Staff Research Scientist - (Research Professional 6)

University of Minnesota; Minneapolis (MN); On-site; USD 115,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

The Bronstein and Widge labs at the University of Minnesota, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, seek a staff research scientist to advance a project on personalized non-invasive neuromodulation for suicidal thoughts and mental health outcomes.

The role involves integrating science from multiple teams, guiding day-to-day research activities, mentoring staff, and shaping protocols to drive the project toward powered tests and meaningful clinical impact.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree with substantial research and publication record.
• PhD in neuroscience, psychology, biomedical engineering, or a similar field.
• Evidence of scientific productivity (peer‑reviewed publications) in areas such as neuroimaging, neuromodulation, suicidology, or the study of severe mental illness.

Responsibilities

• Play a hands-on role in areas of the project relevant to your research expertise, making scientific and programmatic decisions with limited oversight.
• Integrate research findings from multiple teams and produce high-quality peer‑reviewed publications and sponsor updates.
• Collaborate with investigators and study staff to manage planning and day‑to‑day scientific activities, mentoring junior team members and guiding ethical conduct of research.
• Develop and modify practices and procedures to improve efficiency and quality to achieve end results.
• Manage multi-institution contracts and budgeting, overseeing funding and grant deliverables, and contributing to grant submissions.

Education

Advanced degree with substantial research and publication record

PhD in neuroscience, psychology, biomedical engineering, or similar field

Job description

About the Job

The Bronstein and Widge labs in the University of Minnesota Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences are jointly seeking a staff research scientist (Research Professional 6) for a project focused on personalized, non-invasive neuromodulation to improve thoughts of suicide and other mental health outcomes. A competitive applicant will have previous experience with neuromodulation or neuroimaging research, a strong track record of success as an individual and team contributor to scientific endeavours, and the ability to balance oversight and coordination between teams and other administrative duties with scientific output. Previous work on complex, fast paced, interdisciplinary efforts is a plus.

A successful applicant will be responsible for activities such as integrating scientific content from multiple teams into high-quality program progress reports, tracking team progress against project milestones and proactively recommending and acting on solutions as problems arise, as well as guiding and indirectly overseeing less senior team members as they execute day-to-day aspects of the research project. The applicant will need to solve complex problems and design protocols, procedures, and policies to fulfill the research objectives.

This is a unique opportunity to be involved in the rapid movement of an intervention that could dramatically change standard of care from preliminary data to fully powered tests.

Job responsibilities:

• (25%) Play a hands-on role in areas of the project relevant toyour research expertise. Person will be expected to make scientificand programmatic decisions with limited oversight, consulting asneeded with PI. They will be expected to select and monitorstrategic directions for day-to- day level operations. Makeevidence-based key decisions in those areas with limited oversightand high effectiveness. Coordinate actively with other team membersto maximize scientific productivity.
• (25%) Integrate research findings from members of variousscientific teams, describe how they advance plannedtasks/milestones, and ultimately produce high-quality peer-reviewedpublications, reports for the public, sponsor briefings, andpresentations. Additional reporting may also include summaryreports of critical deliverables, identifying key achievements, andtranslating these into sponsor-relevant language. The role willalso initiate, monitor, and adjust as needed, scientific directionsof relevant projects. Person will be in charge of overseeing,implementing, adjusting extant strategic directions and making asmany strategic decisions as possible within the scope of theirexpertise as independently as possible.
• (25%) Collaborate with investigators, project managers, and otherstudy staff to manage project planning operations. Guide lesssenior team members through routine decisions as they executeday-to-day scientific activities on the project. This will includementoring and serving as an example to research staff in theethical conduct of research. Provide strategic direction andproactively identify when goals are not being met or roadblocksarise, recommend potential solutions include staffhiring/termination. The individual will also lead the manuscriptpreparation and writing, including serving as the author orco-author.
• (10%) Develop and modify practices and procedures to improveefficiency and quality to effectively achieve end results.
• (10%) Manage complexities of multi-institution contracts,agreements, and coordination, as well as bring relevantstakeholders together to overcome roadblocks. Individual will alsocontribute to maintaining current funding, including overseeingbudget planning andmanagement. Person will be expected to proactively createdeliverables for current grants, and will be expected to be capableof creating and editing administrative documents for new grantsubmissions.
• (5%) Serve as a scientific representative on various committeesand teams making decisions and recommendations on behalf of theproject.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

Advanced degree with substantial research and publicationrecord

Preferred Qualifications:

• PhD in neuroscience, psychology, biomedical engineering, or asimilar field.
• Evidence of scientific productivity (e.g., in peer-reviewedpublications) in areas such as neuroimaging, neuromodulation,suicidology, or the study of severe mental illness.

About the Department

The Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences consists ofan outstanding team of researchers, clinicians, and educators whoprovide world-class expertise in psychiatric illness, treatment,scholarship, and scientific discovery.

Our mission is to:

• Create and disseminate new knowledge in the science of mentalhealth
• Provide effective and innovative clinical care programs toalleviate the suffering of mental illness and promote mentalresilience
• Train the next generation of interprofessional experts who willbe leaders in Minnesota and beyond
• Engage in compassionate and vigorous outreach and advocacy onissues relevant to psychiatric illness, treatment, and research

You can find more information on our website at https://med.umn.edu/psychiatry.

Pay and Benefits

Pay Range: The salary range is $115,000 - $140,000/year,depending on education/qualifications/experience

Time Appointment: 100% Appointment

Position Type: Faculty and P&A Staff

Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for moreinformation regarding benefit eligibility.

The University offers a comprehensive benefits package thatincludes:

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional trainingand degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition BenefitProgram
• Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and employer-paid life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity
• Financial counseling services
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counselingat no cost
• Employee TransitPass with free or reduced rates in the Twin Cities metroarea

While our salary ranges provide a framework, it is important to note that most of the time, the initial pay may not reach the maximum of the range. This approach ensures that compensation reflects the value and unique contributions of each candidate while maintaining equity within our organization. As part of our commitment to fair and equitable compensation, please be aware that the salary offered to incoming candidates will be based on their individual credentials and experience.

Diversity

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversityand inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Employment Requirements

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

About University of Minnesota

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among thelargest public research universities in the country, offeringundergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude ofopportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of oneof the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities,students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit fromextensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers,international corporations, government agencies, and arts,nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized byForbes as a Best Employer for Company Culture (2026), Best Employerfor Women (2023, 2025, 2026), and Best Employer by State(2022-2026). In 2026, we also received Culture Excellence &Industry Awards recognition for employee appreciation and work-lifeflexibility.