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Professional Assistant Researcher Position

Position overview

Position title: Assistant Researcher
Salary range: 90200-90200

Application Window

Open date: June 17, 2025

Next review date: Thursday, Jul 17, 2025 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.

Final date: Thursday, Jul 31, 2025 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 Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA currently has an opening for a professional researcher to join the research lab of Robert Welsh, PhD, in the Center of Cognitive Neuroscience at the Assistant rank. We are looking for an enthusiastic, resourceful, and dedicated investigator to lead a randomized controlled clinical trial evaluating a potential approach to treat anhedonic anxiety using exposure therapy and to understand the mechanisms of treatment outcome. The researcher will take a leadership role in the execution of the clinical trial - the supervision of graduate student therapists and other staff, data collection, data analysis, manuscript write-up, and reporting to the funding agency.

The position requires a Ph.D. in clinical psychology and a license as a clinical psychologist in California. Skillsets required include expertise in anxiety and depression; supervising and delivering therapy utilizing the clinical trial’s treatments (e.g., cognitive-behavioral therapy, mindfulness, exposure therapy using the inhibitory retrieval model, positive affect treatment); statistical analysis (i.e., multilevel modeling, structural equation modeling, computational modeling); designing, leading, and coordinating experiments; physiological data measurement (i.e., electrodermal activity, electrocardiography; using the Biopac); fMRI data acquisition and analysis; and programming and conducting experimental tasks (i.e., fear conditioning, behavioral approach task, economic decision-making task). Evidence of manuscript writing and data analysis is also required, with multiple first-author publications. Candidate should have publications or otherwise demonstrate skills on these topics.

Salary will be consistent with the UCLA Researcher Series The posted UC salary scales (https://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/_files/2024-25/july-2024-scales/t13-b.pdf) set the minimum pay determined by rank and step at appointment. See Table 37-B. The salary range for this position is $90200-90200 annually. Interested candidates must submit a i) cover letter outlining academic interests and fit for the Professional Researcher position, ii) curriculum vitae with bibliography, and iii) contact information for three references to the UC Recruit application portal https://recruit.apo.ucla.edu/apply/JPF10403. For more information, please contact Dr. Robert Welsh at rcwelsh@mednet.ucla.edu.

All aspects of searches are confidential and all candidates are expected to review and abide by UC Regents Policy 1111 on Statement on Ethical Values and Standards of Conduct https://regents.universityofcalifornia.edu/governance/policies/1111.html.

Cultural North Star. The shared values of the David Geffen School of Medicine (DGSOM) are expressed in the Cultural North Star, which was developed by members of our community and affirms our unswerving commitment to doing what’s right, making things better, and being kind. These are the standards to which we hold ourselves, and one another. Please read more about this important DGSOM program at https://medschool.ucla.edu/cultural-north-star.

Qualifications

Basic qualifications

Ph.D. in clinical psychology and a license as a clinical psychologist in California

Additional qualifications

Skill sets required include expertise in anxiety and depression; supervising and delivering therapy utilizing the clinical trial’s treatments (e.g., cognitive-behavioral therapy, mindfulness, exposure therapy using the inhibitory retrieval model, positive affect treatment); statistical analysis (i.e., multilevel modeling, structural equation modeling, computational modeling); designing, leading, and coordinating experiments; physiological data measurement (i.e., electrodermal activity, electrocardiography; using the Biopac); fMRI data acquisition and analysis; and programming and conducting experimental tasks (i.e., fear conditioning, behavioral approach task, economic decision-making task). Evidence of manuscript writing and data analysis is also required, with multiple first-author publications. Candidate should have publications or otherwise demonstrate skills on these topics.

Application Requirements

Document requirements
  • Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V. and bibliography

  • Cover Letter

  • Statement of Research (Optional)

  • Statement of Teaching (Optional)

  • Reference check authorization release form - Complete and upload the reference check authorization release form

Reference requirements
  • 3-5 required (contact information only)

Applicants are requested to provide contact information for 3 potential references in their UC Recruit application. Upon selection as a potential candidate(s), identified references will be contacted for letters. Candidates may be contacted to provide alternate references.

Apply link: https://recruit.apo.ucla.edu/JPF10403

Help contact: mvela@mednet.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, are currently being investigated for misconduct, left a position during an investigation for alleged misconduct, or have filed an appeal with a previous employer.

Job location

Los Angeles, California