Junior Specialist – Integrative Movement Sciences Institure

September 9, 2024

The Integrative Movement Sciences Institute (see https://rb.gy/dfi5y0 ) seeks a Research Specialist to enable research and collaborative activities across our outstanding network of collaborating scientists at UCI and partnering institutions. The Research Specialist will work under the supervision of Professor Monica Daley, Director of the Center for Integrative Movement Sciences in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of California, Irvine. The specialist will engage in research in the areas of muscle physiology, neuromuscular function, locomotor biomechanics and sensorimotor control of movement. Our research uses a range of experimental, analytical, and computational approaches to understand muscular control of movement, integrating understanding mechanical, neural, and sensory systems. Understanding the muscular control of agile movement has wide-reaching applications in biotechnology through design of movement therapies, rehabilitation programs and mobility assistance devices.

The specialist will assist in developing shared, standardized protocols and data sharing plans across our network of collaborating scientists and facilitate the documentation and dissemination of shared resources. The specialist will have opportunities to develop and conduct independent research projects in their specific areas of interest. Specific duties will include assisting team members with research planning, data collection, data management and analysis, overseeing operations and purchasing, training of new lab members in procedures, safety, and protocols, processing experimental data and developing data infrastructure and code to assist collaborative research and data sharing.

IMSI will provide extensive opportunities for mentorship, networking and opportunities to visit and collaborate with affiliated research laboratories, including the Functional Biomechanics Lab (PI Anne Silverman) at the Colorado School of Mines, the Agile Systems lab (PI Simon Sponberg) and PoWeR lab (PI Greg Sawicki) at Georgia Tech, the Neuromechanics lab at Emory (PI Lena Ting), the USC Biomechanics Research Lab (PI Jill McNitt-Gray), Comparative Neuromuscular Biomechanics Lab (PI Craig McGowan), and Locomotor Control lab (PI James Finley) at USC, the Seethapathi Motor Control group at MIT (PI Nidhi Seethapathi), and the Nishikawa Biomechanics lab at Northern Arizona University (PI Kiisa Nishikawa), among others.

Qualifications:
1) The successful candidate will have at least a Bachelor’s degree, and ideally a Master’s degree in a relevant field such as as biology, physiology, neuroscience, biomedical sciences, engineering, kinesiology, physics, or mathematics. The candidate should also have 2) relevant research experience in a related field, and/or relevant job experience demonstrating leadership and team coordination abilities. 3) the ability to work and communicate effectively in a collaborative and geographically extended team environment, 4) excellent organizational skills, attention to detail and time management to ensure smooth running of research activities, and 5) good knowledge of statistics and experience coding in Matlab, Python or another suitable language.

Applicants should submit: 1) Cover letter describing your interest in the position, qualifications, research interests and career goals, 2) A current curriculum vitae, 3) Contact information (including names, email addresses, and telephone numbers) for 3 references who can provide letters upon request. References will be contacted before an offer is made.

For questions, please contact Prof. Monica Daley at madaley@uci.edu.

We are especially interested in candidates who can contribute to promoting diversity and inclusive excellence in the academic community. The UCI School of Biological Sciences is a national leader in programs designed to increase the participation of underrepresented groups in the biomedical sciences and is firmly committed to the ideals of equity, diversity, and inclusion (https://inclusion.bio.uci.edu/ ). UCI is an HSI, an AANAPISI, and a charter member of the AAAS SEA-Change initiative that supports institutional efforts to increase access and success for students, faculty and staff from groups that have been marginalized in STEM (https://inclusion.uci.edu/action-plan/msi/uci-sea-change ).

A reasonable estimate for this position is $51,300 – $54,600. See Specialist Series – Represented Fiscal Year

About UC Irvine

The University of California, Irvine is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer advancing inclusive excellence. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories covered by the UC anti-discrimination policy.

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.