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At the Center for Healthy Minds, we've identified four core values that guide our work toward our larger mission of a kinder, wiser, more compassionate world. Each member of our community is responsible for upholding these values and embodying them in their work.

We're committed to...

  • Conducting our work with rigor
  • Making an impact on the world
  • Cultivating a prosocial workplace
  • Improving diversity, equity and inclusion

Learn more about our core values and our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.

Current Openings

Current Openings at the Center for Healthy Minds

Postdoctoral Research Associate (Loka Initiative)

Applications accepted until the position is filled.

The Center for Healthy Minds at the University of Wisconsin–Madison is seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher with a background in social science and qualitative methods to join a multidisciplinary team conducting research on emotional experiences of climate change and environmental crises.

Postdoctoral Research Associate (DARPA Strengthen)

Applications accepted until the position is filled.

The Center for Healthy Minds at the University of Wisconsin–Madison is seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher with a background in cognitive and/or affective neuroscience to work on intervention studies in healthy and distressed adults to promote wellbeing and prevent suicide. Qualified individuals will have experience in fMRI processing and analysis methods.


Postdoc Research Associate

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

The Center for Healthy Minds (CHM) is seeking candidates for one full-time, minimum of two-years Postdoctoral Research Associate position. CHM is one of the world’s leading research centers studying emotion, well-being and the promotion of well-being, particularly through contemplative interventions.


Postdoctoral Fellow in Pediatric Neuroimaging (BEE Study)

Applications accepted until the position is filled.

University of Wisconsin Madison, Departments of Medical Physics and Psychiatry are seeking a postdoctoral fellow to analyze data for a longitudinal study looking at the impact of poverty on infants' structural and functional brain development.


Open Rank Professor in Education and Well-being (School of Education/Ed Psych)

The University of Wisconsin-Madison School Psychology Program in the Department of Educational Psychology, in collaboration with the Center for Healthy Minds, is searching for an open-rank tenure track faculty member whose research focuses on prevention programs and interventions designed to promote well-being and human flourishing in diverse educational contexts.


For current openings at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, search online for position vacancy listings.

Current Openings at Healthy Minds Innovations

Positions listed are with Healthy Minds Innovations, Inc., an external nonprofit entity affiliated with the Center for Healthy Minds. These positions are not positions with the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

See all openings at Healthy Minds Innovations.

Graduate Research

The Center’s work, specifically research led by Richard Davidson, relies on sophisticated neuroimaging and other related biological methods to make inferences about processes in the brain and body during emotion, in psychopathology and in response to interventions designed to change emotion and cognition, including meditation.

These methods require a strong technical and statistical background to master. Knowing any programming language is better than none and course work in computer science, biology (neuroscience) and physics is highly recommended. Many of our most successful students have been physics, computer science and neuroscience majors as undergraduates.

Due to limitations in the number of students we can support, the Center selects few graduate students and requires a formal invitation. If you believe you meet these requirements, please email us with a copy of your CV, along with a statement of your research interests and technical skills. While we are glad to review your material to see if you are a good fit, we unfortunately cannot offer advice or dedicate time to every inquiry. You can find more information about graduate work at UW–Madison at UW Admissions, the Neuroscience Training Program, the Training Program in Emotion Research and the Department of Psychology.

Undergraduate Research

General Application

We have many ongoing research projects at the Center, providing ample opportunities for UW–Madison undergraduate students to gain valuable research experience. Students have the chance to interact with staff, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and other undergraduate students to perform a variety of duties as needed for projects. We are actively recruiting undergraduate researchers for several research projects (see above). Also, please consider viewing the other Center projects, because project supervisors might consider your application even if they are not actively recruiting.

Students must be willing to commit to register for a minimum of two semesters of research credit in the laboratory or have Federal Work-Study Funding Financial Aid. Successful candidates will have a GPA of 3.0 or higher and preferred background in computer programming, statistics, childhood development or education, and other research areas.

Interested students can complete this application. Please note it may take multiple weeks for our scientists to review your application and respond to you. We seldom accept non-UW–Madison students, but in specific and limited circumstances, we are able to accept a non-UW student if they can contribute for two or more contiguous semesters. For consideration, please complete the application linked above.

Volunteer Opportunities

At the moment, the Center does not have volunteer positions open. We encourage you to sign up for email updates and connect with us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to stay up-to-date about new opportunities to get involved with the Center.

Affiliated UW–Madison Laboratory Facilities

Waisman Laboratory for Brain Imaging and Behavior

The Waisman Laboratory for Brain Imaging and Behavior is a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to affective and cognitive neuroscience research with brain imaging. The lab is home to faculty with expertise in neuroscience, psychology, physics and statistics. Learn more.

Waisman Center

The Waisman Center comprises many interrelated centers, unified by the common goal of understanding human development, developmental disabilities and neurodegenerative diseases. Visit the Waisman Center website.

HealthEmotions Research Institute

The HealthEmotions Research Institute uses cutting-edge scientific methods developed for the study of illness to better grasp the relationship between emotions and health. Understanding how states of mind influence the body is part of the next great frontier in brain research. See more.

Benefits

It's great to work here! Below are a few of the perks of working at the Center for Healthy Minds.

  • Flexible work schedules and both full and part-time employment opportunities.
  • Ample leave time to support work-life balance and a healthy lifestyle for employees, including vacation, personal holidays, legal holidays.
  • Weekly optional meditation practices

Employees have several options for benefits and can chose from several plans to fit their individual needs. Eligible employees are offered:

  • Retirement Savings Programs
  • Income Continuation Insurance
  • Pre-Tax Savings Accounts (for eligible health, dental, vision, and day care expenses)
  • Income Continuation Insurance
  • Life Insurance – several options are available
  • Vision Insurance
  • Supplemental Dental Insurance
  • Wellness Resources - Employee Assistance Program & Wellness Wisconsin Program
  • Health Insurance (includes pharmacy benefits and an optional Uniform Dental Plan)

Below are quick reference guides to benefits the University provides, based on employment type:

Note: Every effort has been made to ensure this information is current and correct. Information on this page does not guarantee enrollment, benefits and/or the ability to make changes to your benefits.