Research Technician

About the role

Department

BSD NRB - Cohen Lab

Job Summary

The job provides technical support activities related to scientific research projects. Ensures compliance of research activities with institutional, state, and federal regulatory policies, procedures, directives and mandates. Assists in drafting presentations on research findings.

The Cohen Lab at the University of Chicago is looking for an intellectually curious, organized, and resourceful person to help us run and expand our neuroscience research program. We study how the brain supports perception, learning, and cognition through behavioral experiments in humans and laboratory animals, neurophysiology, and computational approaches.

This is a varied position for someone who enjoys science, likes solving problems, and finds satisfaction in helping a research team succeed. We are looking for someone who understands the big picture of what we're trying to accomplish and is enthusiastic about contributing in many different ways, from implementing experiments to coordinating research to assisting the PI and handling the practical details that keep a busy lab running. The ideal candidate will take initiative, develop increasing independence, and enjoy finding ways to make the lab's research and operations more effective.

Responsibilities

• Helps expand our human behavioral research, including coordinating collaborations with clinical and other research groups, preparing IRB materials, setting up experiments and equipment (including eye trackers), training collaborators, maintaining experimental protocols and data-management workflows, and organizing data.
• Implements and troubleshoots computerized behavioral tasks for human and animal experiments.
• Learns the laboratory's animal research operations and develops the skills to provide reliable backup support for animal-care coordination, behavioral training, regulatory documentation, and other aspects of animal research, particularly during staff absences.
• Supports day-to-day laboratory operations and assists the PI with administrative and scientific tasks, taking ownership of projects such as tracking deadlines and correspondence, coordinating schedules, interacting with departmental administrative staff, and preparing grant proposals, figures, and presentations.
• Contributes to other research and operational needs as they arise, depending on the interests and skills of the person hired.
• Provides technical and administrative support for a research project.
• Collects and enters data. Assists in analyzing data. Assists with preparation of reports, manuscripts and other documents.
• Assists with the installation, sets up and performs experiments; interacting with students and other laboratory staff under the direction of the principal investigator.
• May assist recruiting and scheduling research subjects; assisting with developing or amending study protocols; assisting with developing data collection tools; assisting with building databases; and providing general administrative support. Is developing skills in research techniques or methods, regulatory policies and procedures, and relevant scientific field.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education

Minimum requirements include vocational training, apprenticeships or the equivalent experience in related field (not typically required to have a four-year degree).

Work Experience

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications: Preferred Qualifications

Education

• A bachelor's degree in a relevant field and experience in research, laboratory operations, or research coordination.

Experience

• We value scientific curiosity, initiative, excellent organizational and communication skills, reliability, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple responsibilities independently. We especially appreciate people who communicate proactively, follow through on commitments, and enjoy contributing to a collaborative research environment. Applicants should be comfortable working with laboratory animals and enthusiastic about learning how our animal research operates; prior animal experience is not required. Some programming experience is helpful, but the ability and enthusiasm to learn new technical skills is the essential part.

Preferred Competencies

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to organize multiple projects, manage deadlines, and maintain accurate records.*
• Comfort learning new software, experimental equipment, and technical procedures.*
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a dynamic research environment.*
• Experience with programming, data management, human-subjects research, or laboratory operations is a plus.

Working Conditions

• This is an in person position that includes working in both wet lab (animal neurophysiology) and dry lab (office; human behavioral work) conditions. Applicants should be comfortable interacting with people in various roles (lab members, members of the neuroscience community, patients, collaborators, veterinary and animal care staff, administrative staff). This is a varied position including desk work, animal work, some light engineering, and problem solving.
• Our work sometimes involves lifting up to 25 pounds. However, we are a team and can accommodate different physical abilities.

Application Documents

• Resume (required)
• Cover letter (required; please tell us about your interests and why this job is a good match for you)

Additional information

The University of Chicago uses AI-assisted tools to streamline and augment some recruitment processes; however, AI is not used to make hiring decisions.

When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

• Job Family
• Research
• Role Impact
• Individual Contributor
• Scheduled Weekly Hours
• 40
• Drug Test Required
• No
• Health Screen Required
• Yes
• Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required
• No
• Pay Rate Type
• Hourly
• FLSA Status
• Non-Exempt

Pay Range $21.63 - $28.85

The included pay rate or range represents the University's good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Benefits Eligible

Yes

The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.

Posting Statement

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

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