Research Specialist, Experimental Neuroscience

The role

You will help carry out experiments on how the brain supports perception, cognition, and behavior. You will train animals, prepare and run experiments, and maintain experimental setups, working alongside scientists, engineers, and technicians.

What you will do

• Train animals on cognitive and perceptual tasks, keep training routines consistent, and track progress.
• Prepare and run neural recording and behavioral experiments with scientists.
• Monitor signal quality and animal behavior, and keep clear records of each session.
• Assist with animal preparation and surgical procedures.
• Assemble, maintain, refine, and troubleshoot experimental rigs.
• Repair equipment, test new tools, and adapt setups for new experiments.

Required qualifications

• BS or BA with 0 to 6+ years of experience in biology, neuroscience, or a related field, or equivalent hands-on experience
• Hands-on experience working with animals in a research setting
• Enjoy practical experimental work that requires consistency and attention to detail
• Carry out established experimental procedures independently and recognize when to ask for input
• Recognize and troubleshoot practical problems methodically
• Organized, keep clear records, and communicate well with scientists, engineers, and animal care staff

Nice to have

• Advanced degree or postdoctoral experience in neuroscience or a related field
• In vivo electrophysiology, especially high-density or chronic recordings with Neuropixels or other multichannel probes
• Optogenetics, electrical stimulation, or closed-loop experiments
• Training animals on cognitive and perceptual tasks
• Stereotaxic surgery, implant preparation, or other animal procedures
• Building or maintaining experimental rigs

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits package
• Competitive total compensation

Before you apply

• This is a hands-on experimental role and does not carry an independent research program.

About the company

Astera Neuro seeks to understand and engineer consciousness, and to develop technologies that write experience directly into the brain. It does high-risk, high-reward science and shares its work openly under its Open Science Policy.