Open Research Positions
The Emotion Cognition and Computation Lab at Emory University (PI: Philip Kragel) is a vibrant research group that combines computational modeling, neuroimaging, and behavioral experiments to understand the mechanisms underlying cognitive and affective behavior in humans. We are seeking a highly organized, detail-oriented, and motivated individual to join our team as a full-time Lead Research Specialist. This role offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to impactful, interdisciplinary research using approaches from psychology and computational cognitive neuroscience.
Job Responsibilities:
- Participant Scheduling: Work with the lab to coordinate and schedule participants for research studies, ensuring smooth and timely engagement throughout all phases of the research process.
- Study Management: Assist with the setup, execution, and oversight of research studies. This includes running
experiments, managing data collection, and ensuring study protocols are followed accurately. - Project Coordination: Oversee day-to-day management of research projects, including tracking progress, maintaining timelines, and facilitating communication between research team members.
- Data Management: Ensure accurate and organized record-keeping of participant data and study outcomes. Support data entry, quality control, and preliminary analysis as needed.
- Lab Operations: Manage lab inventory, order necessary supplies, and maintain a well-equipped and organized
research environment. - Administrative Support: Assist with preparation of research materials, presentations, and reports. Support IRB
submissions and assist with grant-related documentation when required.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Under minimal supervision, performs a variety of specialized and complex research and laboratory tests and procedures.
- Uses independent judgment in applying or adapting scientific techniques.
- May assist in protocol design.
- Investigates and proposes alternative experimental procedures for consideration by a principal investigator.
- Assists in planning and scheduling research procedures.
- Analyzes and interprets results of studies.
- Demonstrates and trains others in the proper use/operation of laboratory techniques and equipment.
- Calibrates, troubleshoots and performs routine repair and maintenance of equipment.
- Reviews literature for related research developments and techniques and compiles findings.
- Monitors laboratory processes to maintain quality assurance standards.
- Records results of studies, compiles and analyzes data and prepares charts and graphs.
- Monitors the handling, storage and disposal of hazardous substances.
- Performs related responsibilities as required.
- Employees in this classification may be required to work with, take specific precautions against and/or be immunized against potentially hazardous agents.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor's degree in a scientific field and two years of research experience, or equivalent combination of experience, education, and training.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- A Bachelor’s degree in psychology, neuroscience, or a related field is required. Prior research experience, particularly in participant coordination or lab management, is preferred.
- Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple tasks efficiently. Excellent communication skills and ability to work collaboratively in a team setting.
- Detail-oriented, with strong problem-solving and time-management skills. Experience with scientific computing (proficiency with GitHub, MATLAB, R, Python, JavaScript and experience with PsychToolbox, PsychoPy, and jsPsych are strongly preferred but not required).
- All interested candidates should include a CV/Resume and Cover Letter with their applications in order to be considered.
Emory University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Disability/Veteran employer. Women, minorities, people with disabilities, and veterans are strongly encouraged to apply.
The Learning, Understanding, Memory, & Neurodevelopment Lab (LUMeN Lab, PI: Dr. Alexandra Cohen) in the Department of Psychology at Emory University (Atlanta, GA) is seeking a full-time Research Specialist to support work on studies examining how motivation and emotion influence learning, memory, and brain function across development.
Please feel free to reach out to ali.cohen@emory.edu if you have any questions about the position.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Under general supervision, performs a variety of defined research and laboratory tests and experiments according to prescribed protocols and assigned schedules.
- Sets up experiments as prescribed by a principal investigator.
- May be required to participate in laboratory maintenance activities such as sterilization and cleaning of equipment, ordering of supplies, inventory and media preparation.
- Maintains records, files and logs of work performed in laboratory notebooks and computer databases.
- Compiles data and records results of studies for publications, grants and seminar presentations.
- Employees in this classification may be required to work with, take specific precautions against and/or be immunized against potentially hazardous agents.
- Performs related responsibilities as required by principal investigator.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor's degree in a scientific field OR equivalent combination of experience, education, and training.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Previous research experience.
- Bachelor's degree in Psychology, Neuroscience, or other related field.
- Excellent organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills are required.
- Interest and/or experience in cognitive neuroscience research, particularly in developmental populations (children, adolescents)
- Computational, statistical, and technical skills (e.g. fluency with R, Matlab, and/or Python)
- Experience collecting and/or analyzing neuroimaging data
- Experience working with Qualtrics, RedCap, and/or other survey distribution tools
Emory University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Disability/Veteran employer. Women, minorities, people with disabilities, and veterans are strongly encouraged to apply.
Join a cutting-edge research team at Emory University's Language Biomarker Lab! We are seeking a highly motivated, detail- and people-oriented Research Specialist to work under the supervision of Dr. Phillip Wolff. Our lab investigates how language can be used to predict mental health conditions like Psychosis, Depression, and Alzheimer's Disease using computational methods.
