Research Engineer

Research-Researchers            ·              Twin Cities                ·             Full time Regular

Research Engineer

Job ID: 351071

Location: Twin Cities

Job Family: Research-Researchers

Full/Part Time: Full-Time

Regular/Temporary: Regular

Job Code: 8352R4

Employee Class: Civil Service

About the Job

Translational NeuroEngineering Laboratory – Research Engineer, Neural Signal Processing

The Translational Neural Engineering Laboratory in the Department of Psychiatry is seeking a Research Engineer interested in working at the intersection of technology, neuroscience, and mental health. Our laboratory has multiple projects ongoing involving electrical recording, optical and electrical brain stimulation, and real-time signal processing in actively behaving animals (sometimes called “brain-computer interfaces”). The technologies we develop will ultimately be used to change activity in specific brain circuits involved in severe mental illnesses such as PTSD, major depression, addiction, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Some of them are in pilot clinical trials or being prepared to enter those trials.

This posting is for a support/cross project role. You will work in collaboration with senior lab members to develop, maintain, and extend our real-time brain signal processing systems. These systems mainly read out emotion-related activity from the brain and control stimulators that respond within milliseconds to activity changes. Other software setups administer controlled visual, auditory, and tactile stimulation to human and/or animal research subjects to probe brain circuits involved in decision-making. Most of the code base is in C derivatives and Python; some legacy elements are in MATLAB and LabVIEW. It is a fully open source architecture, and part of the role is supporting users both inside and outside our team as they learn to use and request extensions to the system’s capabilities.

The approximate breakdown of job duties is:

• 70% code development and testing in C-related languages. As much of our code is meant to interface with laboratory equipment, this includes direct testing in the laboratory setting.
• 20% interaction with laboratory team members and external stakeholders to identify requirements, debug problems, and discern future directions.
• 10% communication of findings, work products, and other technical concepts in professional English.

We are committed to developing the careers of all lab members. There will be frequent opportunities for interaction with graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and faculty who work in both clinical care and basic research. This includes clinical shadowing opportunities with psychologists and physicians from several specialties. If you are interested, there are opportunities for hands-on experience in research involving either rodents or humans. There are regular lab meetings and other opportunities to present and learn about research findings. This position is often used as a springboard to graduate study in engineering or neuroscience, but we welcome candidates who are interested in careers as professional research staff. There is no required major or field of undergraduate study, and we fully welcome applications from candidates who have not worked in the life sciences before, but who would like to apply their technical skills in the fast-growing and exciting world of neurotechnology.

Qualifications

All required qualifications must be documented on application materials

Required Qualifications:

• Ability with at least one major compiled (C/C++/C# and variants preferred). This can arise from coursework, independent study, or practical experience.
• Master’s degree plus two years of experience, or a bachelor’s degree and at least four years of experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

• It will be helpful to you if you have experience with one major interpreted (MATLAB/Python preferred, R welcome) computer language. common digital processing techniques (filtering and frequency-domain transforms), with digital or analog electronics, with formal mathematical principles of control/sensing, or with open source distribution and code management (particularly GitHub).
• None of these are requirements but you will be using all of these in the daily work, so you should at the very least be interested in learning them.

Benefits

Working at the University

At the University of Minnesota, you’ll find a flexible work environment and supportive colleagues who are interested in lifelong learning.  We prioritize work-life balance, allowing you to invest in the future of your career and in your life outside of work.

The University also offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Scholarship
• Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and employer-paid life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity
• Financial counseling services 
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost

Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for more information regarding benefits.

How To Apply

Applications must be submitted online.  To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions.  You will have the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume.

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your “My Job Applications” page and uploading documents in the “My Cover Letters and Attachments” section.

This position will remain open until filled.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-UOHR (8647).

Diversity

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission.  The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.  To learn more about diversity at the U:  http://diversity.umn.edu.

Employment Requirements

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

About the U of M

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation’s most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

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