Dr. Nitin Tandon’s lab is in the Department of Neurosurgery and focuses on clinical studies on epilepsy and brain tumors, and basic research studies on language processing. As part of the Texas Institute for Restorative Neurotechnologies (TIRN), at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), we invite applications for a Research Assistant III in the lab of Dr. Nitin Tandon (www.tandonlab.org).

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Position Summary:

Under close direction of senior research staff, conducts activities to support research projects. The candidate will use the lab’s expertise in multimodal approaches – fMRI, lesional analysis following epilepsy surgery, intracranial recordings and direct stimulation to create and validate network level representations of language. The candidates will contribute to the research currently underway in the lab through data analysis using various computer-based software programs and they will have the opportunity to gain knowledge in the fields of reading, semantics, speech production and computational neuroscience.

The candidate is expected to be highly motivated, a team player with a passion to study cognitive processes using data collected by various modalities available in the lab – imaging, direct recordings and closed-loop cortical stimulation – in humans. Given the multiple unpredictable variables and privacy issues around data collection in human patients, the individuals must possess high ethical and professional standards. 

Position Key Accountabilities:

1.    Under close supervision, conducts research activities according to research protocol. Research activities may include some or all of the following: obtain consent, data collection, data entry, traditional laboratory experiments and activities, maintain accurate records, databases, etc., programming and informatics.

2.    May maintain clean laboratory equipment and/or work area to ensure a safe and efficient work environment.

3.    Evaluates and interprets research data to provide needed information to principal investigators and other researchers. Updates notebooks, records, and databases as needed.

4.    Stays abreast of new and updated protocols for research department.

5.    Complies with all governmental and University policies, rules, regulations, and codes.

6.    Performs other duties as assigned.

Certification/Skills:

Undergraduate degree in one or more of the following: medicine, neuroscience, psychology, cognitive science, mathematics, electrical engineering or computer science.

Previous experience with programming in languages such as Matlab and Python are desirable – but not crucial.

Minimum Education:

Bachelor’s degree in appropriate field of science or relevant experience in lieu of education.

Minimum Experience:

Two (2) years of related experience in a research or clinical lab environment. 
May substitute required experience with equivalent years of education beyond the minimum education requirement.

Physical Requirements:

Exerts up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 10 pounds frequently and/or a negligible amount constantly to move objects. This position may include work involving potentially hazardous chemical, biological or radioactive agents.

 

Security Sensitive:

This job class may contain positions that are security sensitive and thereby subject to the provisions of Texas Education Code § 51.215

Residency Requirement:

Employees must permanently reside and work in the State of Texas.

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