We are looking for driven scientists at all levels of experience to join the Bowers WBHI team. See below for current job openings.

Open Positions

University of California Santa Barbara
Women's Brain Health Initiative, Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences

The Bowers Women’s Brain Health Initiative (WBHI) seeks a Senior Data Analyst / Head of Informatics to lead and scale the consortium's data science and neuroinformatics infrastructure. This individual will oversee data management, quality control, and analytic pipeline development for large-scale MRI and multimodal datasets across federally and privately funded studies.

This position is designed for a scholar who can build reproducible, scalable workflows while fostering a collaborative, open-science culture. The successful candidate will work closely with PIs, trainees, and research coordinators to ensure that WBHI’s data ecosystem is rigorous, secure, and future-facing.

This role offers the opportunity to shape the informatics backbone of a growing research consortium focused on advancing women’s brain health across the lifespan.

Informatics Leadership & Strategy

Develop and oversee WBHI’s data architecture and informatics strategy across multiple grants and study sites.
Establish best practices for data governance, documentation, harmonization, and reproducibility.
Lead the design and implementation of scalable, modular analytic pipelines for structural, functional, and diffusion MRI, as well as multimodal data (e.g., clinical, behavioral, multi-omics).
Guide decisions around computing infrastructure (local HPC, cloud platforms, containerization).

Data Management & Quality Control

Implement standardized data ingestion, organization (e.g., BIDS-compliant), and version control systems.
Oversee automated and manual quality control (QC) pipelines for MRI and related datasets.
Develop dashboards or reporting tools for monitoring data completeness, QC metrics, and study progress.
Ensure compliance with institutional, federal, and sponsor data security and sharing requirements.

Pipeline Development & Advanced Analytics

Build and maintain reproducible workflows using tools such as Python, R, Bash, Docker/Singularity, Git, and workflow engines (e.g., Snakemake, Nextflow).
Integrate established neuroimaging tools (e.g., FSL, FreeSurfer, AFNI, ANTs, fMRIPrep, QSIPrep) into standardized processing streams.
Support advanced modeling approaches including network analysis, multivariate methods, machine learning, and longitudinal modeling.
Contribute to data harmonization across multi-site studies and large consortia datasets.

Team Building & Mentorship

Supervise data analysts and research staff as the informatics team grows.
Train students, postdocs, and staff in best practices for data management and reproducible research.
Foster a collaborative, transparent, and open-science culture aligned with leading neuroinformatics groups.
Partner with investigators on grant applications, including drafting data management and analysis plans.

Collaboration & Dissemination

Contribute intellectually to manuscripts, conference presentations, and grant proposals.
Engage with national and international neuroimaging and data science communities.
Promote open science principles, including code sharing, documentation, and reproducible workflows.

Position overview

Salary range: A reasonable estimate for this position at 100% time is $78,500 - $176,500
Percent time: 100%
Anticipated start: Spring 2026 or later
Position duration: This will be a one year position with the possibility of renewal. Continuation beyond one year will be based on performance and availability of funding.

Application Window

Open date: March 19, 2026
Next review date: Thursday, Apr 2, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.
Final date: Wednesday, Sep 30, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

Qualifications

Basic qualifications (required at time of application)
PhD in neuroscience, bioinformatics, biomedical engineering, statistics, computer science, or related field.
Additional qualifications (required at time of start)
5+ years of experience working with neuroimaging data (structural MRI, fMRI, diffusion MRI).
One or more years of Demonstrated expertise in:
Python and/or R
Unix/Linux environments
Workflow automation and pipeline development
Version control (Git)
Preferred qualifications
-Excellent communication skills.
-Proven ability to manage complex datasets across multiple projects.
-Experience leading or contributing to large-scale neuroimaging initiatives or consortia.
-Familiarity with multimodal integration (e.g., imaging + clinical + hormonal + genetics).
-Experience with cloud computing platforms (e.g., AWS, GCP) and containerization.
-Background in longitudinal modeling or machine learning applications in neuroimaging.
-Experience supervising technical staff or trainees.
-Experience implementing BIDS standards and MRI quality control workflows.
-Strong understanding of reproducible research principles and computational best practices.

