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The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn’s distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning.

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Posted Job Title

Research Specialist, Computational Memory Lab

Job Profile Title

Research Specialist A

Job Description Summary

The Computational Memory Lab at the University of Pennsylvania seeks to recruit a research specialist to assist with a multicenter project aimed at identifying patterns of brain activity that predict when memory will succeed or fail, and using these patterns to guide closed-loop stimulation protocols aimed at boosting memory in patients with brain injury or neurological disease. The successful candidate will join a multi-disciplinary team of researchers, clinicians, data scientists, and engineers to carry out research under several federally funded grants. The ideal candidate will possess exceptional organizational and interpersonal skills, a sound foundation of technical skills and a strong desire to further build those skills during their tenure in the lab, and a passion for research aimed at understanding the neural basis of human memory. This is an ideal position for someone interested in pursuing future graduate training in cognitive/systems/computational neuroscience or bioengineering, and provides an excellent opportunity to work with clinical researchers, neurologists, and neurosurgeons at top medical research centers across the country. The position requires familiarity with Python, MATLAB, or similar programming languages, and comfort working in a Unix environment. Exceptional candidates will have experience in data analysis and programming and a strong record of academic achievement. A 2-year commitment is expected. Position is contingent on continued funding. Please see http://memory.psych.upenn.edu for more information about the lab and its projects.

Job Description

Major responsibilities include: the administration of memory tests and collection of electrophysiological recordings from neurosurgical patients at medical centers in the Philadelphia area and across the country; coordination of experimental studies by interfacing with research staff at leading neuroscience institutions; processing behavioral and electrophysiological data to produce experiment session reports.  The individual will also assist with regulatory submissions, communicate results to physicians, and perform regular data quality audits.  The individual is expected to be able to work independently with limited oversight to maximize the amount of high-quality data collected.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in psychology, cognitive science, neuroscience, bioengineering, or related field, and 0 to 1 year of experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills.
• Experience with human subjects research, especially in a clinical setting.
• Familiarity with Python, MATLAB, R, or other languages, and familiarity with Linux environments.
• Ability to travel up to 20% of the time and work flexible hours as needed.
• A two-year commitment is desired.

Working Conditions

Office, Library, Computer Room; Requires extensive safety

Physical Effort

Typically sitting at a desk or table; Occasional lifting 25 lb. or less

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

School of Arts and Sciences

Pay Range

$35,568.00 - $57,600.00

Affirmative Action Statement 

Penn adheres to a policy that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected class.

Special Requirements 

Background check required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.