"Professional Research Assistant"

Professional Research Assistant

University of Colorado Denver

Professional Research Assistant - 39160

Research Faculty

Position Details

University of Colorado | Denver

Faculty Level/Title: Professional Research Assistant

Working Title: Professional Research Assistant

FTE: Full time, 1.0 FTE

Hiring Salary: $40,124 annually

Position #00684883 - Requisition #39160

About the University of Colorado - Denver

Millions of moments start at CU Denver, a place where innovation, research, and learning meet in the heart of a global city. We're the state's premier public urban research university with more than 100 in-demand, top ranked bachelors, master's, and doctoral degree programs. We partner with diverse learners-at any stage of their life and career-for transformative educational experiences. Across seven schools and colleges, our leading faculty inspires and works alongside students to solve complex challenges and produce impactful creative work. As part of the state's largest university system, CU Denver is a major contributor to the Colorado economy, with 2,000 employees and an annual economic impact of $800 million. To learn more about how CU Denver helps learners meet their moment, visit ucdenver.edu.

Job Description

A full-time Professional Research Assistant (PRA) position is available in the Behavioral Exercise Neuroscience Laboratory at the downtown campus of the University of Colorado, Denver. The PRA will join a team conducting studies aimed at identifying the brain mechanisms through which psilocybin enables stress resilience, using rodent models. Responsibilities include the collection of research data through experimentation, training and mentoring of research personnel, entering data into databases, managing schedules of laboratory personnel, planning and scheduling experiments, overseeing lab trainee's work, and analyzing and graphing data. This is an eight-month position starting April 1, 2026, through November 30, 2026, with potential for extension dependent on grant funding.

What you will do:

• Conducting behavioral experiments with live rodents (50% time).
• Performing survival surgeries, such as stereotaxic surgery (20% time).
• Performing bench work, including histological techniques (10% time).
• Microscopy analyses of brain tissue (10% time).
• Training undergraduate students, graduate students, and other PRAs on research techniques (10% time).

Qualifications you already possess (Minimum Qualifications)

• Bachelor's degree in Neuroscience, or a related degree, is required.
• One (1) year of experience working with live rodents in a laboratory setting, either as a lab trainee (undergraduate, graduate student) or a Professional Research Assistant.
• Substitution: A combination of education and related technical/paraprofessional experience may be substituted for the bachelor's degree on a year for year basis.

Preferred Qualification to possess (Preferred Qualifications)

• Experience performing stereotaxic surgery.
• Experience conducting behavioral experiments in rodents.
• Experience with histological techniques such as immunohistochemistry.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of coding language such as MATLAB or Python.
• Excellent time-management skills.
• Attention to detail.
• Ability to work with others in a team environment.
• Demonstrated passion for research.

Conditions of Employment

• This position requires an onsite presence on campus 5 days a week.

Compensation and Benefits

The hiring salary for this position has been established at $40,124 annually ($3,343.67 monthly). The salary of the finalist(s) selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, internal equity, experience, education, specialty, and training.

Benefits

Application Deadline

Applications will be accepted until finalists are identified, and interviews begin. Preference will be given to complete applications received by Mar 7, 2026, 11:59:00 PM. Those who do not apply by this date may or may not be considered.

Required Application Materials

To apply, please visit: http://www.cu.edu/cu-careers and attach:

• A letter of interest describing relevant job experiences as they relate to listed job qualifications and interest in the position.
• Curriculum vitae / Resume outlining experience(s).
• Five professional references including name, address, phone number (mobile number if appropriate), and email address. (We will notify you prior to contacting both on and off-list references).

Questions should be directed to Ben Greenwood, Benjamin.greenwood@ucdenver.edu.