Application Requirements

Document requirements

  • Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
  • Cover Letter
  • Samples of Scholarly Work - 1-3 samples of published, in print, submitted, or in-preparation scholarly work (article, book chapter, book, writing sample, etc.). - co-authorship on peer-reviewed publications

Reference requirements

  • 3 required (contact information only)

References for finalist(s) may be contacted by phone/email after interviews.


Apply link: https://recruit.ap.ucsb.edu/JPF03071
Help contact: pamelawilks@ucsb.edu

About UC Santa Barbara

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct.

Additionally, you will be required to comply with the University of California Policy on Vaccination Programs, as may be amended or revised from time to time. Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.

Job location

Santa Barbara, CA

 

University of California Santa Barbara
Jacobs & Hegarty Labs, Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences

The Jacobs and Hegarty Labs (in conjunction with the Chrastil Lab at UC Irvine) are hiring a full-time junior specialist for a new project on Spatial Navigation, Sex Hormones and the Aging Brain.

The Junior Specialist provides support for project management, conducting human subject research in immersive virtual environments, and data processing. They will play a central role in a large-scale project that seeks to understand how ovarian hormones shape cognition and brain structure and function across the lifespan. Within these projects, the applicant will work in a team environment with a multi-disciplinary group of faculty and trainees from psychology, neuroscience, and statistics. Primary responsibilities include management, data collection, processing, and analysis of behavioral data. Additional responsibilities will be assigned based on the successful candidate's skills and interests.

Department: https://psych.ucsb.edu/
Lab: https://hegarty-lab.psych.ucsb.edu/
Lab: https://jacobs.psych.ucsb.edu/

Interested applicants are encouraged to upload their materials to: https://recruit.ap.ucsb.edu/JPF03050

 

Position overview

Salary range: A reasonable estimate that the University expects to pay for this position at 100% is $56,300 to $72,500 annually.
Percent time: 100%
Anticipated start: April 1, 2026 or later
Position duration: This will be a one-year position with a comprehensive benefits package with the possibility of renewal. Continuation beyond one year will be based on performance and availability of funding.

Application Window

Open date: March 3, 2026
Next review date: Tuesday, Mar 31, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.
Final date: Thursday, Dec 31, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time) Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

Qualifications

Basic qualifications (required at time of application)
Applicants must have completed or be currently enrolled in a BA or BS program in psychology, neuroscience or a related field at the time of application.
Additional qualifications (required at time of start)
-Applicants must have their bachelors degree conferred by the start date of the position.
-One to two years experience with human subjects research, including conducting in-person studies with human subjects.
Preferred qualifications
-Excellent interpersonal skills necessary to working with community based participants.
-Program and data analysis skills are strongly preferred, including Python, linux/bash, and R.
-Experience with virtual environment technology and neuroimaging tools (SPM, AFNI, FSL) are also strongly preferred.

Application Requirements

Document requirements

  • Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
  • Cover Letter

Reference requirements

  • 3 required (contact information only)

Applicants that are chosen for an interview will have their references contacted after the interview.


Apply link: https://recruit.ap.ucsb.edu/JPF03069
Help contact: pamelawilks@ucsb.edu

About UC Santa Barbara

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct.

Additionally, you will be required to comply with the University of California Policy on Vaccination Programs, as may be amended or revised from time to time. Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.

Job location

Santa Barbara, CA

 

University of California Santa Barbara
Jacobs Lab, Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences

The Jacobs Lab, in conjunction with the Ann S. Bowers Women’s Brain Health Initiative, is hiring a full-time research coordinator to assist with research efforts at UC Santa Barbara.

The Junior Specialist will provide support for running complex human subjects research protocols. They will play a central role in large-scale multi-site projects that seek to understand how hormones shape brain structure and function across the lifespan. Within these projects, the applicant will work in a team environment with a multi-disciplinary group of faculty and trainees from psychology, neuroscience, and engineering. Primary responsibilities include collection, management, processing, and analysis of high-dimensional imaging data, biofluids, and neuropsychological assessments. Additional responsibilities will be assigned based on the successful candidate's skills and interests.

