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Research Professional

University of Chicago · Chicago, IL · $60,000–$80,000 a year · Full time

Posted Aug 14, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a time your data did not support the hypothesis. What did you do?

What they are checking: Whether they follow the data or look for a way around it.

What have you contributed to a paper, and what exactly was your part of it?

What they are checking: An honest account of authorship, which is easy to inflate and easy to check.

Tell me about training someone junior in the lab.

What they are checking: The role includes mentoring. This checks whether they can teach as well as do.

How do you stay current with the literature in your area?

What they are checking: Whether reading is a habit, since this role is expected to be a scientific resource.

Tell me about working with a principal investigator whose approach differed from yours.

What they are checking: Whether they can disagree with a supervisor about science productively.

What technique would you most like to learn here?

What they are checking: Whether they have looked at what the lab does, and whether they want to grow.

What would you do

How do you manage several experiments running at once with different timelines?

What they are checking: Practical planning, which is most of what makes bench work productive.

What would you do if you realized a reagent had been mislabeled for weeks?

What they are checking: Whether they would raise something costly and embarrassing rather than quietly fix it.

About the work

Walk me through an experiment you designed yourself, from the question to the result.

What they are checking: Whether they design work independently, which is what separates this from a technician role.

Tell me about a method you had to optimize before it would work. What was going wrong?

What they are checking: Real troubleshooting, described in enough detail to show they did it.

How do you decide when a result is real and when it is an artifact?

What they are checking: Scientific judgment, and whether they are honest with themselves about their own data.

How do you keep a record of your work so someone else could repeat it?

What they are checking: Notebook discipline, which decides whether the lab's work survives them leaving.

Practice this interview out loud.

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The full job description

As published by University of Chicago.

Department BSD NRB- Pinto lab About the Department Our research is uncovering fundamental principles of the nervous system, how brain circuits give rise to behavior and thought, how the nervous system develops across the lifetime, and how brain function is disrupted by neurological disease and mental illness. Job Summary This position performs routine assignments that facilitate and promote a research project or contributes to the scientific direction of a research resource. Receives instruction, guidance, and direction from others. Responsibilities • Performs experiments and collects and analyzes data. • Participates in the preparation and writing of grant applications and reports, and co-authors/authors scientific research manuscripts. • Collaborates on development of new research projects with academic and community-based organizations. • May present work at scientific meetings. • Performs other related work as needed. Minimum Qualifications Education: Minimum requirements include a PhD in related field. Work Experience: Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through < 2 years of work experience in a related job discipline. Certifications: --- Preferred Qualifications Experience: • At least one peer-reviewed publication in a related field. Technical Skills or Knowledge: • Proficient with two-photon microscopy, mouse behavior and machine learning for data analysis and modeling. Preferred Competencies • Excellent verbal and written communication skills. • Maintain calm and courteous demeanor and work productively despite heavy workload, competing priorities, complex problems, and tight deadlines. • Excellent problem-solving skills. Use appropriate resources to resolve an issue. • Considerable skill in working both independently and as a team member. Working Conditions • Research lab setting. Application Documents • Resume/CV (required) • Cover Letter (required) The University of Chicago uses AI-assisted tools to streamline and augment some recruitment processes; however, AI is not used to make hiring decisions. When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application. Job Family Research Role Impact Individual Contributor Scheduled Weekly Hours 40 Drug Test Required No Health Screen Required No Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required No Pay Rate Type Salary ​ FLSA Status Exempt ​ Pay Range $60,000.00 - $80,000.00 The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting. Benefits Eligible Yes The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook . Posting Statement The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination. Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form. All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position. The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu . Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.

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