Staff Scientist 1 (NIH Pain Research Center)

Program Overview 

The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) invites applications for a staff scientist position in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Pain Research Center (PRC) (NIHPRC, Facility Head Alisa Johnson, Ph.D.). The successful candidate will be part of a growing NIH-wide clinical research core focused on understanding the mechanisms underlying chronic pain and pain in rare diseases using innovative pain phenotyping in humans with the goal of developing and testing targeted interventions for improved pain management. In collaboration with other Institutes and Centers (ICs) at NIH, we support the overall mission of NCCIH by advancing scientific understanding and clinical integration of complementary and integrative nondrug approaches for the management of chronic pain. NIHPRC is part of NCCIH’s Division of Intramural Research and works closely with the Office of the Clinical Director and other NCCIH labs. 

Learn more about the NIH Intramural Training Program.

The successful candidate will support the planning, execution, and analysis of clinical research within the NIHPRC’s research program. This role involves working closely with NIHPRC staff to ensure the timely and effective conduct of research studies and advancing the research program through experimental design, data acquisition, data analysis and curation, dissemination of findings, and direct trainee mentorship. Ongoing efforts are focused on the studying of mechanisms underlying chronic pain, deep phenotyping using multimodal assessments, and the development of neuromodulation for analgesia. In addition to supporting lab members and ongoing studies, the staff scientist will contribute ideas to long-term goals and priorities of the research program and will develop and lead independent projects that fall within the NIHPRC mission in collaboration with the facility head.

Position Duties

Specific responsibilities for the staff scientist include: 

• Conduct research as a team member within the section and in the context of NIHPRC collaborations.
• Independently complete data analysis and contribute to interpretation of results.
• Prepare manuscripts for submission and results for grant proposals, scientific meetings, and other lab-related documents.
• Mentor and assist with the day-to-day supervision and training of NIHPRC staff and lab members in standard and novel methods, analytic approaches, and manuscript preparation.
• Participate in the design of new experiments and provide insights on potential new lines of work within the NIHPRC mission.
• Interact with NIHPRC members and the neuroscience community within and outside of NIH to develop and implement cutting-edge methodologies to address scientific questions of interest.
• Capitalize on the NIHPRC expertise to design and lead independent multidisciplinary projects.
• In collaboration with the facility head, manage clinical research protocols, ensure regulatory compliance, serve as point of contact for shipping and receiving of supplies and equipment, and assist with general center function, including assisting in the decision-making for purchases, hardware/software upgrades, and evaluating existing resources.

Required Qualifications

Applicants must have a Ph.D. degree in neuroscience, psychology, life sciences, or a closely related field AND have post-doctoral experience. In addition, applicants must have expertise and at least 5 years of experience in clinical pain research. Preference will be given to candidates with skills in psychophysiology, neuroimaging, and advanced analytics. The applicant must have strong written and oral communication skills, demonstrated ability to work in collaborative projects, and should be able to design experiments, interpret results, and write manuscripts. Due to the critical interactive nature of this position, excellent teamwork and communication skills and evidence of success training others (e.g., through mentorship, workshops, teaching) are required.

Salary and Benefits 

Salary will be commensurate with the staff scientist I level, depending on experience and accomplishments. A full civil service package of benefits (e.g., retirement; health, life, and long-term care insurance; Thrift Savings Plan) is available. See NIH's Office of Human Resources for more information.

How To Apply 

Interested candidates should submit a letter of interest including a brief description of their research and experience related to the position; a separate statement describing the mentoring and outreach activities in which they have been involved; a curriculum vitae (CV) and bibliography; and two letters of recommendation from references familiar with their expertise and research experience. 

Application packages should be sent to Renata Baginski at renata.baginski@nih.gov. Please include the following in the subject line: “NIHPRC – Staff Scientist 1 Application [insert your name].” Questions should be addressed to Renata Baginski at the same email address. 

Applications will be accepted beginning July 6, 2026, and must be received by 11:59 p.m. ET on August 6, 2026, for consideration in the review period. Review of applications will begin on or about August 10, 2026. Should no suitable candidates be selected during this period, the position will remain open until filled. This position is subject to a background investigation.

NIH and NCCIH are committed to building a diverse workforce and promoting an inclusive environment. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and NIH are Equal Opportunity Employers.

NIH Pain Research Center
Division of Intramural Research 
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health 
National Institutes of Health 
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services