Department: https://psych.ucsb.edu/
Program: https://wbhi.ucsb.edu/

Interested applicants are encouraged to upload their materials to: https://recruit.ap.ucsb.edu/JPF03069

 

Position overview

Salary range: A reasonable estimate that the University expects to pay for this position at 100% is $56,300 to $72,500 annually.
Percent time: 100%
Anticipated start: May 1, 2026 or later
Position duration: This will be a one-year position with a comprehensive benefits package with the possibility of renewal. Continuation beyond one year will be based on performance and availability of funding.

Application Window

Open date: March 3, 2026
Next review date: Wednesday, Apr 1, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.
Final date: Tuesday, Dec 1, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time) Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

Qualifications

Basic qualifications (required at time of application)
Applicants must have completed or be currently enrolled in a BA or BS program in psychology, engineering, statistics, computational neuroscience or a related field at the time of application.
Additional qualifications (required at time of start)
-Applicants must have their bachelors degree conferred by the start date of the position.
-One to two years experience with human subjects research, including working with community based participants that require excellent interpersonal skills.
Preferred qualifications
Experience with neuroimaging tools (e.g. SPM, AFNI, FSL) and/or basic wet lab skills is strongly preferred.

Application Requirements

Document requirements

  • Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
  • Cover Letter

Reference requirements

  • 3 required (contact information only)

Applicants that are chosen for an interview will have their references contacted after the interview.

Apply link: https://recruit.ap.ucsb.edu/JPF03069
Help contact: pamelawilks@ucsb.edu

 

About UC Santa Barbara

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct.

Additionally, you will be required to comply with the University of California Policy on Vaccination Programs, as may be amended or revised from time to time. Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.

Job location

Santa Barbara, CA

 

University of California Santa Barbara
Jacobs Lab, Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences

The Jacobs Lab, in conjunction with the Ann S. Bowers Women's Brain Health Initiative, invites applications for a postdoctoral position in women’s brain health research across the lifespan.

The successful candidate will focus on neurobiological changes during adolescence, pregnancy, and/or menopause. Applicants must have demonstrated expertise in MRI acquisition and analysis. The postdoctoral researcher will contribute to ongoing projects, as well as develop independent lines of inquiry within a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment.

Candidates should hold a Ph.D. in neuroscience, psychology, or a related field and demonstrate a strong commitment to advancing women’s health research.

Interested parties are encouraged to send their CVs to info@wbhi.ucsb.edu.

Schmidt AI Fellowship Project

Unraveling the plasticity of the maternal brain across the rodent peripartum period

***Application for this fellowship is due Oct 6, 2025, with a start date of the postdoc position in Oct 2026.***

In pregnancy, maternal brain architecture and connectivity shows dynamic plasticity as a function of gestational age and in correlation with pregnancy-associated sex hormone levels (Pritschet et al. Nat Neurosci 2025). Understanding these adaptations beyond their temporal associations and on a mechanistic level requires a translational (human-to-mouse/bedside-to-bench) model that will allow for reductionist manipulation and in vitro analyses.

The overarching goal of our work is to investigate the brain as the central receiver, integrator, and interpreter of signals from the uterus, and to define the central arm of the uterus-brain axis as a key regulator of peripartum health (Ina Stelzer, UC San Diego).

In this project, we will establish an animal model of maternal brain adaptation across the peripartum period. We will utilize magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences to longitudinally scan female mice before, during, and after pregnancy using the same sequences adapted for high resolution mouse imaging (David Berry, UC San Diego). In combination with spatial transcriptomic and proteomic analysis, image processing and modeling approaches will build a comprehensive resource identifying regions and circuits that resemble human pregnancies (Marc Niethammer, UC San Diego).

This platform can then be deployed to assess the molecular and circuit-level mechanisms underlying maternal adaptations, enabling experimental manipulations that are impossible in humans and ultimately informing strategies to predict and mitigate risk for peripartum complications.

Please reach out to Prof. Ina Stelzer (istelzer@health.ucsd.edu) for inquiries.