Research Engineer - Research Computing (research Professional 2)

Research Engineer Position

The Translational Neural Engineering Laboratory in the University of Minnesota Department of Psychiatry is seeking a Research Engineer interested in working at the intersection of technology, neuroscience, and mental health. Our laboratory develops technologies for changing activity in distributed brain networks involved in severe mental illnesses such as PTSD, major depression, addiction, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Some of them are in pilot clinical trials or being prepared to enter those trials. To understand our target circuits and prove that we can change them, we record electrical brain signals and deliver targeted stimulation in both model animal systems and human volunteers, across a range of techniques (both invasive and non-invasive). Much of our work borrows ideas from brain-computer interface/neural prosthetic technologies. This posting is for a support/cross project role. You will work in collaboration with the lab's experimentalists to develop, maintain, and extend pipelines for data analysis. The goal of these pipelines is to fuse signals from video, physical sensing (e.g., beam breaks and switches), and direct electrical brain recordings to understand the biological basis of mental illness. Concepts from modern machine learning and predictive modeling are woven throughout, in both supervised and unsupervised paradigms. Almost all of our analyses involve frequency-domain (Fourier/wavelet and related transform) analysis. The current codebase is a mixture of Python, R, and MATLAB, with an increasing emphasis on the first two and on the use of open-source/reusable toolkits. We work with data in a wide range of formats, and the design of scripts/tools to flexibly ingest and merge data across those formats is another central part of the work.

Job Responsibilities/Duties:

• 50% analytic code development and testing in Python, R, and/or MATLAB. This includes development of publication-quality figures, reports, and insights from the underlying analysis.
• 30% interaction with laboratory team members and external stakeholders to identify requirements, debug problems, and discern future directions. Anticipation of future needs is a critical part of this work.
• 10% communication of findings, work products, and other technical concepts in professional English and straightforward, understandable graphical metaphors.
• 10% other or additional duties, related to the primary scope of the role, as assigned by supervisors.

Qualifications:

All required qualifications must be included in the application materials

Required Qualifications:

*BA/BS degree with at least two years of relevant experience, or a combination of education and relevant work experience to equal at least six years.

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience with common digital processing techniques (filtering and frequency-domain transforms), with digital or analog electronics, and with GitHub-based code management.

About the Department:

The Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences consists of an outstanding team of researchers, clinicians, and educators who provide world-class expertise in psychiatric illness, treatment, scholarship, and scientific discovery. Our mission is to:

Create and disseminate new knowledge in the science of mental health

Provide effective and innovative clinical care programs to alleviate the suffering of mental illness and promote mental resilience

Train the next generation of interprofessional experts who will be leaders in Minnesota and beyond

Engage in compassionate and vigorous outreach and advocacy on issues relevant to psychiatric illness, treatment, and research

You can find more information on our website at https://med.umn.edu/psychiatry.

Pay and Benefits:

Pay Range: Salary range is $70,000-$80,000 depending on education qualifications/experience

Time Appointment Category: 100% Appointment

Position Type: Civil-Service & Non-Faculty Labor Represented Staff

Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for more information regarding benefit eligibility. The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off

Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program

Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans

Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts

University HSA contributions

Disability and employer-paid life insurance

Employee wellbeing program

Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution

Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity

Financial counseling services

Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost

Employee Transit Pass with free or reduced rates in the Twin Cities metro area

How To Apply:

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will be given the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume. Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section. In addition to applying through the UMN Career website, please send your resume and cover letter to Dr. Alik Widge at awidge@umn.edu.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please email employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8647.

Diversity Employment Requirements:

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

About the U of M:

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations. At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by the Star Tribune as a Top Workplace for 2021, as well as by Forbes as Best Employers for Women and one of America's Best Employers (2015, 2018, 2019, 2023), Best Employer for Diversity (2019, 2020), Best Employer for New Grads (2018, 2019), and Best Employer by State (2019, 2022). The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds. The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu.