Professional Research Assistant

Position Details
University of Colorado | Denver
Faculty Level/Title: Professional Research Assistant
Working Title:
Professional Research Assistant
FTE:Full time, 1.0 FTE
Hiring Salary: $40,124 annually
Position # - Requisition #39160
Join the University of Colorado Denver

About the University of Colorado - Denver
Millions of moments start at CU Denver, a place where innovation, research, and learning meet in the heart of a global city. We're the state's premier public urban research university with more than 100 in-demand, top ranked bachelors, master's, and doctoral degree programs. We partner with diverse learners-at any stage of their life and career-for transformative educational experiences. Across seven schools and colleges, our leading faculty inspires and works alongside students to solve complex challenges and produce impactful creative work.

As part of the state's largest university system, CU Denver is a major contributor to the Colorado economy, with 2,000 employees and an annual economic impact of $800 million. To learn more about how CU Denver helps learners meet their moment, visit ucdenver.edu.

Job Description

* Applications are accepted electronically ONLY .edu/cu-careers *

A full-time Professional Research Assistant (PRA) position is available in the Behavioral Exercise Neuroscience Laboratory at the downtown campus of the University of Colorado, Denver. The PRA will join a team conducting studies aimed at identifying the brain mechanisms through which psilocybin enables stress resilience, using rodent models. Responsibilities include the collection of research data through experimentation, training and mentoring of research personnel, entering data into databases, managing schedules of laboratory personnel, planning and scheduling experiments, overseeing lab trainee's work, and analyzing and graphing data.

This is an eight-month position starting April 1, 2026, through November 30, 2026, with potential for extension dependent on grant funding.

Professional Research Assistant
What you will do:
The duties and responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to:

• Conducting behavioral experiments with live rodents (50% time).
• Performing survival surgeries, such as stereotaxic surgery (20% time).
• Performing bench work, including histological techniques (10% time).
• Microscopy analyses of brain tissue (10% time).
• Training undergraduate students, graduate students, and other PRAs on research techniques (10% time).

Qualifications you already possess (Minimum Qualifications)
Applicants must meet minimum qualifications at the time of hire.

• Bachelor's degree in Neuroscience, or a related degree, is required.
• One (1) year of experience working with live rodents in a laboratory setting, either as a lab trainee (undergraduate, graduate student) or a Professional Research Assistant.

Substitution: A combination of education and related technical/paraprofessional experience may be substituted for the bachelor's degree on a year for year basis.

Preferred Qualification to possess (Preferred Qualifications)

• Experience performing stereotaxic surgery.
• Experience conducting behavioral experiments in rodents.
• Experience with histological techniques such as immunohistochemistry.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of coding language such as MATLAB or Python.
• Excellent time-management skills.
• Attention to detail.
• Ability to work with others in a team environment.
• Demonstrated passion for research.

Conditions of Employment

• This position requires an onsite presence on campus 5 days a week.

Mental, Physical, and/or Environmental Requirements

• This position may be performed on site, and will require the ability to sit for extended periods, stand and walk occasionally, reach with hands and arms, use hands to manipulate a keyboard and mouse, and have good near vision for computer work;often requiring minimal lifting, but may involve bending or reaching to retrieve items from shelves or drawers.

CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

The University will provide reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities throughout the employment application process. To request an accommodation pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact the Human Resources ADA Coordinator at workplace engagement.

Employment Sponsorship
Please be advised that this position is not eligible now or in the future for visa sponsorship.

Compensation and Benefits
The hiring salary for this position has been established at $40,124 annually ($3,343.67 monthly).
The salary of the finalist(s) selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, internal equity,…