Research Fellow – Somneuro Lab, UMass Amherst
Sleep & Cognitive Neuroscience in Early Childhood
About UMass Amherst
UMass Amherst, the Commonwealth's flagship campus, is a nationally ranked public research university offering a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University sits on nearly 1,450-acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts, and offers a rich cultural environment in a bucolic setting close to major urban centers. In addition, the University is part of the Five Colleges (including Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, and Smith College), which adds to the intellectual energy of the region.
Job Summary
The Somneuro Lab, led by Dr. Rebecca Spencer, is seeking a highly motivated, full-time Research Fellow for high impact studies investigating brain development, sleep, and memory in infancy and early childhood. These exciting and innovative research projects leverage state-of-the-art neuroimaging and sleep physiology tools to explore the critical role of sleep in cognitive development. This position offers an intensive, hands-on research experience in a fast-paced environment, ideal for individuals looking to contribute to groundbreaking longitudinal cognitive development research while working with a team committed to excellence.
Why Join Us?
• Cutting-Edge Research: Work at the forefront of sleep and cognitive neuroscience using advanced tools like MRI and polysomnography.
• Hands-On Experience: Engage directly in data collection, analysis, and dissemination.
• Flexible & Engaging Work Schedule: While daytime hours are common, this role requires weekend availability and evening support to accommodate sleep research protocols. As a result, we promise flexibility in work hours and scheduling.
• Mentorship & Career Growth: Collaborate with leading experts and diverse teams to gain invaluable experience managing research projects and mentoring junior staff.
Key Responsibilities
• Conduct innovative sleep and memory experiments with young children, including MRI, EEG, and behavioral data collection.
• Process and analyze behavioral and sleep physiology data.
• Train and supervise undergraduate research assistants and project staff.
• Manage study logistics, including participant scheduling, data organization, and compliance with research protocols.
• Contribute to scientific dissemination through poster presentations and manuscript preparation.
Who We’re Looking For
We are seeking enthusiastic, dedicated, detail-oriented, and flexible candidates who are passionate about neuroscience research and thrive in a team-oriented environment.
Minimum Qualifications
• Bachelors degree in Psychology, Neuroscience, or a related field
• Previous research experience with human subjects.
• Ability to work independently and proactively with strong attention to detail.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage professionally with parents and young children.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively.
• Availability for weekend and evening hours to support research needs.
• Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation.
• Previous experience working with infants or children in some capacity.
Preferred Qualifications
• Experience managing research projects or staff.
• Hands-on experience with MRI, EEG, or polysomnography data collection.
• Strong programming or computational skills for data processing and analysis.
Work Environment & Physical Demands
This position requires flexibility (see work schedule) and mobility (work takes place at a variety of locations – multiple locations on campus, visits to participant homes). This position requires placing electrodes, monitoring EEG waves and, as such, requires a high-level of visual acuity. Willingness to work flexible hours with regular weekend data collection is essential.
Additional Information
The Somneuro Lab focuses on sleep’s role in memory across development and aging. Our research explores the neural mechanisms underlying sleep-related cognitive benefits, integrating advanced imaging techniques and behavioral assessments. Learn more about our work at somneurolab.com.
Start Date: May-June 2025 (2-year commitment preferred, with potential for renewal)
Work Schedule: Full-time (40 hours/week), including weekends and occasional overnight shifts as part of regular work hours. Work hours vary to meet the needs of research project. Often, hours are between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays. However, sleep research may require intermittent evening, overnight, and early morning support (with flexibility as needed for research operations) and/or weekend testing. These hours are part of, not in addition to, the 40-hour/week.
Application Instructions:
Submit your resume, a letter of application, and contact information for three professional references.
The position remains open until filled.
https://careers.umass.edu/en-us/job/523930/research-fellow-somneuro-lab
UMass Amherst is committed to a policy of equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, age, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, disability, military status, or genetic information in employment, admission to and participation in academic programs, activities, and services, and the selection of vendors who provide services or products to the University. To fulfill that policy, UMass Amherst is further committed to a program of affirmative action to eliminate or mitigate artificial barriers and to increase opportunities for the recruitment and advancement of qualified minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and covered veterans. It is the policy of the UMass Amherst to comply with the applicable federal and state statutes, rules, and regulations concerning equal opportunity and affirmative action.
February 26, 2025
