Job Vacancy Announcement – Health Scientist Administrator (Program Officer) Integrative Behavioral Neuroscience Program

Bethesda, MD     ·     Full time

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Division of Neuroscience and Basic Behavioral Science (DNBBS)
Integrative Behavioral Neuroscience Program

Program Overview

The Division of Neuroscience and Basic Behavioral Science (DNBBS) at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) announces an opening for a Health Scientist Administrator (Program Officer) to guide and manage a grants program supporting basic research studies in integrative behavioral neuroscience. The Program Officer will lead an extramurally funded and innovative program that supports research seeking to connect micro, meso and macro scale neural signals to understand their contribution to complex behaviors important for mental health. Topic areas within this program include studies that probe the brain substrates of reward and motivation, cognitive function, learning and memory, and social/affective neuroscience.

The program encourages research that proposes causal experimental designs, utilizes cutting edge behavioral and neurobiological approaches, and combines multiple levels of analysis in animals and in healthy humans. Of special interest are studies that utilize transformative and quantitative behavioral approaches, such as machine learning methods, to interrogate neural circuits that underlie domains of behavioral function consistent with Research Domain Criteria (RDoC), as well as domains of behavioral function that go beyond functional constructs defined under RDoC. The program supports integrative studies across diverse populations of individuals to gain better understanding of differences in neurobehavioral processes relevant to mental health.

Position Duties

The position provides an opportunity to impact priorities, develop new research initiatives and to contribute to the advancement of a national program in integrative behavioral neuroscience addressing neuronal circuit-level mechanisms underlying cognitive function, reward and motivation, learning and memory, and social cognition. Individuals are encouraged to apply who have research experience using a broad range of methods employed in systems level neuroscience, relevant to mental health.

General responsibilities will include administering and managing an extramural portfolio of research grants, interacting with researchers and program officers for related programs at NIMH, NIH, and other funding agencies, and developing new research initiatives.

Qualifications

• Applicants must have a Ph.D. or equivalent degree in an accredited college university including acceptance of the dissertation, in an academic field or the health or pertinent sciences allied to health or health related research.
• This position requires working both independently and collaboratively.
• Strong organizational, oral, written and communication skills are also required.

How to Apply

This is a pre-announcement. The official announcement will be available through www.usajobs.gov from September 21, 2022 through September 30, 2022. If you are interested in this position, please send your resume to NIMHSearch@nih.gov.

Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to visit the NIH Federal Resume Tips website for guidance on creating a federal resume.

Benefits

The Health Scientist Administrator (Program Officer) will be appointed at a salary commensurate with their qualifications and experience. In addition, full federal benefits, including leave, health and life insurance, long-term care insurance, retirement, and savings plan (401K equivalent), will be provided.

COVID Vaccination Status

Federal agencies may request information regarding the vaccination status of selected applicants to implement other workplace safety protocols, such as protocols related to masking, physical distancing, testing, travel, and quarantine. Employees providing healthcare or services supporting healthcare (Healthcare Workforce) may be required to receive a COVID-19 vaccine because they are expected to perform duties that put them in contact or potential contact with patients. We may request COVID-19 vaccination and other vaccination documentation from Healthcare Workforce personnel at any point during the onboarding process or at any time during your employment with NIH.

HHS and NIH are equal opportunity employers.

The NIH is dedicated to building a diverse community in its training and employment programs and encourages the application and nomination of qualified women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities.

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