domestic violence victim status, ethnicity, familial status, gender and/or gender identity or expression, marital status, military status, national origin, parental status, partnership status, predisposing genetic characteristics, pregnancy, race, religion, reproductive health decision making, sex, sexual orientation, unemployment status, veteran status, or any other legally protected basis. All interested persons are encouraged to apply for vacant positions at all levels.