Assistant/Associate Project Scientist - Behavioral Neurophysiology - Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute

Position overview Position title: Assistant Project Scientist, Associate Project Scientist
Salary range: The UC academic salary scales set the minimum pay determined by rank and step at appointment. See the following table(s) for the current salary scale(s) for this position https://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/_files/2025-26/represented-july-2025-scales/t37-b.pdf . A reasonable full-time estimate for this position is $76,700 - $97,700

Percent time: 100%

Anticipated start: Winter 2026

Position duration: One year with the possibility of extension based on performance and availability of funding.

Application Window
Open date: December 15, 2025

Next review date: Monday, Dec 29, 2025 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.

Final date: Thursday, Jan 15, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

Position description

The Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute at the University of California, Berkeley seeks applications for an Assistant/Associate Project Scientist in the Foster Lab, in the area of the behavioral neurophysiology of the hippocampal formation.

The applicant will work on an ongoing project, following up the specific hypothesis that was first published earlier this year in the journal Science, that hippocampal replay is governed by continuous attractor dynamics. We are interested in determining how hippocampal replays adapt to successive goals, and whether and how the continuous attractor framework can explain these adaptations

The position involves recording and analyzing behavioral neurophysiology data, and creating and developing and testing new hypotheses to explain the data.

The specific duties may include and are not limited to the following:

experimental design
behavioral training of animal subjects
design and build of the electrophysiological implants
surgery
recording and testing of subjects
histology
data curation
analysis of data
creating and testing of new hypotheses
presentation of data at scientific meetings
writing of data for publication and completing the review process
The position may also involve lab duties, including helping with protocols, inspections, safety and other aspects of lab management.

Qualifications
Basic qualifications (required at time of application)
PhD (or equivalent international degree)

Additional qualifications (required at time of start)
At least three years post-PhD research experience in a relevant area

Preferred qualifications
PhD in Neurobiology
Strong publication record in the top most peer reviewed journals in the fields of awake hippocampal replay and in the application of computational models of dynamical attractors to hippocampal replay data
Experience in hippocampal replay experimental design, animal training, surgery, conduct of hippocampal replay experiments, histology and analysis of data from hippocampal replay experiments in rats
Experience in testing awake hippocampal replay phenomena in linear tracks, open fields and in open field spatial memory tasks incorporating barriers
Experience in the use of optogenetics and DREADD technologies, particularly as related to the hippocampus and/or entorhinal cortex
Experience recording and manipulating neural activity in the entorhinal cortex of rats

Application Requirements

Document requirements
Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.

Cover Letter

Reference requirements

3-5 required (contact information only) Apply link: https://aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF05230

Help contact: davidfoster@berkeley.edu

About UC Berkeley

UC Berkeley is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in our public mission of research, teaching, and service, consistent with UC Regents Policy 4400 and University of California Academic Personnel policy ( APM 210 1-d ). These values are embedded in our Principles of Community , which reflect our passion for critical inquiry, debate, discovery and innovation, and our deep commitment to contributing to a better world. Every member of the UC Berkeley community has a role in sustaining a safe, caring and humane environment in which these values can thrive.

The University of California, Berkeley is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status.

For more information, please refer to the University of California's Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment Policy and the University of California's Anti-Discrimination Policy .

In searches when letters of reference are required all letters will be treated as confidential per University of California policy and California state law. Please refer potential referees, including when letters are provided via a third party (i.e., dossier service or career center), to the UC Berkeley statement of confidentiality prior to submitting their letter.

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.

Unless stated otherwise, unambiguously, in the position description, this position does not include sponsorship of a new consular H-1B visa petition that would require payment of the $100,000 supplemental fee.

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct.

"Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment or discrimination, as defined by the employer.
UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
UC Anti-Discrimination Policy
APM - 035: Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment

Job location
Li Ka Shing 275, Berkeley, CA

To apply, visit https://aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF05230

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