Senior Research Associate

UC Irvine; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

UC Irvine is seeking a Staff Research Associate to support NIH-sponsored hearing neuroscience research, including preclinical cochlear implant studies. The role involves behavioral testing, electrophysiology, and training non-rodent animals, with perioperative support and strict data management practices.

Candidates should have a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field and may gain from experience in neural recording techniques and MATLAB/Python tooling.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant scientific field (e.g., life sciences, behavioral sciences, engineering, or related discipline) or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience with animal models and behavioral training protocols is preferred.
• Familiarity with electrophysiological recording techniques is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Conduct routine behavioral testing and non-invasive electrophysiological measurements.
• Assist with extracellular neural recording experiments and training of non-rodent animal models.
• Provide perioperative support, prepare the operating space, and manage data records and health monitoring.

Skills

Animal handling

Electrophysiology techniques

Data management

Independent work

Education

Bachelor's degree in a relevant scientific field

Tools

MATLAB

Python

Job description

Who We Are

Founded in 1965,

Who We Are

Founded in 1965, UC Irvine is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities and is ranked among the nation’s top 10 public universities by U.S. News & World Report. The campus has produced five Nobel laureates and is known for its academic achievement, premier research, innovation and anteater mascot. Led by Chancellor Howard Gillman, UC Irvine has more than 36,000 students and offers 224 degree programs. It’s located in one of the world’s safest and most economically vibrant communities and is Orange County’s second-largest employer, contributing $7 billion annually to the local economy and $8 billion statewide. To learn more about UC Irvine, visit www.uci.edu. The Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery aims to advance the field of otolaryngology through educating medical students, residents and fellows, conducting cutting-edge research and caring for patients in Orange County and beyond.

Your Role on the Team

The Staff Research Associate (SRA) will support NIH-sponsored research projects in hearing-related neuroscience and auditory prostheses, including preclinical studies of cochlear implant technologies. Primary responsibilities include conducting routine behavioral testing, performing non-invasive electrophysiological measurements, and assisting with extracellular neural recording experiments. These duties require handling and training non-rodent animal models in operant-based perceptual tasks; proficiency in auditory electrophysiological recording techniques; and preparing and administering veterinary medications and experimental agents. The SRA will also provide perioperative support for survival and acute laboratory surgeries. These duties include preparing the operating space, pharmaceuticals, and sterile instruments; assisting with intraoperative procedures and health monitoring; and executing postoperative care protocols. The SRA will maintain accurate research records, help with data management, and utilize programming environments such as MATLAB or Python, with opportunities to contribute to quantitative data analysis. Additionally, the SRA will support routine laboratory operations, including inventory management and procurement, general lab maintenance, coordinating with veterinary staff to manage animal welfare, and ensuring compliance with university and federal regulatory guidelines. Prior experience with the above-mentioned techniques is advantageous, but supplemental training will be provided.

Required

What It Takes to be Successful

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant scientific field (e.g., life sciences, behavioral sciences, engineering, or related discipline); or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Preferred

• Experience handling animal models and behavioral training protocols
• Familiarity with electrophysiological recording techniques
• Basic proficiency using MATLAB or Python
• Skills in formulating and administering veterinary medications and providing surgical support (e.g., aseptic technique, health monitoring)
• Experience with maintaining institutional regulatory and safety compliance
• Ability to manage detailed research records and data pipelines
• Demonstrated ability to work independently
• Previous experience working in a research setting, including basic laboratory procedures and managing day-to-day laboratory logistics

Special Conditions

• Due to the nature of the experiments, this position will require scheduling flexibility, including occasional work on weekends or during evening hours. The candidate must be willing to work with animals. All studies will be conducted in accordance with the National Institute of Health guidelines and with the approval of the UCI Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee.

Total Rewards

In addition to the salary range listed below, we offer a wealth of benefits to make working at UCI even more rewarding. These benefits may include medical insurance, sick and vacation time, retirement savings plans, and access to a number of discounts and perks. Please utilize the links listed here to learn more about our compensation practices and benefits.

Conditions Of Employment

The University of California, Irvine (UCI) seeks to provide a safe and healthy environment for the entire UCI community. As part of this commitment, all applicants who accept an offer of employment must comply with the following conditions of employment:

• Background Check and Live Scan
• Employment Misconduct*
• Legal Right to work in the United States
• Vaccination Policies
• Smoking and Tobacco Policy
• Drug Free Environment
• Misconduct Disclosure Requirement: As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; received notice of any allegations or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct; have left a position after receiving notice of allegations or while under investigation in an administrative or disciplinary proceeding involving misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of misconduct with a previous employer.

The following additional conditions may apply, some of which are dependent upon business unit or job specific requirements.

• California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act
• E-Verify
• Pre-Placement Health Evaluation

Details of each policy may be reviewed by visiting the following page - https://hr.uci.edu/new-hire/conditions-of-employment.php

Closing Statement

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 categories covered by the UC Anti-Discrimination Policy.

We are committed to attracting and retaining a diverse workforce along with honoring unique experiences, perspectives, and identities. Together, our community strives to create and maintain working and learning environments that are inclusive, equitable, and welcoming.

UCI provides reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities upon request. For more information, please contact Human Resources at [phone] or [e-mail].

Consideration for Work Authorization Sponsorship

Must be able to provide proof of work authorization