Junior Specialist- Munakata Lab

Position overview

Salary range: A reasonable estimate for this position is $55,000 at Step 1

Open date: January 30, 2026

Next review date: Saturday, Mar 21, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)

Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.

Final date: Friday, May 29, 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.

Professor Yuko Munakata seeks to fill a full-time lab coordinator junior specialist position in the Center for Mind and Brain at the University of California, Davis, to begin Summer 2026 (start date flexible). This position is for 1-2 years with the possibility of renewal based on performance and funding. The lab studies the development of executive functioning, investigating how children learn to achieve goals by planning ahead, stopping themselves from doing things they shouldn t do, flexibly switching from one activity to another, and solving problems.

The lab explores social and contextual factors that shape the development of executive function and implications for interventions.

The junior specialist will work closely with the PI and lab group to participate in all aspects of research in executive function development. The position will involve collaborating with the PI, postdocs, and grad students to develop new experimental designs and procedures, analyze and interpret data, present research at conferences, and submit manuscripts for publication.

Responsibilities include:

• Developing Research Materials (10%):
  Make substantive contributions to study design, stimulus creation, data analysis and interpretation.
• Activities Related to Research Dissemination of Research (20%):
  Contribute to presentations, publications, grant proposals, and grant progress reports
• Participate in weekly discussions of research literature and lead relevant literature reviews
• Disseminate findings and support undergraduates in disseminating findings at conferences and local events, such as the UC-Davis Undergraduate Research Day
• Undergraduate research assistant recruiting, training, and mentoring (20%):
  Interview, train, and mentor undergraduate students on participant recruitment, data collection, coding and analyses protocols.
• Conducting Research (30%):
  Test child and adult participants using behavioral, eye tracking, and brain imaging techniques
• Interview and consent participants or their caregivers
• Administrative Lab Tasks (20%):
  Maintenance of subject funding budgets, ordering supplies
• Preparing and maintaining IRB materials and ensuring compliance with those protocols
• Support outreach efforts to partner with relevant organizations in the community around common interests (e.g., developing mobile research exhibits for children s museums)

Basic qualifications (required at time of application)

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor s degree
• Excellent writing and communication skills
• Excellent organizational and time management skills
• Experience working in a lab/research setting
• Computer skills (e.g., Microsoft Excel & Word, Google Calendar, Gmail, Google Drive)

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor s degree in Psychology or a related field
• Leadership or managerial experience, particularly with peers or more senior individuals
• Experience coordinating/collaborating with multiple teams
• Experience creating, adapting, and/or documenting protocols (e.g., organizational or personnel procedures)
• Experience with children and families
• Experience in EEG data acquisition and processing
• Experience submitting protocols to an Institutional Review Board (IRB)
• Statistical analysis skills, including experience with analytical software such as R
• Web design and social media skills
• Programming skills (e.g., with Psychopy, E-Prime, and MATLAB)

Document requirements

• Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
• Cover Letter
• Authorization to Release Information Form - This form is required for all applicants applying to academic recruitments. Please see the Employment Disclosure Requirements webpage for more information. Download, complete, sign, and upload the form.

Reference requirements

• 2-3 letters of reference required

Apply link: (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)./JPF
07476

Help contact: ycpersonnel

UC Davis 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, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.

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.

Job location

Davis, CA