Postdoctoral Research Associate I, Linguistics

The University of Arizona's Linguistics Department seeks a Postdoctoral Research Associate to lead an undergraduate research team focused on noninvasive Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs) and consciousness. This role offers the opportunity to drive innovative research at the intersection of cognitive neuroscience, linguistics, and technology, while mentoring the next generation of student researchers.

The Project Director will spearhead technical development, data analysis, and publication efforts for a student-led initiative using OpenBCI hardware, EEG recordings, eye-tracking integration, and machine learning to enhance neural decoding. Based in the Bever Lab, this position emphasizes hands-on mentorship, fostering student expertise in BCI applications for neurological and cognitive processes, such as motor coordination and sensory integration.

Outstanding U of A benefits include health, dental, vision, and life insurance; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; U of A/ASU/NAU tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members; access to U of A recreation and cultural activities; and more!

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• The Postdoctoral Research Associate will
  guide all technological aspects of the student-led research, overseeing the
  implementation of EEG, eye-tracking, machine-learning, and other
  psychophysiological and neurolinguistic data-collection as needed. This
  includes managing hardware setup (e.g., OpenBCI EEG devices, eye-tracking
  glasses), software pipelines (using Python libraries like BrainFlow,
  MNE-Python, and EEGLAB), and real-time data processing for applications like
  WebGrid-based motor-imagery classification.
• The role involves conducting data
  analysis, implementing machine-learning algorithms to achieve or exceed
  industry-standard bits-per-second (BPS) accuracy, and preparing results for
  publication in peer-reviewed journals and presentation at conferences.
• They will oversee a team of undergraduate students from the
  UofA Consciousness Club, providing training on equipment use, data-collection
  protocols, IRB compliance, and research methodologies in consciousness. This
  includes hands-on instruction in EEG acquisition, signal processing (e.g.,
  time-frequency analysis, ERP, connectivity), and ethical considerations in BCI
  research.
• The Postdoctoral Fellow will collaborate with faculty mentors across
  departments.
• This is a half-time position in the Linguistics Department,
  with access to dedicated lab space in the Bever Lab and resources from the
  Franke Honors College.
• The role reports to Professor Bever and involves
  ensuring that equipment remains accessible for future Honors students' supervised
  research.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Familiarity with IRB processes, ethical guidelines in neuroscience research, and data security protocols.

• Ph.D. in Psychology, Cognitive Neuroscience, or a related field upon hire, with expertise in neuroimaging, electrophysiology, and brain stimulation techniques (e.g., transcranial focused ultrasound combined with EEG).
• Experience building and integrating EEG systems (e.g., OpenBCI devices) with other data streams, including real-time analysis using Python tools like PsychoPy, EEGLAB, and MNE-Python.
• Experience with signal processing, including analysis of time-frequency, ERP, connectivity, source-estimated, and nonlinear complexity features of EEG signals, as well as machine learning for neural decoding.
• Mentorship experience, including training and supervising undergraduate research assistants in data collection, analysis, and presentation skills.
  
  

• Experience in multidisciplinary projects involving neurolinguistics, cognitive science, and consciousness.