Affective Neuroscience Assistant Research Scientist

University of Maryland•College Park, MD

11d•Onsite

About The Position

Organization's Summary Statement: The Applied Research Laboratory for Intelligence and Security (ARLIS), based at the University of Maryland College Park, was established in 2018 under the auspices of the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence (USDI) to be a strategic asset for research and development in social systems, autonomy and augmentation, and advanced computing. One of only 15 designated Department of Defense University Affiliated Research Centers (UARCs) in the nation and the only UARC focused on supporting the intelligence community, ARLIS conducts both unclassified and classified research spanning from basic to applied system development and works to serve the US Government as an independent and objective trusted agent. ARLIS research is driven by a cadre of research scientists and engineers, faculty research specialists and project engineers, further supported by senior University of Maryland faculty and a consortium of university partners. Research is typically conducted through teams of e.g. social scientists, computer scientists, psychologists, linguists, cognitive neuroscientists, applied mathematicians, political scientists, policy analysts, and systems engineers. The Assistant Research Scientist will contribute to interdisciplinary human subject research projects within ARLIS, with a focus on neurophysiological measurement techniques including functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) and electroencephalography (EEG). This role supports ARLIS’s mission to advance applied research in human performance, cognition, and emotion science in support of national security and defense. Scientists in this role will design, conduct, analyze, and publish experimental studies and contribute to broader research programs in experimental psychology and neuroscience. Must be able to obtain a U.S. security clearance. If selected, you must meet the requirements for access to classified information and will be subject to a government security clearance investigation that includes criminal and credit history checks, as well as verification of U.S. citizenship, birth, education, employment, and military history.

Requirements

Doctoral degree (Ph.D. preferred) in Psychology, Neuroscience, Cognitive Science, or a related field
At least 1 year of hands-on experience conducting fNIRS and/or EEG research with human participants
Familiarity with experimental design, data collection, and analysis in emotion or cognitive research
Experience with human subjects research protocols and compliance
Expertise in EEG and/or fNIRS methodology
Strong foundation in experimental psychology and human subjects research methods
Familiarity with emotion research, especially in applied or experimental contexts
Ability to work independently and as part of a cross-functional team
Statistical analysis skills, including multilevel modeling (MLM), regression, and/or machine learning
Proficiency in scientific programming (R and/or Python preferred)
Strong written and oral communication skills for technical and non-technical audiences
Commitment to ethical research, continuous learning, and team collaboration

Nice To Haves

Experience with multivariate statistical analysis
Proficiency in R and/or Python for data analysis and visualization
Experience analyzing emotion-related or affective neuroscience data
Demonstrated interest in applying research to defense, intelligence, or operational contexts
Active TS/SCI clearance
IRB and human subjects research training (e.g., CITI certification)

Responsibilities

Design and conduct research studies involving fNIRS and EEG with human subjects
Implement experimental protocols rooted in emotion and cognitive psychology
Recruit, consent, and manage research participants in compliance with IRB protocols
Analyze complex neurophysiological and behavioral datasets using statistical methods
Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams and contribute to publications, reports, and briefings
Apply open science practices and maintain thorough documentation of procedures
Participate in internal reviews, sponsor briefings, and project planning meetings
Assist in grant writing and funding proposal development as needed

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