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Behavioral Neuroscience Jobs in Springfield, VA (NOW HIRING)

Ipsen

Thought Leader Liaison

Washington, DC · On-site

Oncology, Rare Disease and Neuroscience. Supported by nearly 100 years of development experience ... Behavioral Competencies Required * Influences - Using compelling arguments to gain support and ...

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All JobsBehavioral Neuroscience JobsBehavioral Neuroscience Jobs in Springfield, VA

Behavioral Neuroscience information

See Springfield, VA salary details

$49.6K

$93K

$155.6K

How much do behavioral neuroscience jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 13, 2026, the average yearly pay for behavioral neuroscience in Springfield, VA is $93,041.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $77,300.00 and $94,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is behavioral neuroscience?

Behavioral neuroscience is a contemporary discipline stemming from physiological psychology. This field utilizes biological principles to research and study the behavior of human beings and other animals. Unlike other forms of psychology or biology, behavioral neuroscience researchers often disable, temporarily or permanently, some aspect of an animal’s central nervous system to test theories. For example, making lesions on the sensorimotor processing region of a mouse’s brain can help researchers to understand how its behavior and brain function is affected when that part of the brain altered. Similarly, studying humans with dementia can help researchers understand Alzheimer’s or other memory diseases better.

What is the difference between Behavioral Neuroscience vs Neuropsychologist?

AspectBehavioral NeuroscienceNeuropsychologist
Required CredentialsTypically a Ph.D. in neuroscience or psychologyDoctoral degree in psychology (Ph.D. or Psy.D.) with specialization in neuropsychology
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, universities, pharmaceutical companiesHospitals, clinics, rehabilitation centers
Industry UsageResearch, academia, industry applicationsClinical assessment, diagnosis, therapy
Common Search/ComparisonBehavioral Neuroscience vs Neuropsychologist

Behavioral Neuroscience focuses on understanding how the brain influences behavior through research and experimentation, often in academic or industry settings. Neuropsychologists, on the other hand, evaluate and treat individuals with brain injuries or neurological conditions, working directly with patients in clinical environments. While both fields study brain-behavior relationships, their roles, credentials, and work settings differ significantly.

What do you do with a behavioral neuroscience degree?

A behavioral neuroscience degree prepares individuals for careers in research, healthcare, or academia by studying the brain and behavior. Graduates often work as research assistants, lab technicians, or pursue further education for roles such as neuroscientist, clinical researcher, or neuropsychologist, utilizing skills in data analysis, experimental design, and laboratory techniques.

What are some common challenges faced when working in a behavioral neuroscience research team, and how can they be addressed?

One common challenge in behavioral neuroscience research is coordinating interdisciplinary collaboration, as projects often involve neuroscientists, psychologists, and data analysts. Effective communication is key to ensuring that experimental designs, data collection, and analysis methods are understood by all team members. Additionally, managing complex experimental protocols and adhering to strict ethical guidelines can be demanding. Building strong organizational habits and fostering open discussions during lab meetings can help address these challenges and ensure project success.

What is behavioral neuroscience?

Behavioral neuroscience is a branch of neuroscience that focuses on understanding how the brain and nervous system influence behavior. Researchers in this field study the biological bases of behavior, emotions, learning, memory, and mental processes by examining brain activity, neurotransmitter function, and neural circuits. Behavioral neuroscientists use a variety of methods, including brain imaging, animal models, and psychological experiments, to explore the complex relationship between the nervous system and behavior. This area of study is important for uncovering the causes of neurological and psychiatric disorders and for developing new treatments.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a behavioral neuroscientist, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Behavioral Neuroscientist, you need a strong background in neuroscience, psychology, and research methodology, typically supported by an advanced degree (PhD or MD). Expertise in laboratory techniques, data analysis software (such as SPSS, MATLAB, or Python), and familiarity with neuroimaging or electrophysiological tools are often required. Critical thinking, attention to detail, and effective communication are vital soft skills for designing experiments and collaborating with interdisciplinary teams. These competencies ensure rigorous scientific inquiry, reliable results, and meaningful contributions to understanding the relationship between brain function and behavior.
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What job categories do people searching Behavioral Neuroscience jobs in Springfield, VA look for?

The top searched job categories for Behavioral Neuroscience jobs in Springfield, VA are:

What cities near Springfield, VA are hiring for Behavioral Neuroscience jobs?

Cities near Springfield, VA with the most Behavioral Neuroscience job openings:

Behavioral Neuroscience jobs near you
Infographic showing various Behavioral Neuroscience job openings in Springfield, VA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% As Needed, 70% Full Time, 21% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 6% Contract. Highlights an 94% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $93,041 per year, or $44.7 per hour.

