Assistant/Associate Project Scientist - Behavioral and Systems Neuroscience- Wilbrecht lab - Neuroscience Department
Position overview
Application Window
Open date: May 24, 2026
Next review date: Monday, Jun 8, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.
Final date: Thursday, Jun 25, 2026 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 Neuroscience department at the University of California, Berkeley seeks applications for an Assistant/Associate Project Scientist in the Wilbrecht Lab, in the area of behavioral and systems neuroscience.
The Wilbrecht lab studies the effects of early life adversity and psychiatric risk genes on the development of learning and decision making. We also measure neural activity to determine how neural circuits support different learning phenotypes.
The Wilbrecht lab projects are highly collaborative and include teams of researchers located at UC Berkeley and other universities. Within UC Berkeley, the successful candidate will have access to multiple departments, including psychology, molecular and cell biology, integrative biology, statistics, and the Center for Computational Biology.
The position will contribute in four major ways: 1) behavioral neurobiology experiments (husbandry, training, recording, and histology, 2) data analyses and computational modeling (planning and execution), 3) writing and revising drafts of manuscripts and grants, and 4) mentoring and managing materials, supplies, and data.
Responsibilities:
● designing and executing experiments
● data management
● protocol management
● safety management
● reagent management
● equipment management
● data analysis
● manuscript preparation
● presenting research and attending lab meetings
● contributing to grant proposals
● mentoring graduate students and postdoctoral researchers
Qualifications
PhD (or equivalent international degree).
At least two years of post-PhD research experience.
-PhD in neuroscience, psychology, or a related field.
-Extensive experience with behavioral methods for the study of learning and decision making.
-Experience generating and analyzing neural recordings using at least two modern methods.
-Extensive knowledge of statistical methods and computational modeling techniques.
-Research interest in the area of early life adversity and adaptive developmental plasticity.
-Experience mentoring graduate and undergraduate students in laboratory settings.
-Strong publication record in peer-reviewed journals.
-Excellent writing and communication skills.
Application Requirements
Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
Cover Letter
Research Statement - Please discuss research accomplishments and proposed plans. This can include, for example, your publication record, awards, presentations, inclusive research practices that promote the excellence of your research, and areas for future research.
- 3 required (contact information only)
Help contact: wilbrecht@berkeley.edu
About UC Berkeley
UC Berkeley is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in our public mission of research, teaching, and service, consistent with UC Regents Policy 4400 and University of California Academic Personnel policy (APM 210 1-d). These values are embedded in our Principles of Community, which reflect our passion for critical inquiry, debate, discovery and innovation, and our deep commitment to contributing to a better world. Every member of the UC Berkeley community has a role in sustaining a safe, caring and humane environment in which these values can thrive.
The University of California, Berkeley 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, or protected veteran status.
For more information, please refer to the University of California’s Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment Policy and the University of California’s Anti-Discrimination Policy.
In searches when letters of reference are required all letters will be treated as confidential per University of California policy and California state law. Please refer potential referees, including when letters are provided via a third party (i.e., dossier service or career center), to the UC Berkeley statement of confidentiality prior to submitting their letter.
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.
Unless stated otherwise, unambiguously, in the position description, this position does not include sponsorship of a new consular H-1B visa petition that would require payment of the $100,000 supplemental fee.
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 or discrimination, as defined by the employer.
- UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
- UC Anti-Discrimination Policy
- APM - 035: Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment