Junior Specialist - Calvert Neuroengineering Science Lab

The Department of Neurological Surgery at the University of California Davis, School of Medicine is recruiting for one full-time Junior Specialist in neural engineering to test, evaluate, and implement neuromodulation and rehabilitation hardware and software to restore sensory and motor function in persons living with neurological disabilities.

We are seeking a motivated and responsible individual with interests at the intersection of neuroscience, engineering, and medicine to join the Calvert Neuroengineering Science (CNS) Lab at UC Davis. The goal of our research is to design, evaluate, and deploy precision neurorehabilitation approaches to restore sensory and motor function for individuals with neurological dysfunction (e.g., spinal cord injury or stroke).

The successful candidate will be at the front lines of cutting-edge research: using state-of-the-art neurorehabilitation equipment (e.g., motion capture, human electrophysiology, neuromodulation), analyzing complex multimodal datasets, and working directly with clinical study participants in the laboratory. In addition to operating the equipment, running experiments, and analyzing data, the junior specialist will work closely with the principal investigator and collaborators to develop the next generation of neuromodulation technology.

Candidates will be invited to participate in laboratory meetings, contribute towards academic publications published in peer-reviewed journals, and attend relevant talks/meetings. The junior specialist will be expected to have a technical background sufficient to rapidly learn how to use novel equipment and software skills to interpret data from experiments. The junior specialist will primarily be stationed in the laboratory environment and coordinate research session plans, including operating neurostimulation software and collecting data under the guidance/instruction of the principal investigator. The successful candidate will have technical competency with using modern computer equipment, software, and operating systems, and be able to learn to use specialized software and hardware systems.

The junior specialist will also be communicating with study participants and their caregivers, as well as research staff on a regular basis. As such, strong interpersonal skills are essential. The successful candidate will also champion the safety and well-being of the participants with strict adherence to proper study conduct.

The incumbent will work under the supervision of Dr. Jonathan Calvert, Ph.D. and the ability to work cooperatively and collegially in a diverse environment.

I. RESEARCH (90% Effort)

A. The incumbent will collaborate with other research personnel affiliated with research activities involving neuromodulation, rehabilitation, and neural engineering studies. The junior specialist will perform technical/routine lab activities required to operate rehabilitation and neuromodulation hardware, create study protocols for the use of lab equipment, develop software pipelines for data analysis, and run experiments with study participants. Their work will support the development of laboratory capabilities to perform precision neurorehabilitation approaches in clinical participants. Specific duties may include:

* Hardware Evaluation: Develop expertise in the use of rehabilitation and neuromodulation laboratory equipment (e.g., motion capture, electromyography, neural interface processors) to collect data from study participants. This includes creating synchronization systems to ensure communication across hardware systems.

* Data Collection and Analysis: Collect kinematic, electrophysiological, and behavioral data during recording sessions including EMG, EEG, motion capture, audio, video, and other biosignals. Contribute to data quality assurance, develop data analysis pipelines, and visualize datasets.

* Experimental Design and Iteration: Collaborate with the PI in refining data collection protocols and proposing enhancements to experimental designs based on observations and results.

* Creativity and Intellectual Engagement: Engage creatively with the technical and clinical aspects of the study. Offer insight into methods to improve data collection procedures, participant usability, and scientific impact. Participate in lab meetings to interpret data, troubleshoot challenges, and iterate on research approaches.

* Manuscript Contributions: Assist in writing manuscripts, preparing data visualizations, and reviewing drafts for conference abstracts and journal manuscripts. Act as author and/or co-author on manuscripts when appropriate and contribute to revisions and responses to peer reviewers.

* Grant Writing Assistance: Aid in the submission of grants to federal agencies and independent foundations through writing of methodological approaches, analysis of preliminary data, and creating figures.

* Literature Reviews: Conduct targeted reviews of scientific literature related to sensorimotor physiology, neuromodulation, rehabilitation engineering, and clinical neuroscience to support grant applications, protocol development, and manuscript writing.

* Presentation of Results: Present findings during internal lab meetings and multidisciplinary team discussions. Act as author and present posters or oral presentations at scientific meetings and academic symposia as appropriate.

* Research Facilitation: Participating in scientific data collection activities in both hospital and laboratory settings, including overseeing logistics and information dissemination. Conduct phone interviews with research study participants and recruit study cohorts.

* Multidisciplinary Collaboration: Work alongside clinicians, students, and trainees with diverse expertise to perform varying research projects. As appropriate, train students to use laboratory equipment and provide mentorship to junior trainees.

II. PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE (5% Effort)

* Conference participation: The candidate will have the opportunity to attend and potentially present at relevant conferences.

* Engagement in Scientific Community: Participation in professional societies and engagement with neural engineering networks is encouraged to support ongoing professional development.

III. UNIVERSITY AND PUBLIC SERVICE (5% Effort)

* Training and mentorship: Assist in the training and mentorship of undergraduate interns, new lab personnel, and volunteers. This includes instruction in experimental procedures, data acquisition protocols, and ethical research conduct.

* Outreach and Communication: Support lab-led outreach efforts, such as public presentations or media interviews that raise awareness about neural engineering research and its implication for improving quality of life for those with neurological dysfunction.

* Service to the Research Environment: Participate actively in lab and department meetings, journal clubs, and cross-lab collaborations to contribute to a collegial, inclusive, and innovative research culture.

For the full position description and to apply, visit https://recruit.ucdavis.edu/JPF07302.

* Bachelor's Degree (or equivalent degree) with a major in Biomedical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Physiology, Neuroscience, Neurobiology, Computer Science, or a related field.

* This is an entry level position reserved for graduates with Bachelor's degree and less than 2-3 years experience.

* Strong written and verbal communication skills, and ability to work effectively with diverse teams.

* Technical competency working with computer equipment, computer software, and being able to use custom-made software with appropriate training.

* Demonstrated ability to rapidly learn novel hardware skills.

* Programming experience (e.g., MATLAB, R, python)

* Ability to work independently, take initiative, critically problem solve, prioritize tasks, and demonstrate enthusiasm.

* Ability to thrive in a collaborative program and comfort navigating a clinical environment.

* Superb organizational skills and attention to punctuality.

* Excellent attention to detail and ability to document research activities.

* Attention to data and respecting confidentiality where appropriate.

* Ease interacting with and taking direction from multiple levels including physicians, scientists, and engineers.

* Experience working with time series data (i.e., analysis techniques and/or data collection)

* Experience working with human study participants or patients in a formal clinical setting.

* Demonstration of prior research accomplishments (e.g., conference presentations or manuscripts)

* Experience working with rehabilitation, biomechanics, and/or electrophysiology research equipment.

* Experience synchronizing independent hardware systems.

• 3-5 required (contact information only)

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.

• "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.
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