Astera
Research Scientist, All-Optical Investigation of Rodent Cognition
Alameda. Posted 3 months ago
The role
This person will use all-optical methods to investigate how the brain builds and uses an internal model of the world in mice. The role involves task design, surgery, all-optical experimentation, and large-scale neural data analysis.
What you will do
- Define cognitive processes and experimental questions in mice.
- Design and iterate head-fixed behavioral paradigms.
- Run two-photon imaging and holographic photostimulation experiments.
- Run holographic targeting, power calibration, and closed-loop stimulation on the all-optical rig.
- Lead computational analysis of large-scale neural population data.
- Set the viral and transgenic expression strategy.
- Perform mouse survival surgery including stereotaxic viral injection, chronic cranial-window implantation, and headbar installation.
- Mentor research associates and technicians.
- Contribute to publications, talks, open data and tooling releases.
Required qualifications
- PhD in neuroscience, bioengineering, physics, or a related field, or equivalent research experience.
- Hands-on mouse survival surgery experience: chronic cranial windows, headbars, and stereotaxic injections.
- Hands-on experience with in vivo two-photon calcium imaging and/or holographic (SLM-based) optogenetics in rodents.
- Practical experience with two-photon systems: optical alignment, system characterization, and in vivo use.
- Proficiency in scientific computing for neural-data analysis; Python and/or MATLAB, with Suite2p, CaImAn, or comparable pipelines.
Nice to have
- Experience with head-fixed rodent behavior and task design; closed-loop and real-time experiments.
- Prior systems neuroscience research on cognition, including working memory, decision-making, perception, or motor/premotor circuits.
- Experience with ultrafast pulsed lasers (Ti:Sapphire, fiber) and nonlinear optics.
- Two-photon optogenetics (SLM-based holography, temporal focusing, or spiral-scanning photostimulation); soma-targeted opsins such as ChRmine.
Benefits
- Comprehensive benefits package
- Total compensation that is competitive and commensurate with the level of experience and qualifications
About the company
Astera is a private foundation on a mission to steer science and technology toward a better future. Astera Neuro seeks to understand and engineer consciousness by combining large-scale neural recording, causal perturbation, and brain-based AI.