Junior/Assistant Specialist - Building Blocks of Cognition Laboratory - Psychology
The University of California, Berkeley
About this position
Position Overview
Position title: Junior/Assistant Specialist Salary range: The UC academic salary scales set the minimum pay determined by rank and step at appointment. See the following table for the current salary scale for this position: Specialist salary scale The current full-time base salary range for this position is $55,000-$63,500. "Off scale" salaries, which yield compensation that is higher than the published system-wide salary at the designated rank and step, are offered when necessary to meet competitive conditions. Percent time: 100% Anticipated start: July 1, 2026 Position duration: 1 year appointment, with a possibility of renewal
Application Window
Open date: March 17, 2026 Next review date:Friday, Apr 17, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time) Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee. Final date: Tuesday, Jun 30, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time) Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.
Position Description
The University of California, Berkeley, solicits applications for a Junior/Assistant Specialist, in the Building Blocks of Cognition Laboratory, directed by Dr. Silvia Bunge. The Building Blocks of Cognition Laboratory at the University of California at Berkeley, headed by Professor Silvia Bunge, studies the cognitive and neural processes that support reasoning, memory, and goal-directed behavior in humans. To investigate these phenomena, the lab leverages behavioral, brain imaging, and eyetracking method are used. Junior/Asst Specialist will work on a National Institute of Mental Health project titled "Narrowing the mechanistic gap for anterior prefrontal cortex function". The Junior/Assistant Specialist will work closely with Professor Bunge and the project team on this study. Depending on project status at the time of hire, the successful candidate may be involved in data collection: recruiting, screening, scheduling, and compensating participants, collecting behavioral data, assisting with scanning, and overseeing and coordinating with undergraduate research assistants and the scanner technician. The bulk of the position will involve analyzing fMRI and/or diffusion tensor imaging data and presenting and writing up the results for publication. The position will also involve managing data sharing with the research community, handling purchasing and reimbursements, organizing lab meetings and research team meetings. This project targets the lateral aspect of anterior PFC, a brain region whose anatomy in humans is not clearly defined and whose fundamental role in cognition is poorly understood. At a descriptive level, aLPFC is involved in multiple higher-level cognitive abilities. Here, we are investigating its function and connectivity with other brain regions at a more granular level via fMRI, structural MRI, and diffusion-weighted imaging on the 3 Tesla and 7 Tesla scanners at the Brain Imaging Center at UC Berkeley. This project would be an excellent fit for individuals interested in pursuing a Ph.D. in the field of cognitive neuroscience.
Qualifications
Basic qualifications(required at time of application)Bachelor's degree (or equivalent international degree) or currently enrolled in a Bachelor's degree (or equivalent international degree) program. Additional qualifications(required at time of start)Bachelor's degree (or equivalent international degree) at time of start date. Preferred qualificationsBachelor’s degree in Cognitive Neuroscience, Neuroscience, or Psychology. Alternatively, Bachelor’s degree in Data Science or another STEM area but with strong research experience in cognitive neuroscience 1+ year of research experience in a laboratory Co-authorship on a research article or manuscript in preparation First-author presentation at a research conference -Experience with coding (ideally in Python) and statistics, and affinity for learning new quantitative methods Strong interpersonal skills Intrinsically motivated, results-oriented, organized, and efficient
Application Requirements
Document requirementsCurriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V. Cover Letter Reference requirements 2-4 required (contact information only) Apply link:https://aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF05304 Help contact:dreamartinez@berkeley.edu
Job Location
Berkeley, CA Apply now to Junior/Assistant Specialist - Building Blocks of Cognition Laboratory - Psychology or Log in to your portfolio Need help? Contact the hiring department. The University of California, Berkeley is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. You have the right to an equal employment opportunity. The University of California, Berkeley is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. See our Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act Annual Security Reports Academic Personnel Recruit University of California, Berkeley Accessibility About California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) Opt-Out IconPrivacy Policy © 2007-2026 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.