Application Guide

How to Apply for Scientific Software Engineer

at The Many Brains Project

🏢 About The Many Brains Project

The Many Brains Project is a nonprofit that develops open-source digital tools for cognitive science, including the widely-used TestMyBrain platform. It uniquely bridges software engineering and scientific research, offering the chance to contribute to scalable infrastructure that advances understanding of human cognition.

About This Role

As a Scientific Software Engineer, you'll build and maintain backend systems, APIs, and data pipelines that power cognitive assessments used by thousands of participants. Your work directly enables researchers to collect and analyze behavioral data at scale, making a tangible impact on open science.

💡 A Day in the Life

Your day might start with a standup with the engineering team to discuss progress on API development or data pipeline optimizations. You could spend the morning writing Python code to integrate a new cognitive test into the platform, then collaborate with a researcher in the afternoon to debug a data export issue. Later, you might review pull requests and deploy updates to the staging environment.

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🎯 Who The Many Brains Project Is Looking For

  • Has experience with Python and JavaScript, including building web applications (e.g., Flask/Django, Node.js) and working with SQL databases.
  • Understands cloud infrastructure (AWS/GCP) and DevOps basics (CI/CD, Docker, Linux) to manage scalable systems.
  • Can collaborate with researchers to translate cognitive assessment requirements into technical implementations.
  • Values open science and has a background in cognitive science, neuroscience, or data science, or equivalent experience building research tools.

📝 Tips for Applying to The Many Brains Project

1

Highlight any experience with cognitive assessments, psychometrics, or behavioral research tools (e.g., jsPsych, PsychoPy).

2

Showcase contributions to open-source projects or public code repositories, especially those related to science or data pipelines.

3

Tailor your resume to emphasize backend development, API design, and database optimization rather than just frontend skills.

4

Mention familiarity with TestMyBrain or similar platforms, and explain how your skills can improve their scalability or data quality.

5

In your cover letter, connect your technical work to real-world research impact—e.g., how your code enables faster data collection or analysis.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your experience building and maintaining backend systems for research or data-intensive applications.', 'Your ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams (engineers and scientists) and translate research needs into technical solutions.', 'Your passion for open science and contributing to nonprofit, mission-driven projects.', "Specific examples of how you've optimized data pipelines, improved API performance, or handled large-scale data."]

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Explore the TestMyBrain platform (testmybrain.org) and understand the types of cognitive tests and data collected.
  • → Read about the Many Brains Project's mission and recent publications or blog posts on open science.
  • → Look at their GitHub repositories (e.g., for TestMyBrain or related tools) to understand the tech stack and coding style.
  • → Familiarize yourself with common cognitive assessment tools and data formats (e.g., trial-by-trial data, reaction times).
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💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 How would you design a data pipeline to handle cognitive test results from thousands of concurrent users?
2 Describe your experience with RESTful APIs and database schema design for research data.
3 How do you ensure data integrity and privacy in compliance with research ethics?
4 Tell us about a time you collaborated with non-technical researchers to implement a technical solution.
5 What improvements would you suggest for the TestMyBrain platform based on your understanding of its current architecture?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Submitting a generic application without referencing the company's focus on cognitive science or nonprofit mission.
  • Overemphasizing frontend skills while neglecting backend, data pipeline, or research collaboration experience.
  • Failing to demonstrate understanding of the unique challenges of building software for scientific research (e.g., data accuracy, reproducibility).

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to The Many Brains Project!

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