The Institute for the Brain and Cognitive Sciences (IBACS) is inviting graduate students to apply for the IBACS-BIRC Research Assistantships in Neuroimaging (IBRAiN) Program. These graduate assistantships are for 10 hours per week during the Fall (2025) and Spring (2026) semesters at the Brain Imaging Research Center Core (BIRC). During the first year, assistants will be trained in neuroimaging methods, data science, and reproducibility. They spend the remaining allocated hours at BIRC, supporting users of the facilities. Examples of work include:

• Helping design and implement experimental procedures for functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), electroencephalogram (EEG), transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), etc.
• Advising users on how to effectively prepare research participants.
• Advising users on data analysis.
• Overseeing use of equipment by others.
• Training undergraduate students with basics of equipment use.

Students will participate in common training activities but will primarily specialize in one of three roles at BIRC. Applicants should indicate which role(s) they wish to be considered for: 

1. Research Software Engineer. This role assists researchers in using BIRC facilities including equipment training, data analysis, sing existing software, and engineering and implementing new analytic tools when needed, implement changes to BIRC webpage when necessary. Qualified candidates will have demonstrated proficiency in Python, MATLAB, or Julia, as well as Unix-like computing environments.
2. User Support and Communication. This role assists researchers in using BIRC facilities, including experimental design and setup, equipment training, data management, and maintaining documentation resources. The candidate will also help maintain and update BIRC official social media sites, represent BIRC at the internal events. Qualified candidates will have prior experience in designing and running in-person experiments. Familiarity with Python or MATLAB is preferred.
3. MRI Support. This role assists researchers in obtaining and analyzing functional and structural MRI data by learning how to operate the Siemens Prisma 3T MRI Scanner to perform brain research studies when necessary. Qualified candidates will have demonstrated an understanding of MRI safety, a high level of reliability, and the ability to work with participants across the lifespan and will be responsible to conduct safety trainings for the new users.

Key Application Dates: Opens on December 4, 2024, and closes January 6, 2025.  

Subject to funding constraints, these assistantships could be renewed for a further year. Please view full details on our IBRAiN webpage before applying. 

If you have any questions, please contact the Institute Coordinator, Crystal Mills at crystal.mills@uconn.edu.