Postdoctoral Scientist - Schulze Lab

Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI)

Ashburn, VA • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Retirement

Posted 15 days ago

Job description

Primary Work Address: 19700 Helix Drive, Ashburn, VA, 20147
Current HHMI Employees, click here to apply via your Workday account.
About the role:
We are seeking a Postdoctoral Scientist with hybrid expertise spanning systems neuroscience, computer-vision, pose-tracking, behavioral ML, and VR technology to join the Schulze Lab. In this role, you will integrate custom hardware and software with computational analysis pipelines to probe the neural circuits underlying collective behavior and social cognition. To design and apply your own virtual reality paradigms, you will be working closely with our lab's VR specialist and collaborate across the team to investigate the rich, naturalistic behavior we study in Danionella. Further, you will use multi-animal tracking and behavioral classification to study latent structures and create brain-behavior maps.
This is an excellent opportunity for a scientifically driven researcher who is comfortable tinkering and who is motivated to advance the understanding of how individuality, sex differences, and stress shape the brain and decision-making in groups.
About the lab:
The Schulze Lab addresses a central question: how do neural circuits compute the experience-dependent actions animals deploy in complex, social worlds? The lab studies how individual traits, internal state, and context interact to shape both personal behavioral trajectories and group-level outcomes. We put a particular focus on the neural basis of inter-individual differences, sexually dimorphic and stress-related features expressed in social contexts such as schooling behavior. We use data-driven approaches for realistic closed-loop controlled VR-experiments, combined with two-photon calcium imaging and molecular phenotyping at single-cell resolution to investigate brain-wide circuits in the adult vertebrate brain. Further, we use LICONN for ultrastructural analyses. More information about the Schulze lab can be found here: the Schulze Lab page.
In addition, the HHMI Janelia Research Campus provides a highly collaborative, resource-rich environment for our work.
What we provide:
  • A competitive compensation package, with comprehensive health and welfare benefits.
  • Access to Janelia's facilities and engineering support for imaging, custom-hardware, scientific computing, Unity-based visual environments, in-situ hybridization, and dissection.
  • A highly collaborative, interdisciplinary research campus with close ties to labs working across systems neuroscience, computation, modeling, and tool development.
  • One-on-one mentorship.
  • Support to attend and present at scientific conferences.
  • Amenities that enhance work-life balance such as on-site childcare, free gyms, available on-campus housing, social and dining spaces, and convenient shuttle bus service to Janelia from the Washington D.C. metro area.

What you'll do:
  • Design VR systems and paradigms to present naturalistic, socially rich stimuli.
  • Write software to integrate ML-based/agentic approaches for multi-animal studies.
  • Develop and execute experiments investigating the neural circuits underlying inter-individual differences, sexually dimorphic and stress-related traits in social behavior.
  • Analyze the multivariate whole-brain activity, behavioral, and stimulus data using computational approaches. Interpret results in the context of project goals.
  • Prepare technical reports, protocols, and quantitative analyses, and maintain familiarity with current literature in systems neuroscience and VR-based behavioral neuroscience.
  • Collaborate with the lab's VR specialist and other members of the Janelia community.

What you bring:
  • A Ph.D. in neuroscience, computer science, engineering, or a closely related field.
  • A hybrid background bridging software-hardware integration and computational as well as ML skills with a solid grounding in systems neuroscience.
  • Demonstrated experience building or working with complex rigs, such as VR systems for behavioral neuroscience research.
  • Working knowledge of scientific principles and the ability to exercise independent judgment in developing methods, techniques, and evaluation criteria.
  • Ability to perform highly complex experiments with high levels of reliability and accuracy within time constraints.
  • Genuine interest in the neural basis of inter-individual differences, including sexually dimorphic and stress-related features in social contexts such as schooling behavior.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare technical reports and contribute to publications.

Physical Requirements
Remaining in a normal seated or standing position for extended periods of time; reaching and grasping by extending hand(s) or arm(s); dexterity to manipulate objects with fingers, for example using a keyboard; communication skills using the spoken word; ability to see and hear within normal parameters; ability to move about workspace. The position requires mobility, including the ability to move materials weighing up to several pounds (such as a laptop computer or tablet).
Persons with disabilities may be able to perform the essential duties of this position with reasonable accommodation. Requests for reasonable accommodation will be evaluated on an individual basis.
Please Note:
This job description sets forth the job's principal duties, responsibilities, and requirements; it should not be construed as an exhaustive statement, however. Unless they begin with the word "may," the Essential Duties and Responsibilities described above are "essential functions" of the job, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Compensation:
A Postdoc 00 (0 to 1 year research experience after obtaining a PhD) is compensated at a rate of $74,200.00 annually at HHMI's Janelia Research Campus.
Pay Type:
Annual
HHMI's salary structure is developed based on relevant job market data. HHMI considers a candidate's education, previous experiences, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity when making job offers.
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Compensation and Benefits
Our employees are compensated from a total rewards perspective in many ways for their contributions to our mission, including competitive pay, exceptional health benefits, retirement plans, time off, and a range of recognition and wellness programs. Visit our Benefits at HHMI site to learn more.
HHMI is an Equal Opportunity Employer
We use E-Verify to confirm the identity and employment eligibility of all new hires.

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