Research Assistant I Lab

Harvard University

📍Cambridge, MA
Posted May 19, 2026

Job Overview

Position

Research Assistant I Lab

Company

Harvard University

Location

Cambridge, MA

Work Type

On-site

Job ID

li-4407839317

Job Description

Company Description
By working at Harvard University, you join a vibrant community that advances Harvard's world-changing mission in meaningful ways, inspires innovation and collaboration, and builds skills and expertise. We are dedicated to creating a diverse and welcoming environment where everyone can thrive.

Why join the Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences?
The Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) is the historic heart of Harvard University. It is the home of Harvard’s undergraduate program (Harvard College, founded in 1636) as well as all of Harvard’s Ph.D. programs (the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, founded in 1872), Harvard Athletics and the Division of Continuing Education. The 40 academic departments and 30+ centers of the FAS support a community unparalleled in its academic excellence across the broadest range of liberal arts and sciences disciplines. Together, the FAS seeks to foster an environment of ambition, curiosity and shared commitment to knowledge and truth that elicits excellence from all members of our community and prepares the next generation of leaders through a transformative educational experience.

Job Description
Job Summary:
Full-time Research Assistant (RA) wanted for an exciting, largescale project in the laboratory of Professor Randy Buckner.

Job-Specific Responsibilities:
The RA's primary responsibilities include: (1) data acquisition using behavioral and neuroimaging techniques (MRI); (2) data entry, data checking, and quality control procedures; and (3) subject recruitment and enrollment through community outreach and advertising. Other responsibilities include serving as an interface among several collaborating lab groups, maintaining participant databases, scoring and processing data and assisting with administrative tasks.

Qualifications
Basic Qualifications:
Background in psychology, neuroscience, or a related field and previous research experience is required.

Additional Qualifications and Skills:
B.A., B.S. preferred. Candidates should have proficiency with basic computing packages such as MS Word and Excel and will have some familiarity with one or more of the following (Linux, MATLAB, SPM, FSL, fMRI). Strong interpersonal skills, prior research experience, high level of organization with careful attention to detail, and comfort with technical skills are required. This position requires a high degree of motivation and self-sufficiency, although extensive training and supervision will be provided.

Additional Information

  • Standard Hours/Schedule: 35 hours per week

  • Visa Sponsorship Information: Harvard University is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position

  • Pre-Employment Screening: Identity

  • Other Information:

This is a one-year term position with renewal dependent upon continuation of funding. This is an excellent opportunity for a motivated individual to gain experience with cognitive neuroscience research including working with clinical populations in preparation for a graduate career. This position will be fully on site in Cambridge, MA and will require some flexibility in work hours to accommodate occasional evening and/or weekend MRI scan slots.

When applying for this position, please submit your resume and cover letter in our preferred format as one, combined document (resume followed by cover letter). Please also include a list of professional references with your resume.

All formal offers are made by FAS HR.

Work Format Details
This position has been determined by school or unit leaders that all duties and responsibilities must be performed at a Harvard or Harvard-designated location. Certain visa types may limit work location. Individuals must meet work location sponsorship requirements prior to employment.

Salary Grade and Ranges
This position is salary grade level 052. Please visit  Harvard's Salary Ranges  to view the corresponding salary range and related information.

Benefits
Harvard offers a comprehensive benefits package that is designed to support a healthy work-life balance and your physical, mental and financial wellbeing. Because here, you are what matters. Our benefits include, but are not limited to:

  • Generous paid time off including parental leave

  • Medical, dental, and vision health insurance coverage starting on day one

  • Retirement plans with university contributions

  • Wellbeing and mental health resources

  • Support for families and caregivers

  • Professional development opportunities including tuition assistance and reimbursement

  • Commuter benefits, discounts and campus perks

Learn more about these and additional benefits on our Benefits & Wellbeing Page.

EEO/Non-Discrimination Commitment Statement
Harvard University is committed to equal opportunity and non-discrimination. We seek talent from all parts of society and the world, and we strive to ensure everyone at Harvard thrives. Our differences help our community advance Harvard's academic purposes.

Harvard has an equal employment opportunity policy that outlines our commitment to prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, religion, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or identified in the university's non-discrimination policy. Harvard's equal employment opportunity policy and non-discrimination policy help all community members participate fully in work and campus life free from harassment and discrimination.

Interview Prep

AI-powered insights to help you prepare

Key Skills

Required:
Preferred:

Practice Questions

💡Technical Questions (3)
  • 1.Can you walk me through your experience with MRI data acquisition and the steps you take to ensure high-quality neuroimaging data?
  • 2.The job requires familiarity with tools like Linux, MATLAB, SPM, or FSL. How have you used these or similar technical tools in your past research or coursework?
  • 3.How do you approach data entry and quality control to ensure accuracy in large-scale research datasets?
🎯Behavioral Questions (3)
  • 1.Tell me about a time you had to recruit human subjects for a study. How did you handle outreach and enrollment?
  • 2.Describe a situation where you had to serve as an interface or liaison between different groups or team members. How did you ensure smooth communication?
  • 3.This role requires a high degree of motivation and self-sufficiency, but also involves extensive training. Tell me about a time you had to learn a complex new skill independently while still knowing when to ask for help.
🧩Situational Questions (2)
  • 1.You are scheduled to run an MRI scan for a participant this evening, but the scanner malfunctions right before the session is supposed to start. How do you handle this?
  • 2.You are managing multiple responsibilities—subject recruitment, data checking, and interfacing with collaborating labs—when a collaborator urgently requests data you haven't finished processing due to a QC flag. How do you respond?

Resume Keywords

Make sure these keywords appear on your resume

neuroimagingMRIfMRIdata acquisitionquality controlsubject recruitmentMATLABLinuxSPMFSLclinical populationsdata processing

Interested in this position? Apply directly on LinkedIn.

Apply on LinkedIn →