Assistant/Associate Project Scientist - Behavioral and Systems Neuroscience

Position overview

Salary range: The UC academic salary scales set the minimum pay determined by rank and step at appointment. The current full-time base salary range for this position is $88,000-$101,200.

Percent time: 100%

Anticipated start: Fall 2026

Position duration: One year with the possibility of extension based on performance and availability of funding.

Application Window

Open date: May 24, 2026

Next review date: Monday, Jun 8, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)

Final date: Thursday, Jun 25, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)

Position description

The Neuroscience department at the University of California, Berkeley seeks applications for an Assistant/Associate Project Scientist in the Wilbrecht Lab, in the area of behavioral and systems neuroscience.

The Wilbrecht lab studies the effects of early life adversity and psychiatric risk genes on the development of learning and decision making. We also measure neural activity to determine how neural circuits support different learning phenotypes.

The position will contribute in four major ways: 1) behavioral neurobiology experiments (husbandry, training, recording, and histology, 2) data analyses and computational modeling (planning and execution), 3) writing and revising drafts of manuscripts and grants, and 4) mentoring and managing materials, supplies, and data.

Responsibilities:

• designing and executing experiments
• data management
• protocol management
• safety management
• reagent management
• equipment management
• data analysis
• manuscript preparation
• presenting research and attending lab meetings
• contributing to grant proposals
• mentoring graduate students and postdoctoral researchers

Qualifications

Basic qualifications (required at time of application)

PhD (or equivalent international degree).

Additional qualifications (required at time of start)

At least two years of post-PhD research experience.

Preferred qualifications

• PhD in neuroscience, psychology, or a related field.
• Extensive experience with behavioral methods for the study of learning and decision making.
• Experience generating and analyzing neural recordings using at least two modern methods.
• Extensive knowledge of statistical methods and computational modeling techniques.
• Research interest in the area of early life adversity and adaptive developmental plasticity.
• Experience mentoring graduate and undergraduate students in laboratory settings.
• Strong publication record in peer-reviewed journals.
• Excellent writing and communication skills.