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Research Associate, Rodent Surgery & Behavior

Astera Institute· Neuro
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Alameda$80k - $120kFull-timePosted 2mo ago

About the role

Research associate to perform rodent surgery and behavior training for all-optical neuroscience program focused on reading, writing, and perturbing working memory in the mouse cortex.

Responsibilities

  • Perform mouse survival surgeries: stereotaxic AAV viral-vector delivery, chronic cranial-window implantation, and headbar installation.
  • Run head-fixed behavior training on the sequence working-memory task, including daily training, data collection, and rig upkeep.
  • Build and maintain behavior rigs, including Bonsai and Harp control and lickport hardware.
  • Run the mouse colony and coordinate animal sourcing, health, and readiness with the vivarium.
  • Keep careful, shared records of surgeries, training histories, and preparation quality so others can build on the work.
  • Work closely with the scientists running the all-optical experiments to keep preparation, imaging, and perturbation tightly coupled.]
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  • domains:[{"name":"Neurobiology research","description":"Rodent neuroscience and all-optical program preparation in mouse cortex","categories":["biotech","neuroscience"],"stage":"development"}]
  • skills:[{"name":"Neuroscience/Life sciences hands-on experience","description":"Current, hands-on experience performing mouse survival surgery: chronic cranial-window implantation and headbar installation, plus stereotaxic viral injections","category":"technical","requirement":"required","proficiency_level":"expert","yoe":{}} ,{"name":"Surgical yield and window preparation","description":"Track record of high surgical yield and healthy, long-lived window preparations","category":"technical","requirement":"required","proficiency_level":"expert","yoe":{}} ,{"name":"Behavior training (head-fixed)","description":"Head-fixed behavior-training experience, ideally with working-memory or sequence tasks","category":"soft","requirement":"preferred","proficiency_level":"intermediate","yoe":{}} ,{"name":"Python scripting / Bonsai / Harp","description":"Scripting in Python and familiarity with Bonsai and Harp or comparable behavior-control tools","category":"technical","requirement":"preferred","proficiency_level":"intermediate","yoe":{}} ,{"name":"Behavior rigs and hardware","description":"Experience building and maintaining behavior rigs, including lickport and other custom hardware","category":"technical","requirement":"preferred","proficiency_level":"intermediate","yoe":{}} ,{"name":"Two-photon imaging / optogenetics","description":"Experience with two-photon imaging or optogenetic stimulation in awake mice","category":"technical","requirement":"preferred","proficiency_level":"intermediate","yoe":{}} ,{"name":"Colony management","description":"Colony management experience and comfort coordinating with vivarium staff","category":"soft","requirement":"preferred","proficiency_level":"beginner","yoe":{}}]}
  • tech_stacks:[{"name":"AAV viral vectors","description":"stereotaxic viral injections","category":"tool","area":"infrastructure","importance":"primary"},{"name":"Chronic cranial-window","description":"cranial-window implantation for long-term imaging","category":"technique","area":"infra","importance":"primary"},{"name":"Headbar implants","description":"headbar installation for head-fixed experiments","category":"technique","area":"infra","importance":"primary"},{"name":"Bonsai","description":"Bonsai control of behavioral rigs","category":"tool","area":"frontend","importance":"primary"},{"name":"Harp","description":"Harp control for behavior tasks","category":"tool","area":"infra","importance":"primary"} ]
  • locations:[{"description":"Alameda","location_type":"onsite","location":"Alameda"}]
  • compensations:[{"description":"$80K – $120K","compensation_type":"base","min":80000,"max":120000,"currency":"usd","period":"year"}] }}{
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Qualifications

  • BS or BA with 0-6+ years of experience in neuroscience, biology, bioengineering, or a related field, or equivalent hands-on experience.
  • Current, hands-on experience performing mouse survival surgery: chronic cranial-window implantation and headbar installation, plus stereotaxic viral injections.
  • A track record of high surgical yield and healthy, long-lived window preparations.
  • Meticulous, fast hands, and the ability to sustain high-quality work at volume.

Skills

Required:Mouse survival surgeryHead-fixed behavior trainingRecord keeping and data management
Nice to have:Behavior rig construction and maintenance

Benefits

  • Astera Neuro provides a comprehensive benefits package and total compensation that is competitive and commensurate with the level of experience and qualifications.
Last updated Sep 23, 2026. Interested? Apply on the company site.

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