Research Scientist

Details Open Date:
04/30/2026

Requisition Number:
PRN44892B

Job Title:
Research Scientist

Working Title:
Research Scientist

Career Progression Track:
F

Track Level:

FLSA Code:
Professional

Patient Sensitive Job Code?:
No

Standard Hours per Week:
40

Full Time or Part Time?:
Full Time

Shift:
Day

Work Schedule Summary:
Hours can be flexible and may require work during weekends

VP Area:
U of U Health - Academics

Department:
00219 - Neurobiology Research

Location:
Campus

City:
Salt Lake City, UT

Type of Recruitment:
External Posting

Pay Rate Range:
47600 to 72000

Close Date:
08/04/2026

Priority Review Date (Note - Posting may close at any time):

Job Summary:
Develops research projects and is responsible for scientific design, conduct and interpretation, presenting results and publishing manuscripts.

Responsibilities:
Disclaimer
This job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to the job.

Essential Functions
This position is structured as a hands-on, bench-focused role with a central responsibility for driving experimental work and helping projects move forward efficiently. A key aspect of the role will be translating research ideas into practical, well-controlled experiments and troubleshooting technical challenges as they arise.

In addition to your own experimental work, you will play an important role in supporting trainees in the lab. This will include working with graduate and undergraduate students on experimental design, helping them establish reliable approaches early in their projects, and assisting with troubleshooting to maintain progress.

Specific responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

• Leading or co-leading scientific research projects.
• Designing and implementing new methodologies and assays.
• Troubleshooting and applying innovative solutions to research challenges.
• Analyzing, interpreting, and synthesizing data to draw meaningful conclusions.
• Training and supervising students and research staff.
• Collaborating with internal and external research teams.
• Preparing research findings for presentations, abstracts, peer-reviewed publications, and grant applications.
• Assisting in the preparation of research grant proposals.

Problem Solving
This position demands proficiency in computational data analysis and statistical methods.

Comments
Work Environment and Level of Frequency that may be required:
Nearly Continuously: Benchwork.
Often: Exposure to animals, hazardous chemicals and reagents

Physical Requirements and Level of Frequency that may be required
Nearly Continuously: Hearing, listening, talking.
Often: Repetitive hand motion (such as typing), walking, standing, sitting.
Seldom: Bending, reaching overhead.

Minimum Qualifications:
Bachelors degree in biology, chemistry or other scientific discipline in a related field plus four years of experience or equivalency (one year of education can be substituted for two years of related work experience) required. Demonstrated human relations and effective communication skills also required.

Applicants must demonstrate the potential ability to perform the essential functions of the job as outlined in the position description.

Preferences:
Prefer a PhD in a biology-related field and at least five years of postdoctoral research experience in neuroscience are required, along with a record of first-author publications in peer-reviewed journals. Experience working with human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and stem cellderived neurons and organoids is preferred. This position is not responsible for providing patient care.

Type:
Benefited Staff

Special Instructions Summary:

Additional Information:
The University is a participating employer with Utah Retirement Systems (URS). Eligible new hires with prior URS service, may elect to enroll in URS if they make the election before they become eligible for retirement (usually the first day of work). Contact Human Resources at ... for information. Individuals who previously retired and are receiving monthly retirement benefits from URS are subject to URS post-retirement rules and restrictions. Please contact Utah Retirement Systems at ... or ... or University Human Resource Management at ... if you have questions regarding the post-retirement rules.

This position may require the successful completion of a criminal background check and/or drug screen.

The University of Utah values candidates who have experience working in settings with students and possess a strong commitment to improving access to higher education.

Veterans preference is extended to qualified applicants, upon request and consistent with University policy and Utah state law. Upon request, reasonable accommodations in the application process will be provided to individuals with disabilities.

Consistent with state and federal law, the University of Utah does not discriminate based upon race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, or protected veterans status. The University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX and 34 CFR part 106. The requirement not to discriminate in education programs or activities extends to admission and employment. Inquiries about the application of Title IX and its regulations may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, to the Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, or both.

To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability or if you or someone you know has experienced discrimination or sexual misconduct including sexual harassment, you may contact the Director/Title IX Coordinator in the Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX ( OEO ). More information, including the Director/Title IX Coordinators office address, electronic mail address, and telephone number can be located at the: University of Utah NonDiscrimination page .

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As per University of Utah policy 5-108: Transfer of Benefits Eligible Staff Members , a new hire to the University of Utah who is still serving a 12 month probationary period will not be hired into another University of Utah job (a transfer) until the successful completion of the probationary period.