This full-time position (40 hours/week) offers a unique opportunity to contribute to groundbreaking research. You will work closely with a multidisciplinary team, assisting with various research activities, from data collection and analysis to administrative tasks. This is a one-year term position with the potential for extension.
Key Responsibilities:
Research:
- Conduct human subjects research, including online studies and in-person interviews
- Provide support to Principal Investigator, post-doctoral fellows, graduate students, and other research staff Assist with data collection, analysis, and interpretation
- Contribute to manuscript preparation and conference presentations
Administration:
- Manage lab grants, finances, and contracts
- Maintain lab website and communication with consortium sites
- Track participant visits, study procedures, and assist with regulatory issues.
- Update tracking logs in an organized, timely and accurate manner.
- Catalog and fix data submission issues from consortium sites from around the world Ensure data quality and integrity through rigorous quality control measures
- Interact with consortium sites to manage data collection challenges
Other:
- Attend multiple weekly consortium meetings
- Assist with IRB submissions and grant writing
- Other duties as assigned
Benefits:
Gain valuable experience in:
- Large language models
- Statistical analysis
- Clinical interviewing and assessments
- Research administration
- Contribute to impactful research in mental health
- Opportunity for professional development and growth
Please be sure to include the following with your application:
- Cover Letter
- CV/Resume
- 2-3 Letters of Recommendation
- Writing sample of your choice
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor's degree in a scientific field OR equivalent combination of experience, education, and training.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor's degree in Data Science, Neuroscience, Computer Science, or a related field (required)
- Experience with: IRB submissions and grant writing (preferred), programming languages (Python, R)
(preferred), working with individuals with mental health conditions (preferred) - Strong organizational and interpersonal skills
- Excellent written and verbal communication
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team
- Strong work ethic and attention to detail
Emory University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Disability/Veteran employer. Women, minorities, people with disabilities, and veterans are strongly encouraged to apply.
Open Postdoctoral Positions
The Computational Mechanisms of Psychopathology Lab (COMPLab; PI: Vanessa Brown, PhD) is recruiting for a postdoctoral fellow to join the lab. Research in the lab uses behavioral tasks (administered in-lab and remotely), functional and structural imaging, computational modeling, and mechanistic interventions (brief psychotherapy, neuromodulation) to investigate learning alterations in anxiety and related disorders. This position is ideal for someone with a background in some combination of behavior/learning theory approaches to anxiety, computational modeling of behavior, and fMRI analysis; and who wishes to gain or deepen expertise in these areas. For more information about research in the lab, see https://www.vanessambrown.com/current-research.html.
The postdoctoral fellow will be expected to design experiments, analyze data, present and publish findings, apply for external funding, and assist with training other lab members and with lab management. Mentorship and support are provided to assist the postdoctoral fellow to prepare for an independent research career.
Anticipated start date is flexible based on the candidate’s timeline.
Required skills/qualifications:
- A PhD (by start of employment) in Psychology, Neuroscience, Cognitive Science, or related field
- Expertise in advanced quantitative/statistical methods (e.g., generative computational modeling, multilevel and/or structural equation modeling, univariate and/or multivariate fMRI/EEG analysis)
- Knowledge of R, Python, MatLab, shell scripts, or similar programming languages
- Interest in mechanisms of psychopathology, particularly anxiety
To apply, please submit the following:
- Cover letter detailing fit for lab based on research interests and required skills/qualifications
- CV
- Names and contact information for three professional references
- Representative publication (can be a preprint or in prep)
Emory University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Disability/Veteran employer. Women, minorities, people with disabilities, and veterans are strongly encouraged to apply.
JOB DESCRIPTION: Helps design and conduct research within a specified field while receiving advanced training from a designated Principal Investigator to enhance professional skills and research independence needed for pursuit of a career. The specific area of research in which the trainee is mentored is determined by the department and laboratory of the Postdoc. Designs and evaluates experiments. Develops new ideas that promote current research. Prepares and publishes scientific manuscripts under the direction of the Principal Investigator. May be responsible for operation of specific equipment. May teach techniques to others, train, and supervise research staff. Positions are temporary appointments as a research trainee. The initial appointment is for one year, renewal expected if progress is satisfactory and funds are available. Appointments cannot exceed five years.
Emory University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Disability/Veteran employer. Women, minorities, people with disabilities, and veterans are strongly encouraged to apply.
