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Assistant Project Scientist
Position overview
Application Window
Open date: September 4, 2026
Next review date: Sunday, Oct 4, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.
Final date: Sunday, Oct 4, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications will continue to be accepted until this date.
Position description
The Department of Psychology is currently hiring for an Assistant Project Scientist. For more information regarding the Project Scientist series, please refer to the Call Appendix 36: Project (e.g. Scientist) Series
Criteria:
Candidate must have a PhD in neuroscience or equivalent. Job responsibilities include supporting the PI in the design and execution of extramurally-funded projects examining the function of cortico-amygdala-striatal circuits in reward learning, motivation, and decision making. The candidate should have a strong background in behavioral neuroscience, learning and memory, in vivo microendoscopic cellular resolution imaging and analysis pipeline, behavioral tracking, machine learning and computational analysis approaches, and neural circuit dissection methods. In addition, the project scientist will supervise postdocs, graduate, and undergraduate students conducting research projects.
Responsibilities include assisting the PI in experimental design, execution of experiments, data analysis and interpretation, manuscript preparation, and oversight of the ongoing projections of undergraduate and graduate students.
The appointment will be for 100% starting November 1, 2026.
The posted UC salary scales set the minimum pay determined by rank and/or step at appointment. See Table 37-B for the salary range. The salary range for this position is for this position is $79400 - $101100. "Off-scale salaries" i.e., a salary that is higher than the published system-wide salary at the designated rank and step, are offered when necessary to meet competitive conditions.
Qualifications
PhD in Neuroscience or equivalent
-strong background in behavioral neuroscience, learning and memory, in vivo microendoscopic cellular resolution imaging and analysis pipeline, behavioral tracking, machine learning and computational analysis approaches, and neural circuit dissection methods
Application Requirements
Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
Cover Letter (Optional)
Statement of Research
- 2 required (contact information only)
Please provide name and contact information of 2 references. The Principal Investigator will contact the references for applicants who proceed to the interview phase.
Help contact: carpio@psych.ucla.edu
About UCLA
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.
The University of California 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, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.
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, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer.
- UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
- UC Anti-Discrimination Policy for Employees, Students and Third Parties
- APM - 035: Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment