Scientific Programmer Analyst, YSPH

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Overview

The McDougal Lab at the Yale School of Public Health seeks a scientific programmer analyst to help advance open-source neuroscience simulation, with an initial focus on the NEURON simulator ( https://www.neuronsimulator.org ), a widely used platform for detailed biophysical modeling of neurons and neural networks.

In your first projects, you will contribute to NEURON by working on areas such as:

Performance and scalability: optimize internal data structures and algorithms for improved CPU and GPU performance

Modeling features: extend the model description language to support new model types (including, potentially, machine-learning-based approaches)

Usability and documentation: improve human-computer interaction, developer experience, and user documentation

NEURON is an active, collaborative open-source project. The 84 existing contributors listed on GitHub ( https://github.com/neuronsimulator/nrn ) are a mix of researchers and software developers.

Essential duties:

Modify and extend the NEURON simulator. Develop additional related programs of small to moderate size and complexity.

Develop, implement, and validate algorithms and data structures for computational neuroscience simulation.

Create, define, communicate, and manage project plans, including: architectural design, technology selection and methodologies to apply.

Provide informational input into decisions concerning the development and delivery of applications, programs, and systems. Defines and analyzes requirements to meet the expectations of stakeholders and intended end users needs, scheduled timeline, and budgetary targets.

Work directly with research personnel to identify and resolve technical issues, troubleshoot problems, and create reports.

Prepares documentation, user manuals and develops formal proposals for new systems and modifications to existing systems. Mentors technical staff and provide training for end users.

Apply and keep current with existing and emerging technologies and methodologies. Provide ongoing input to the establishment of programming standards, procedures, and methodologies.

May perform other duties as assigned.

Required Skills and Abilities

1. Strong programming ability in Python and C++

2. Comfort with collaborative development workflows (e.g., git, pull requests, issue tracking, code review)

Preferred Skills and Abilities

Experience or coursework in one or more of:

NEURON or computational neuroscience

Numerical methods / scientific computing

GPU computing

Parallel computing (e.g., MPI )

Machine learning methods used in scientific modeling

Principal Responsibilities

1. Develops programs or systems of small to moderate size and complexity. Modifies existing systems at all levels of difficulty. 2. Provides informational input into decisions concerning the development and delivery of applications, programs and systems. Defines and analyzes requirements to meet the expectations of stakeholders and intended end users needs, scheduled timeline, and budgetary targets. 3. Analyzes, defines and designs new systems and applications. Writes code in support of business solutions. 4. Responsible for the creation, definition, communication, and management of project plans which includes architectural design, technology selection and methodologies to apply. 5. Troubleshoots problems and provide ongoing maintenance and support for applications and systems. 6. Prepares documentation, user manuals and develops formal proposals for new systems and modifications to existing systems. Mentors technical staff and provide training for end users. 7. Contributes in the development of policies or modifications to exiting policies. 8. Applies and keeps current with existing and emerging technologies and methodologies. Provides ongoing input to the establishment of programming standards, procedures, and methodologies. 9. May perform other duties as assigned.

Required Education and Experience

Bachelor's degree. Three years of experience in analysis and programming of small to medium scale systems or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Job Posting Date 11/09/2026

Job Category Professional

Bargaining Unit NON

Compensation Grade Administration & Operations

Compensation Grade Profile Manager; Program Leader (24)

Salary Range $68,000.00 - $120,500.00

Benefits A general description of the benefits to be offered with this Managerial & Professional position is available at: Yale Benefits

Time Type Full time

Duration Type Staff Fixed Duration (Fixed Term)

Work Model On-site

Background Check Requirements

All candidates for employment will be subject to pre-employment background screening for this position, which may include motor vehicle, DOT certification, drug testing and credit checks based on the position description and job requirements. All offers are contingent upon the successful completion of the background check. For additional information on the background check requirements and process visit "Learn about background checks" under the Applicant Support Resources section of Careers on the It's Your Yale website.

Health Requirements

Certain positions have associated health requirements based on specific job responsibilities. These may include vaccinations, tests, or examinations, as required by law, regulation, or university policy.

Posting Disclaimer

Salary offers are determined by a candidate’s qualifications, experience, skills, and education in relation to the position requirements, along with the role’s grade profile and current internal and external market conditions.

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the essential functions that will be required of the position and should not be construed as a declaration of specific duties and responsibilities of the position. Employees will be assigned specific job-related duties through their hiring department.

The University is committed to basing judgments concerning the admission, education, and employment of individuals upon their qualifications and abilities and seeks to attract to its faculty, staff, and student body qualified persons from a broad range of backgrounds and perspectives. In accordance with this policy and as delineated by federal and Connecticut law, Yale does not discriminate in admissions, educational programs, or employment against any individual on account of that individual’s sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, age, disability, status as a special disabled veteran, veteran of the Vietnam era or other covered veteran.

Inquiries concerning Yale's Policy Against Discrimination and Harassment may be referred to the Office of Institutional Equity and Accessibility (OIEA).

Note

Yale University is a tobacco-free campus.