Mid-Atlantic HERC

Junior/Assistant Specialist - Building Blocks of Cognition Laboratory - Psychology

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

Most recent review date: Friday, Apr 17, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications received after this date will be reviewed by the search committee if the position has not yet been filled.

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 qualifications

• Bachelor'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 requirements

• Curriculum 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

About UC Berkeley

UC Berkeley is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in our public mission of research, teaching, and service, consistent with UC Regents Policy 4400 and University of California Academic Personnel policy (APM 210 1-d). These values are embedded in our Principles of Community, which reflect our passion for critical inquiry, debate, discovery and innovation, and our deep commitment to contributing to a better world. Every member of the UC Berkeley community has a role in sustaining a safe, caring and humane environment in which these values can thrive.

The University of California, Berkeley 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, or protected veteran status.

For more information, please refer to the University of California's Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment Policy and the University of California's Anti-Discrimination Policy.

In searches when letters of reference are required all letters will be treated as confidential per University of California policy and California state law. Please refer potential referees, including when letters are provided via a third party (i.e., dossier service or career center), to the UC Berkeley statement of confidentiality prior to submitting their letter.

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.

Unless stated otherwise, unambiguously, in the position description, this position does not include sponsorship of a new consular H-1B visa petition that would require payment of the $100,000 supplemental fee.

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct.

• 'Misconduct' means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment or discrimination, as defined by the employer.
• UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
• UC Anti-Discrimination Policy
• APM - 035: Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment

Job location
Berkeley, CA


To apply, visit https://aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF05304









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