Responsibilities:
Desirable candidates will develop and pursue novel research questions within the lab’s general area. Responsibilities will include designing/programming experiments, recruiting/running participants, developing and using computational modeling approaches (Bayesian, RL, neural networks) to analyze behavioral and neuroimaging data, presenting data at national and international meetings, and preparing manuscripts for publication. Candidates will be strongly encouraged to
apply for extramural funding during the post-doctoral period and will be supported in these efforts.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: A doctoral degree or equivalent (Ph.D., M.D., ScD., D.V.M., DDS etc) in an appropriate field. Excellent scientific writing ability and strong oral communication skills. The ability to work effectively and collegially with colleagues. Additional qualifications as specified by the Principal Investigator.
Additional qualifications: A doctoral degree and promising publication record in cognitive science, neuroscience, computer science, psychology, or related field. Strong functional neuroimaging background and/or computer programming skills (e.g. MATLAB and/or Python) are required. Should be self-motivated, independent, and reliable. Research experience in affective, clinical, or cognitive neuroscience (e.g., conducting and analyzing fMRI or MRI studies), will all be viewed positively, but are not required. Additional information about current studies can be found at www.treadlab.org.
Interested parties should include a CV, names of relevant professional references, and a brief statement of interest as part of this application. Applications will be reviewed continuously until the position is filled. Start date is flexible depending on candidate availability.
The Emotion Cognition and Computation Laboratory at Emory University (PI: Philip Kragel) is seeking a Postdoctoral Fellow. The primary focus of this position is to work on research using computational and cognitive neuroscience approaches to study human emotion. The candidate will work closely with Dr. Kragel and have the opportunity to collaborate with the research community at Emory and the broader Atlanta area. Full salary and benefits following NIMH post-doctoral salary guidelines are guaranteed for two years.
To apply, please submit a cover letter including contact information for 2-3 reference letters, CV, and reprints of relevant research articles. Applications will be reviewed until the position is filled. The start date is flexible depending on candidate availability.
Responsibilities:- Design and conduct neuroimaging experiments.
- Present research findings at national and international meetings.
- Prepare research reports and technical papers for publication.
- Assist the principal investigator in preparing grant proposals and mentoring graduate students as needed.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
A doctoral degree or equivalent in an appropriate field (e.g., neuroscience, psychology, computer science, machine learning, or engineering). Excellent scientific writing ability and strong oral communication skills. Strong functional neuroimaging background and computer programming skills (e.g., MATLAB, R, and Python) are required. Additional qualifications as specified by the Principal Investigator.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Skill collecting and analyzing human behavioral and brain imaging data
- Familiarity with deep learning frameworks such as PyTorch and TensorFlow
- Track record of interdisciplinary collaboration
- Expertise in at least one of the following domains: affective neuroscience, cognitive science, deep learning, and advanced analysis of fMRI data (e.g., encoding and decoding models)
Emory University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Disability/Veteran employer. Women, minorities, people with disabilities, and veterans are strongly encouraged to apply.
The Laboratory for Darwinian Neuroscience at Emory University (PI: James Rilling) is seeking a postdoctoral fellow to work on two research projects in the general area of social and affective neuroscience. The first project is an NIA-funded study to investigate the effect of cognitive empathy training on mental health, inflammation and immune function in caregivers of people living with dementia, and to examine the underlying psychological and neurobiological mechanisms. The second project is an NSF-funded study to examine the neural, hormonal and epigenetic changes that men experience when they transition to fatherhood and how this relates to paternal involvement and attachment. The candidate will work closely with Dr. Rilling and have the opportunity to collaborate with the research community at Emory and the broader Atlanta area. Full salary and benefits following NIH post-doctoral salary guidelines are guaranteed for up to three years pending satisfactory performance.
To apply, please submit a cover letter including contact information for 3 references, CV, and reprints of relevant research articles. Applications will be reviewed until the position is filled. The start date is flexible depending on candidate availability.
Responsibilities:
- Collection, management and analysis of neuroimaging (fMRI), behavioral, and biomarker (inflammation) data.
- Monitor and ensure intervention progress and fidelity
- Assist with participant recruitment
- Present research findings at national and international meetings.
- Prepare manuscripts for publication
- Assist the principal investigator in preparing grant proposals and mentoring students and staff as needed.
JOB DESCRIPTION: Helps design and conduct research within a specified field while receiving advanced training from a designated Principal Investigator to enhance professional skills and research independence needed for pursuit of a career. The specific area of research in which the trainee is mentored is determined by the department and laboratory of the Postdoc. Designs and evaluates experiments. Develops new ideas that promote current research. Prepares and publishes scientific manuscripts under the direction of the Principal Investigator. May be responsible for operation of specific equipment. May teach techniques to others, train, and supervise research staff. Positions are temporary appointments as a research trainee. The initial appointment is for one year, renewal expected if progress is satisfactory and funds are available. Appointments cannot exceed five years.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
A doctoral degree or equivalent in an appropriate field. Excellent scientific writing ability and strong oral communication skills. Functional neuroimaging background is required. Additional qualifications as specified by the Principal Investigator.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Experience working with adult caregiver populations
- Experience collecting and analyzing human behavioral and brain imaging data
- Experience with MATLAB and FSL software
- Should be self-motivated, independent, and reliable
Emory University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Disability/Veteran employer. Women, minorities, people with disabilities, and veterans are strongly encouraged to apply.
