The Laboratory of Computations of Cognition and Control (C³) at the International Center for Primate Brain Research (ICPBR) of the Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligent Technology (CEBSIT) and Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) is seeking to hire highly motivated Lab Manager, with a strong background in managing successful research operations and projects. The Lab Manager will be involved in various aspects of our lab’s research, depending on their skills, interests, and dedication. They will be exposed daily to the international research atmosphere of the ICPBR and of the Lab at Songjiang District of Shanghai.

Lab Description:

The mission of the laboratory is to discover the neural mechanisms of cognition and their biomarkers, with the goal to advance mental health. Led by Dr. Amir Sajad, the laboratory studies how the brain exerts control over actions and makes decisions in dynamic and uncertain environments. These functions are the key to cognition and are compromised in major neuropsychiatric disorders impacting 100s of millions of lives! The laboratory employs powerful visual-cognitive experimental tasks with clinical translational value and applies several techniques: (1) Psychophysics and electrophysiology (EEG) in humans (healthy and patient populations), (2) computational modeling of behavior and neural activity, and (3) non-human primate neurophysiology including multi-areal recordings, electrical microstimulation, and pharmacological methods, along with EEG! This is how the laboratory advances the discovery of markers of brain function and bridges non-human primate research to applications in neuropsychiatry.

The laboratory is brand new! So the lab manager will have the unique opportunity to be part of a driven team of scientists establishing a new laboratory from ground zero. This offers exceptional learning opportunities!

Responsibilities: Responsibilities vary depending on the stages of ongoing projects and include but not limited to:

1. Assistance with setting up the laboratory including:

· Budget management

· Purchasing equipment

· Lab renovation and maintenance

· Maintenance and updating the lab website

· Helping team members with lab hardware set up & troubleshooting and testing equipment

· Assisting with recruitment

· Communicating the needs and pain-points of the laboratory and the requests of the PI (English) to internal staff and collaborators, external collaborators, and vendors (English and/or Chinese)

2. Maintaining the general lab organization by:

· Keeping the laboratory stocked with necessary supplies/equipment and logging records

· Organizing experimental records

· Orderly maintenance of lab workspace and data storage

· Support the PI and other team members with the planning and organizing task-flows and scheduling

3. Supporting ongoing experiments by:

· Supporting behavioral tracking and electrophysiology experiments in humans and non-human primates. This entails daily training/experimental sessions that typically last 2-3 hours and require use of computer software

· Preparing written and/or verbal reports on status of research, research protocols, and technical procedures

· Training animal models for basic handling and performing cognitive experimental tasks

· Assisting with preparation and execution of procedures in animal models

4. Assist with any other laboratory-related duties and tasks as deemed appropriate by the PI.

Qualifications:

Required:

· Bachelor’s degree in Biological or Psychological Sciences or equivalent

· Highly reliable and punctual

· Excellent problem solver

· Excellent organizational skills

· Excellent communication skills

· Experienced in animal handling for research

· Have strong team spirit and diligence in workplace

· Proficiency in English and Mandarin (written and oral)

· Computer skills for handling business transactions (i.e. expense reports, spreadsheets, documents)

Preferred:

· Preference will be given to candidates with relevant work experience in laboratory management.

· Experience with project management tools

· Comfortable with trying out new technologies/equipment

Application Instructions:

Applicants should submit a Curriculum Vitae (in both English and Chinese), Transcript, and Cover Letter (in both English and Chinese). This position needs to be filled immediately so applications will be considered on a rolling basis – with highest advantage to early applications. Please submit your application no later than June 15th 2025. To get more information and/or to apply, please contact Dr. Sajad (amir.sajad@icpbr.ac.cn).

The title of the application e-mail should follow the format of ‘Name + Lab Manager Position’. All application materials will be kept confidential. We will notify eligible candidates via email regarding interview arrangements. Salary, benefits, and other terms will be in accordance with the relevant regulations of the Chinese Academy of Sciences Brain Intelligence Excellence Center (Institute of Neuroscience).