Research Assistant

• Job Type: Support Staff - Union
• Bargaining Unit: SSA
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• End Date if Temporary:
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Standard Work Schedule:
• Building:
• Salary Range: $63,234.71-$63,234.71

Position Summary

This position supports a full-time Research Assistant working on the R61 project, Decoded fMRI Neurofeedback for Auditory Verbal Hallucinations in Schizophrenia. Responsibilities include assisting with the development and maintenance of the DecNef pipeline, conducting decoder construction, supporting and running DecNef training sessions, performing neuroimaging data analysis, and assisting with other research-related activities as needed.

Responsibilities

• Maintain and optimize real-time fMRI (rt-fMRI) data transfer and Decoded Neurofeedback (DecNef)

  data processing pipelines using Python, MATLAB, and Shell scripting.

• Ensure high-speed, high-accuracy real-time fMRI data preprocessing required for target brain

  pattern decoding.

• Maintain technical infrastructure, ensure software stability, enforce data integrity, and establish

  standardized, reproducible preprocessing workflows.

• Conducting decoder construction, supporting and running DecNef training sessions,

  performing neuroimaging data analysis.

• Apply multivariate pattern analysis (MVPA), machine learning, and deep learning algorithms to

  construct, validate, and fine-tune decoder models using fMRI datasets.

• Prepare, manage, and independently run real-time neurofeedback training sessions with research

  participants.

• Monitor participant safety, manage scan compliance, troubleshoot scanner-to-pipeline data

  transfers, and execute post-scan neuroimaging data processing. 

• Assist in drafting technical documentation, grant reports, method sections for publications, and

  conference presentations.

• Perform related administrative, laboratory, and collaborative duties as requested.

• Other Duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and at least one and one-half years of related experience or equivalent in education, training and experience

Preferred Qualifications

• Excellent programming and data analysis skills with extensive experience in python, Matlab, and shell
• High degree of self-organization and independent work
• Team spirit, reliability, and sense of responsibility
• Experience Machine learning, statistics, programming (both Python and Matlab), neuroimaging data processing and analysis, knowledge of neuroscience
• MA in statistics, Data Science, Computer Science, or related discipline

Other Requirements

• Successful completion of HIPAA and systems trainings

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.