Affective Neuroscience Assistant Research Scientist

Assistant Research Scientist

The Applied Research Laboratory for Intelligence and Security (ARLIS), based at the University of Maryland College Park, was established in 2018 under the auspices of the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence to be a strategic asset for research and development in social systems, autonomy and augmentation, and advanced computing. One of only 15 designated Department of Defense University Affiliated Research Centers (UARCs) in the nation and the only UARC focused on supporting the intelligence community, ARLIS conducts both unclassified and classified research spanning from basic to applied system development and works to serve the US Government as an independent and objective trusted agent.

ARLIS research is driven by a cadre of research scientists and engineers, faculty research specialists and project engineers, further supported by senior University of Maryland faculty and a consortium of university partners. Research is typically conducted through teams of e.g. social scientists, computer scientists, psychologists, linguists, cognitive neuroscientists, applied mathematicians, political scientists, policy analysts, and systems engineers.

The Assistant Research Scientist will contribute to interdisciplinary human subject research projects within ARLIS, with a focus on neurophysiological measurement techniques including functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) and electroencephalography (EEG). This role supports ARLIS's mission to advance applied research in human performance, cognition, and emotion science in support of national security and defense. Scientists in this role will design, conduct, analyze, and publish experimental studies and contribute to broader research programs in experimental psychology and neuroscience.

Must be able to obtain a U.S. security clearance. If selected, you must meet the requirements for access to classified information and will be subject to a government security clearance investigation that includes criminal and credit history checks, as well as verification of U.S. citizenship, birth, education, employment, and military history.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and conduct research studies involving fNIRS and EEG with human subjects
• Implement experimental protocols rooted in emotion and cognitive psychology
• Recruit, consent, and manage research participants in compliance with IRB protocols
• Analyze complex neurophysiological and behavioral datasets using statistical methods
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams and contribute to publications, reports, and briefings
• Apply open science practices and maintain thorough documentation of procedures
• Participate in internal reviews, sponsor briefings, and project planning meetings
• Assist in grant writing and funding proposal development as needed

Minimum Qualifications

• Doctoral degree (Ph.D. preferred) in Psychology, Neuroscience, Cognitive Science, or a related field
• At least 1 year of hands-on experience conducting fNIRS and/or EEG research with human participants
• Familiarity with experimental design, data collection, and analysis in emotion or cognitive research
• Experience with human subjects research protocols and compliance

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Expertise in EEG and/or fNIRS methodology
• Strong foundation in experimental psychology and human subjects research methods
• Familiarity with emotion research, especially in applied or experimental contexts
• Ability to work independently and as part of a cross-functional team
• Statistical analysis skills, including multilevel modeling (MLM), regression, and/or machine learning
• Proficiency in scientific programming (R and/or Python preferred)
• Strong written and oral communication skills for technical and non-technical audiences
• Commitment to ethical research, continuous learning, and team collaboration

Physical Demands

Primarily sedentary work in a professional office or lab environment. Regular use of computers and laboratory equipment. In-person attendance at research study sessions and participant training required. Occasional travel for conferences or site coordination.

Preferences

• Experience with multivariate statistical analysis
• Proficiency in R and/or Python for data analysis and visualization
• Experience analyzing emotion-related or affective neuroscience data
• Demonstrated interest in applying research to defense, intelligence, or operational contexts

Licenses/ Certifications

No licenses required. IRB and human subjects research training (e.g., CITI certification) preferred.