Staff Research Scientist - (Research Professional 6)

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

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive wages

Paid holidays

Regents Tuition Benefit Program

Excellent retirement plans

Employee wellness program

PSLF opportunity

Job summary

The Bronstein and Widge labs at the University of Minnesota are seeking a staff research scientist for a neuromodulation project aimed at improving thoughts of suicide and mental health outcomes. The role emphasizes independent scientific decisions, coordinating multiple teams, and guiding day‑to‑day activities while advancing the research objectives.

Applicants should have a strong publication record and experience in neuroimaging or neuromodulation, with a PhD in a related field.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree with substantial research and publication record.
• PhD in neuroscience, psychology, biomedical engineering, or a similar field.
• Experience with neuroimaging or neuromodulation and cross-team coordination.

Responsibilities

• Solve complex research problems and design protocols to meet objectives.
• Integrate findings across teams and produce peer‑reviewed publications and reports.
• Mentor staff, oversee day-to-day scientific activities, and guide strategic directions.
• Develop and refine practices to improve research efficiency and quality.
• Manage multi‑institution contracts, budgets, and grant deliverables.
• Represent the project on committees and coordinate with stakeholders.

Skills

Scientific productivity

Leadership

Team coordination

Education

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

Job description

Job ID: 376767

Location: Twin Cities

Job Family: Research

Full/Part Time: Full-Time

Regular/Temporary: Regular

Job Code: 9792CR

Employee Class: Acad Prof and Admin

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 endeavors, 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 to your research expertise. Person will be expected to make scientific and programmatic decisions with limited oversight, consulting as needed with PI. They will be expected to select and monitor strategic directions for day-to- day level operations. Make evidence-based key decisions in those areas with limited oversight and high effectiveness. Coordinate actively with other team members to maximize scientific productivity.
• (25%) Integrate research findings from members of various scientific teams, describe how they advance planned tasks/milestones, and ultimately produce high-quality peer-reviewed publications, reports for the public, sponsor briefings, and presentations. Additional reporting may also include summary reports of critical deliverables, identifying key achievements, and translating these into sponsor-relevant language. The role will also initiate, monitor, and adjust as needed, scientific directions of relevant projects. Person will be in charge of overseeing, implementing, adjusting extant strategic directions and making as many strategic decisions as possible within the scope of their expertise as independently as possible.
• (25%) Collaborate with investigators, project managers, and other study staff to manage project planning operations. Guide less senior team members through routine decisions as they execute day-to-day scientific activities on the project. This will include mentoring and serving as an example to research staff in the ethical conduct of research. Provide strategic direction and proactively identify when goals are not being met or roadblocks arise, recommend potential solutions include staff hiring/termination. The individual will also lead the manuscript preparation and writing, including serving as the author or co-author.
• (10%) Develop and modify practices and procedures to improve efficiency and quality to effectively achieve end results.
• (10%) Manage complexities of multi-institution contracts, agreements, and coordination, as well as bring relevant stakeholders together to overcome roadblocks. Individual will also contribute to maintaining current funding, including overseeing budget planning and management. Person will be expected to proactively create deliverables for current grants, and will be expected to be capable of creating and editing administrative documents for new grant submissions.
• (5%) Serve as a scientific representative on various committees and teams making decisions and recommendations on behalf of the project.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:
Advanced degree with substantial research and publication record

Preferred Qualifications:

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

About the Department

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

Our mission is to:

• Create and disseminate new knowledge in the science of mental health
• Provide effective and innovative clinical care programs to alleviate the suffering of mental illness and promote mental resilience
• Train the next generation of interprofessional experts who will be leaders in Minnesota and beyond
• Engage in compassionate and vigorous outreach and advocacy on issues 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 more information regarding benefit eligibility.

The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program
• 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 counseling at no cost
• Employee Transit Pass with free or reduced rates in the Twin Cities metro area

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 diversity and 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 the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive 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 by Forbes as a Best Employer for Company Culture (2026), Best Employer for 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-life flexibility.