JOB DESCRIPTION: Helps design and conduct research within a specified field while receiving advanced training from a designated Principal Investigator to enhance professional skills and research independence needed for pursuit of a career. The specific area of research in which the trainee is mentored is determined by the department and laboratory of the Postdoc. Designs and evaluates experiments. Develops new ideas that promote current research. Prepares and publishes scientific manuscripts under the direction of the Principal Investigator. May be responsible for operation of specific equipment. May teach techniques to others, train, and supervise research staff. Positions are temporary appointments as a research trainee. The initial appointment is for one year, renewal expected if progress is satisfactory and funds are available. Appointments cannot exceed five years.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: A doctoral degree or equivalent (Ph.D., M.D., ScD., D.V.M., DDS etc) in an appropriate field. Excellent scientific writing ability and strong oral communication skills. The ability to work effectively and collegially with colleagues. Additional qualifications as specified by the Principal Investigator.
The Department of Psychology at Emory University is now offering a 12-month post-doctoral fellowship in conducting cognitive assessments and delivering empirically-based psychological treatments. The fellow will be housed in the Emory University Psychological Center, which is sliding-scale outpatient clinic open to the community. The clinic is located on Emory’s main campus in Atlanta, Georgia.
This fellowship is intended for psychologists who have successfully completed an American Psychological Association-approved internship and wish to refine their skills in assessment and EBTs. The fellow will report to and work closely with Zainab Delawalla, Ph.D., clinic director, and Hanan Trotman, Ph.D., director of assessment. Full salary and benefits are guaranteed for one year, with an option of renewal for a second year based on the fellow’s interests.
Fellowship Training: Emphasis is placed on honing the fellow’s assessment skills through conducting comprehensive cognitive evaluations across the developmental spectrum. Typical referral questions include attention and executive function disorders, learning disorders, mood disorders, etc. The fellow will also be able to accrue intervention experience through delivering time-limited, empirically supported treatments, including CBT, DBT, ACT, etc.
In addition to these clinical responsibilities, a portion of the fellow’s time will be dedicated to teaching and training junior-level psychology trainees. The fellow is also expected to contribute to research efforts within the clinic, including applying for external funding, study design and implementation, and manuscript preparation or other related tasks.
How to Apply: Fellowship applications will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis. Interested candidates should submit a CV, cover letter, three letters of recommendation, and (2) deidentified evaluation reports (1 child and 1 adult) with their applications. If you have any questions please reach out to psytesting@emory.edu.
Necessary skills/qualifications: Completion of doctoral degree from an APA, CPA, or PCSAS accredited program, as well as successful completion of APA-accredited internship. The ideal candidate is self-motivated, independent, and reliable. Grant writing experience is a plus, but not required.
Emory University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Disability/Veteran employer. Women, minorities, people with disabilities, and veterans are strongly encouraged to apply.
Why Emory?
A Leading Research University
Since 1836, Emory’s mission—to create, preserve, teach, and apply knowledge in the service of humanity—has guided the university in its work to drive discovery, serve the common good, and prepare leaders to make a difference in the world.
At the heart of Emory's impact is a distinct purpose: to think beyond oneself. This purpose—this sense of responsibility—is present among students, faculty, and alumni across generations. Whether you work here, teach here, learn or connect here, Emory is a community of impact where the greater good is balanced with individual interest. Our courageous community of seekers and solvers continues to imagine and realize the university’s mission: to create, preserve, teach, and apply knowledge in the service of humanity.
Emory is recognized internationally for its outstanding liberal arts colleges, graduate and professional schools, and one of the world’s leading health care systems. One of 65 member institutions, the university has been part of the prestigious Association of American Universities since 1995.
The excellence and dedication of our faculty are why students from around the world come to Emory, where they embark on a rigorous and inclusive educational journey that transforms them into tomorrow's leaders. Learn more here.
Connect with Atlanta and Beyond
Emory is located in Atlanta, GA, one of the United States’ most vibrant and diverse metropolitan areas. Psychology at Emory is a hub science, with connections to researchers across the University and the city, as described here. Research and training resources are enhanced by our large hospital system, our APA and PCSAS accredited clinical science training program, The Marcus Autism Center, and the Emory National Primate Research Center. Psychology faculty train Ph.D. students through one or more graduate concentrations in our department (Developmental Science, Cognitive and Computational Sciences, Clinical Science, Behavioral and Systems Neuroscience). To learn more about being a faculty member at Emory, please review the links below.
