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Basis

Basis is a nonprofit applied AI research organization with two mutually reinforcing goals. The ... cognitive science, physics, mathematics. * Excited about solving real world problems and having ...

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How much do cognitive science research jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 15, 2026, the average hourly pay for cognitive science research in the United States is $56.32, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $43.99 and $67.31 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a cognitive science research?

A Cognitive Science Research job involves studying how the mind works by integrating knowledge from psychology, neuroscience, artificial intelligence, linguistics, philosophy, and anthropology. Researchers conduct experiments, analyze data, and develop theories about cognition, perception, decision-making, and learning. They may work in academic settings, tech companies, healthcare, or government institutions to apply their findings to real-world problems like AI development, user experience design, or mental health treatments.

What are the typical responsibilities of someone working in cognitive science research?

A cognitive science researcher typically designs and conducts experiments, analyzes data sets, and interprets findings to understand human cognition and behavior. The role often involves collaborating with interdisciplinary teams including psychologists, neuroscientists, and computer scientists. You may contribute to published research, present at conferences, and keep up-to-date with advances in the field. Daily tasks can vary but often include literature reviews, experiment setup, data coding, and participating in team meetings. This dynamic environment provides numerous opportunities to develop expertise and shape the direction of future research.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in cognitive science research, and why are they important?

To thrive in Cognitive Science Research, you need a strong background in psychology, neuroscience, computer science, and experimental design, typically supported by an advanced degree in cognitive science or a related field. Experience with data analysis tools (such as Python, R, MATLAB), statistical software, and methods like neuroimaging or behavioral experiments is highly valuable. Critical thinking, curiosity, and strong written and verbal communication skills help researchers collaborate effectively and share findings. These competencies are crucial for driving innovative, rigorous research that advances understanding in this interdisciplinary field.

Is cognitive science research in demand?

Cognitive science research is in demand in academic, healthcare, and technology sectors, especially as interest grows in artificial intelligence, human-computer interaction, and neuroscience. Researchers with skills in data analysis, programming, and experimental design are sought after to advance understanding of cognition and develop innovative applications.

What jobs can you get with cognitive science research?

With a background in cognitive science research, common jobs include cognitive scientist, user experience researcher, data analyst, human factors specialist, and research scientist. These roles often require skills in experimental design, data analysis, and understanding of human cognition, and may involve working in academia, industry, or government agencies.
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Cognitive Science Research jobs near you
Infographic showing various Cognitive Science Research job openings in the United States as of September 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 1% As Needed, 87% Full Time, 10% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 76% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 20% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $117,151 per year, or $56.3 per hour.

Postdoctoral Fellow, MARA (Modeling, Abstraction and Reasoning Agents)

New York, NY • On-site

Basis Research
See more jobs at Basis Researchexternal

$100K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 5 hours ago

Key responsibilities

  • Conduct independent and collaborative research focused on the MARA project.

  • Develop new methods and algorithms for modeling, abstraction, and reasoning in AI systems.

  • Apply these methods to concrete challenges such as the Abstract Reasoning Corpus (ARC) and other domains.

Job description

About the Fellowship
This Basis Postdoctoral Fellowship is a collaborative initiative between the Basis Research Institute and Cornell University's Ellis Lab. As a fellow, you will be a key contributor to our ambitious MARA (Modeling, Abstraction, and Reasoning Agent) project, which aims to develop foundational AI technologies that enable systems to actively discover abstract models of the world and reason with them to achieve goals.
About Basis
Basis is a nonprofit applied AI research organization with two mutually reinforcing goals.
The first is to understand and build intelligence. This means to establish the mathematical principles of what it means to reason, to learn, to make decisions, to understand, and to explain; and to construct software that implements these principles.
The second is to advance society's ability to solve intractable problems. This means expanding the scale, complexity, and breadth of problems that we can solve today, and even more importantly, accelerating our ability to solve problems in the future.
To achieve these goals, we're building both a new technological foundation that draws inspiration from how humans reason, and a new kind of collaborative organization that puts human values first.
About Kevin Ellis' Group
Kevin Ellis is an Assistant Professor in the Computer Science department at Cornell University. His research focuses on artificial intelligence, program synthesis, and the intersection of AI and cognitive science. The Ellis Lab explores how to build AI systems that learn and reason like humans, particularly in areas such as programming by example, world modeling, neural-symbolic integration, and few-shot learning. The group combines techniques from machine learning, program synthesis, probabilistic programming, and cognitive science to develop AI systems that can learn complex tasks from limited data and generalize across domains.
Research Focus
Our research aims to develop new foundations and technologies for modeling, abstraction, and reasoning in AI systems, focusing on the MARA project. MARA's general goal is to build systems that actively discover abstract models of the world and reason with these models to carry out goals. Building these systems will demand advances in knowledge representation, abstraction, reasoning, active learning, and a first-principles rethinking of what it means to model the world.
The immediate mission of MARA is to solve the Abstract Reasoning Corpus (ARC) in a way that generalizes to other domains, with the broader mission of building systems capable of learning in an open, growing portfolio of domains using human-comparable amounts of data and interaction.
Fellows will have the opportunity to contribute to this ambitious project, working closely with a team of researchers at Basis and Cornell University. The research environment is both structured and adaptable, providing multiple avenues for scholarly contribution. As a fellow, your expertise can shape various aspects of the project, allowing for a balance of focused research, academic exploration, and software development.
Who we're looking for
  • Researchers holding a PhD in computer science, artificial intelligence, machine learning, cognitive science, or related fields.
  • Strong background in areas such as program synthesis, probabilistic programming, machine learning, AI reasoning systems, and cognitive modeling.
  • Experience in developing AI systems that combine neural and symbolic methods is highly valued.
  • Interest in foundational AI research and its applications to modeling, abstraction, and reasoning.
  • Individuals with a demonstrated track record in scientific research, evidenced through publications, technical reports, or impactful software projects.
Core Responsibilities
  • Conduct independent and collaborative research focused on the MARA project.
  • Develop new methods and algorithms for modeling, abstraction, and reasoning in AI systems.
  • Apply these methods to concrete challenges such as the Abstract Reasoning Corpus (ARC) and other domains.
  • Disseminate research findings through academic publications and presentations at leading conferences.
  • Actively engage in knowledge transfer within Basis and Cornell University, converting research into actionable insights and algorithms.
  • Provide mentorship to junior team members and contribute to the scientific discourse through seminars, workshops, and collaborative projects.
Role Details
  • Full-time: This fellowship is full-time and has a fixed duration of 1 to 2 years.
  • Location: This is an in-person position, with time split between Ithaca, NY and NYC. You will have space at Kevin Ellis's lab at Cornell University and will collaborate closely with Basis Research Institute. You will be expected to travel periodically, about once every six to eight weeks, for Basis-wide in-person events, typically in New York City.
  • Salary: Competitive with leading postdoctoral fellowships.
  • Start date: Immediate start possible.

Non-Discrimination Notice
Basis Research Institute provides equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or genetics and prohibits discrimination based on all protected characteristics.
Privacy Notice
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