Postdoctoral Research Associate I, Linguistics

Postdoctoral Research Associate I, Linguistics

Company:
The University of Arizona

Job Location:
Tucson, Arizona

Category:
Linguistics

Type:
Adjunct/Part-Time

Posting Number: req25319

Department: Linguistics

Location: Tucson Campus

Address: Tucson, AZ USA

Position Highlights

The University of Arizona's Linguistics Department seeks a Postdoctoral Research Associate to lead an undergraduate research team focused on noninvasive Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs) and consciousness. This role offers the opportunity to drive innovative research at the intersection of cognitive neuroscience, linguistics, and technology, while mentoring the next generation of student researchers.

The Project Director will spearhead technical development, data analysis, and publication efforts for a student-led initiative using OpenBCI hardware, EEG recordings, eye-tracking integration, and machine learning to enhance neural decoding. Based in the Bever Lab, this position emphasizes hands-on mentorship, fostering student expertise in BCI applications for neurological and cognitive processes, such as motor coordination and sensory integration.

Outstanding U of A benefits include health, dental, vision, and life insurance; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; U of A/ASU/NAU tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members; access to U of A recreation and cultural activities; and more!

The University of Arizona has been recognized for our innovative work-life programs. For more information about working at the University of Arizona and relocations services, please click here.

Duties & Responsibilities

• The Postdoctoral Research Associate will guide all technological aspects of the student-led research, overseeing the implementation of EEG, eye-tracking, machine-learning, and other psychophysiological and neurolinguistic data-collection as needed. This includes managing hardware setup (e.g., OpenBCI EEG devices, eye-tracking glasses), software pipelines (using Python libraries like BrainFlow, MNE-Python, and EEGLAB), and real-time data processing for applications like WebGrid-based motor-imagery classification.
• The role involves conducting data analysis, implementing machine-learning algorithms to achieve or exceed industry-standard bits-per-second (BPS) accuracy, and preparing results for publication in peer-reviewed journals and presentation at conferences.
• They will oversee a team of undergraduate students from the UofA Consciousness Club, providing training on equipment use, data-collection protocols, IRB compliance, and research methodologies in consciousness. This includes hands-on instruction in EEG acquisition, signal processing (e.g., time-frequency analysis, ERP, connectivity), and ethical considerations in BCI research.
• The Postdoctoral Fellow will collaborate with faculty mentors across departments.
• This is a half-time position in the Linguistics Department, with access to dedicated lab space in the Bever Lab and resources from the Franke Honors College.
• The role reports to Professor Bever and involves ensuring that equipment remains accessible for future Honors students' supervised research.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Familiarity with IRB processes, ethical guidelines in neuroscience research, and data security protocols.

Minimum Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Psychology, Cognitive Neuroscience, or a related field upon hire, with expertise in neuroimaging, electrophysiology, and brain stimulation techniques (e.g., transcranial focused ultrasound combined with EEG).
• Experience building and integrating EEG systems (e.g., OpenBCI devices) with other data streams, including real-time analysis using Python tools like PsychoPy, EEGLAB, and MNE-Python.
• Experience with signal processing, including analysis of time-frequency, ERP, connectivity, source-estimated, and nonlinear complexity features of EEG signals, as well as machine learning for neural decoding.
• Mentorship experience, including training and supervising undergraduate research assistants in data collection, analysis, and presentation skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in multidisciplinary projects involving neurolinguistics, cognitive science, and consciousness.

FLSA: Non-Exempt

Full Time/Part Time: Part Time

Number of Hours Worked per Week: 20

Job FTE: 0.50

Work Calendar: Fiscal

Job Category: Research

Benefits Eligible: Yes - Full Benefits

Rate of Pay: NIH Salary Guidelines, Depends on Experience

Compensation Type: hourly rate

Type of criminal background check required: Name-based criminal background check (non-security sensitive)

Number of Vacancies: 1

Contact Information for Candidates

Dr. Thomas G. Bever
Professor of Linguistics, Psychology, Cognitive Science & Neuroscience
tgb@arizona.edu

Open Until Filled: Yes

Documents Needed to Apply: Curriculum Vitae (CV) and Cover Letter