Neuroimaging Research Support Specialist

The Neuroimaging Research Support Specialist will support the daily operations of the Neuroimaging Research for Veterans (NeRVe) Center at VA Boston Healthcare System, Jamaica Plain campus as a Health Science Specialist.

The Neuroimaging Research for Veterans Center (NeRVe) supports multidisciplinary neuroimaging research at VA Boston, including studies on traumatic brain injury (TBI), PTSD, and other neurological conditions affecting Veterans and older adults. The HSS will work under the direct supervision of senior research staff and Biomedical Engineer to help organize study data, support routine equipment care, and assist investigators and their staff with day-to-day administrative and technical support tasks.

They will be responsible for the management and organization of neuroimaging data, hardware, and software at the NeRVe Center and assist with data acquisition, processing, and analysis. The ability to track, manage, and analyze data for the multitude of projects the NeRVe is responsible for is a must. An ideal candidate will also possess strong individual management and group collaboration skills to match our multidisciplinary research mission goals.

Desired Skills and Experience

The Neuroimaging Research Support Specialist will:

• Organize and label neuroimaging data files according to existing NeRVe Center naming conventions and file structures.
• Assist senior HSS staff and the Biomedical Engineer with routine data entry and recordkeeping across active studies.
• Operate neuroimaging software (e.g., SPM, FreeSurfer, FSL) to run established, pre-configured pipelines under the direction of senior staff; independent script development not required at this grade.
• Run pre-written scripts and batch jobs as directed; basic familiarity with Windows, Mac, and/or Linux environments preferred.
• Assist with basic equipment upkeep and supply organization for neuroimaging hardware, following existing checklists and manufacturer guidelines.
• Follow established Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for data handling and study support; flag issues to senior staff rather than resolve independently.
• Provide general administrative support to the NeRVe Center team, including scheduling assistance, supply tracking, and documentation upkeep.
• Communicate and coordinate with VA staff on routine logistical needs under supervision.
• Report equipment or processing issues to senior HSS staff or the Biomedical Engineer rather than independently troubleshoot.
• Support senior HSS staff and the Biomedical Engineer with basic tasks related to ongoing studies as assigned, as part of professional development toward higher-graded HSS responsibilities.

Preferred qualifications

• Coursework or exposure to statistical software (SPSS, MATLAB, R) is a plus but not required.
• Interest in neuroimaging, psychology, neuroscience, or a related field.
• Willingness to learn technical tools on the job under supervision.
• Ability to work both collaboratively and independently.
• Project Management skills for multidisciplinary research.