Lab assistant psychology

Category: : Professional

Subscribe: :

Department: : Psychology

Locations: : Binghamton, NY

Posted: : Sep 17, 2025

Closes: : Open Until Filled

Type: : Full-time

Ref. No.: : xxxxx

Position ID: : 192913

About Binghamton University

Binghamton University is a premier public R1 research institution in the State University of New York (SUNY) system that unites more than 130 broadly interdisciplinary educational programs with some of the most vibrant research in the nation. Our unique character - shaped by our mission, outstanding academics, facilities, and community life - promotes extraordinary student success, research, and service; Binghamton University is where our students, faculty and staff thrive.

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Binghamton merges rigorous academics, distinguished faculty who value cutting-edge, and community-engaged research, teaching and service, exceptional staff, and ultramodern facilities to engage and challenge its 18,000+ students. Our high-achieving student body represents diverse experiences from first-generation college-goers to international students. Beyond their talent, these classmates share a desire to shape the future through technology, insight, intellectual exploration, and community service.

We are an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer, and in keeping with this commitment, we welcome all to apply, including veterans and persons with disabilities.

Job Description

Budget Title: Instructional Support Assistant (SL-1)

Salary: $45,372 (full-time, temporary)

The Manzano Lab, located at Binghamton University, is seeking a Lab Assistant to participate in conducting behavioral experiments probing circuit development in mice brains. Research will use mice to model neuronal development. These experiments will entail the creation, validation, and running of behavioral experiments on pre-adolescent, adolescent, and adult animals. The Lab Assistant will also have the opportunity to use novel imaging techniques to probe changes in neuronal processing as mice grow from adolescents into adults. Additionally, Lab Assistants will have the opportunity to get involved in the data analysis of behavioral and calcium imaging data. This would involve data processing and computational analysis, in Python or Matlab. Research will use mice to model neuronal development. For more information visit the Manzano Lab Website. This position has the possibility to be extended, based on available funding.

Key Responsibilities

• Performing in vivo calcium imaging experiments aimed at understanding how neural circuits generate complex behaviors in pre-adolescent, adolescent, and adult mice
• Performing all aspects of experiment, including surgeries, behavioral assays, and histology
• Maintaining the animal colony
• Processing calcium imaging data to extract calcium traces via software packages
• Analyzing and interpreting data - applying systems neuroscience approaches to examine high-dimensional neural data. Approaches used include neural network-based approaches, Bayesian inference, and more
• Assisting with the oversight of day-to-day functions of the lab and shared lab spaces dedicated to running research studies
• Assisting in lab management, organization, equipment maintenance, and maintaining a safe work environment
  
  

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Ability to solve problems creatively
• Willingness to learn new skills
• Ability to work in a team
• Quantitative and critical thinking skills
• Basic familiarity with biology and/or neuroscience
• Effective oral and written communication skills
• Ability to analyze data and present it in a format suitable for publication
• Effective interpersonal and organizational skills
• Ability to balance the demands of an immersive research project with basic lab managerial tasks
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively
• Ability to adapt to the project's changing needs
• Research interest in developmental neuroscience and/or systems neuroscience in rodent models
  
  

This is a fully in-person position that may provide opportunities to co-author presentations and publications. Therefore, it is an ideal position for candidates on the path to graduate school with interests in behavioral or circuit neuroscience research.

The position could include some non-traditional hours as required by experimental timelines. Details will be defined on a case-by-case basis. However, the ability to work on a flexible schedule (evenings and weekends) to accommodate lab needs is an asset.

This is a full-time temporary position for one year from the date of hire with the possibility of extension, contingent on performance and funding each 12 months. Flexible start-date before November 2025.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree (or higher) in psychology, computer science, engineering, neuroscience, biology, mathematics, or related field, by November 1, 2025
• At least 6 months of full/part-time experience working in a research setting in developmental psychology, circuit neuroscience, computational analysis, engineering, or related field (This research experience does not need to be consecutive nor paid)
• Demonstrated quantitative and critical thinking skills (through coursework or research experience)
• Demonstrated basic familiarity with biology and/or neuroscience (through coursework or research experience)
  
  

Preferred

• Experience in one or more of the following: Python, MATLAB, or R
• Demonstrated debugging skills
• Experience with system neuroscience research using rodent models
  
  

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position

Additional Information

Offers of employment may be contingent upon successful completion of a pre-employment background check and verification of degree(s) and credentials.

Binghamton University is a tobacco-free campus.

Pursuant to Executive Order 161, no State entity, as defined by the Executive Order, is permitted to ask, or mandate, in any form, that an applicant for employment provide his or her current compensation, or any prior compensation history, until such time as the applicant is extended a conditional offer of employment with compensation. If such information has been requested from you before such time, please contact the Governor's Office of Employee Relations at (518) 474-6988 or via email at [email protected]

Payroll information can be found on our website

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Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer

The State University of New York is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. It is the policy of Binghamton University to provide for and promote equal opportunity employment, compensation, and other terms and conditions of employment without discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, religion, disability, national origin, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, veteran or military service member status, marital status, domestic violence victim status, genetic predisposition or carrier status, or arrest and/or criminal conviction record unless based upon a bona fide occupational qualification or other exception.

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Binghamton University is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, contact the ADA Coordinator by completing the Reasonable Accommodation Request Form.

Application Instructions

All applicants must apply via Interview Exchange:

Deadline For Internal Applicants

Deadline for External Applicants: Open until filled

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the vacancy is filled.

Please Submit

• Cover letter describing their research interests, skills and how they align with this position;
• Curriculum vitae (include your GPA and relevant course work on your resume); and
• Contact information for three professional references (names, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses)
  
  

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