Staff Research Associate I - 141636

University of California San Diego; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 63,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

UC San Diego's Department of Cognitive Science invites applications for a Staff Research Associate I. The position supports a project examining brain mechanisms in children with Tourette syndrome, joining Dr. Deanna Greene's lab.

Duties include participant interaction, recruitment, screening, scheduling, and assisting with neuroimaging and data collection. Ideal candidates have experience working with children, knowledge of MRI methods, and strong data management, statistics, and teamwork

Qualifications

• Experience working with children in a research setting.
• Experience administering cognitive and clinical tests.
• Knowledge of MRI methods for cognitive neuroscience research.
• Knowledge of statistics and research methodology.
• Excellent, interpersonal, oral and written communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Interacting with participants and families; recruiting, screening and scheduling.
• Assisting with neuroimaging data collection and management (e.g., fMRI).
• Scoring, processing and analyses of behavioral, clinical and fMRI data.
• Managing IRB protocols and participant payments; entering/managing databases.

Skills

Experience with children

MRI methods

Statistics

Communication skills

Independent work

Lab protocols

Team collaboration

Organizational skills

Psychology/ neuroscience knowledge

Data management

Job description

Position Details

• Payroll Title: SRA 1
• Department: COGNITIVE SCIENCE
• Hiring Pay Scale: $30.12 - $32.83/hour
• Worksite: Campus
• Appointment Type: Career
• Appointment Percent: 100%
• Union: RX Contract
• Total Openings: 1
• Work Schedule: 8 hrs/day, Mon-Fri

#141636 Staff Research Associate I

Filing Deadline: Tue 10/20/2026

UC San Diego values and welcomes people from all backgrounds. If you are interested in being part of our team, possess the needed licensure and certifications, and feel that you have most of the qualifications and/or transferable skills for a job opening, we strongly encourage you to apply.

UCSD Layoff from Career Appointment: Apply by 10/9/26 for consideration with preference for rehire. All layoff applicants should contact their Employment Advisor.

Reassignment Applicants: Eligible Reassignment clients should contact their Disability Counselor for assistance.

DESCRIPTION

The Department of Cognitive Science promotes the study of learning, perception, action, and interaction in the physical, material, social, and cultural world. The approach is inter-disciplinary employing ideas and techniques from a number of contributing disciplines, including anthropology, communications, computer science, ethology, electrical engineering, linguistics, neurology, neurosciences, philosophy, psychology, rhetoric, and sociology.

The interdisciplinary cognitive science community on campus is integral to cognitive science as practiced at UCSD. The department offers an interdisciplinary Ph.D. in addition to the departmental Ph.D., with participation by members of the Departments of Anthropology, Biology, Cognitive Science, Communication, Computer Science and Engineering, Linguistics, Music, Neuroscience, Philosophy, Psychiatry, Psychology, and Sociology.

The Staff Research Associate I, will join the Greene Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience lab to assist the PI (Dr. Deanna Greene) and other lab members in a research project aimed at examining the brain mechanisms underlying symptoms of children with Tourette syndrome. Primary duties and responsibilities will include interacting with participants and their families, recruiting, screening, and scheduling participants, and assisting with neuroimaging (e.g., fMRI), cognitive, and clinical data collection and management. The position will also assist with scoring, processing, and analyses of behavioral, clinical, and fMRI data, managing IRB protocols, participant payment, imaging costs, and entering/managing databases. The incumbent will join a collaborative research team that studies typical and atypical brain development, bringing together perspectives from cognitive science, psychology, clinical psychology, neuroscience, and computational neuroscience.

• Work Schedule: Variable. Flexible schedule to accommodate child participants and their families' schedules.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience working with children, preferably in a research setting.
• Background and experience in administering cognitive and clinical tests.
• Knowledge of MRI methods for research in cognitive neuroscience.
• Knowledge of statistics and research methodology.
• Experience in using various computing operating systems and software.
• Theoretical knowledge in psychology, neuroscience, and biology or biomedical areas.
• Ability to work independently, use good judgement and make decisions.
• Ability to develop, follow, and troubleshoot established lab protocols and lab procedures.
• Excellent, interpersonal, oral and written communication skills. Ability to usetact, diplomacy, discretion and flexibility with diverse personalities and situation.
• Ability to effectively work as part of a research team, and interact effectively with collaborating labs and others in scientific community.
• Ability to maintain electronic filing systems.
• Demonstrated organizational skills.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

• Job offer is contingent upon satisfactory clearance based on Background Check results.

Pay Transparency Act

Annual Full Pay Range: $62,891 - $75,022 (will be prorated if the appointment percentage is less than 100%)

Hourly Equivalent: $30.12 - $35.93

Factors in determining the appropriate compensation for a role include experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. The Hiring Pay Scale referenced in the job posting is the budgeted salary or hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position. The Annual Full Pay Range may be broader than what the University anticipates to pay for this position, based on internal equity, budget, and collective bargaining agreements (when applicable).

If employed by the University of California, you will be required to comply with our Policy on Vaccination Programs, which may be amended or revised from time to time. Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.

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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.

For the University of California’s Anti-Discrimination Policy, please visit https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/1001004/Anti-Discrimination

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Misconduct Disclosure Requirement: As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts an 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; or have filed an appeal of a finding of substantiated misconduct with a previous employer.

a. "Misconduct" means any violation of the policies governing employee conduct at the applicant’s previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, or discrimination, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC’s policies addressing some forms of misconduct:

• UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
• UC Anti-Discrimination Policy
• Abusive Conduct in the Workplace

Prospective employees who are ordinarily residents in Iran or who are physically located in Iran are generally not eligible to for employment per suspension of General License G on 24 August 2026. If you have ever resided in Iran or have an Iranian passport and would like to confirm your eligibility, please contact [e-mail] for consideration of your particular circumstances.