Research Associate - Neuron Models
San Francisco Bay Area$95k - $120kFull-timePosted 1w ago
About the role
Research Associate focused on complex in vitro neuron models, iPSC-derived neurons, and rodent primary cultures to build and scale high-throughput neuronal assays for Merge Labs’ neurotechnology platform.
Responsibilities
- Expand, bank, and QC human iPSC lines.
- Produce human iPSC-derived neuron banks on a large scale and perform quality control assays for each batch.
- Isolate and culture rodent neurons from provided brain tissues.
- Generate, maintain, and perform experiments on long-term neuronal cell cultures at scale.
- Recognize, document, and communicate deviations from expected production or QC outcomes.
- Help design and engineer workhorse iPSC lines.
- Facilitate the method development (optimization, troubleshooting, and upscaling) of neuronal models and high-throughput neuronal biochemical, imaging, and activity assays.
- Collaborate cross-functionally with teams to ensure seamless execution.
- Maintain accurate, detailed, and audit-ready study documentation.
Qualifications
- BS, BA, or MS in a biology field.
- 2+ years of hands-on experience in advanced cell models such as iPSCs and CNS primary culture. Excellent aseptic techniques.
- Familiarity with routine biochemical assays such as gDNA and RNA extraction, qRT-PCR, immunofluorescence, and ELISA.
- Schedule flexibility to perform intermittent weekend lab work to ensure proper iPSC maintenance.
- Experience following SOPs for consistent and reliable execution.
- Meticulous observational skills to recognize cell behavior deviations and data anomalies, and communicate issues early.
- Scientific curiosity. Ability to actively troubleshoot experiments by searching literature, forming hypotheses, designing, and executing tech-dev experiments.
- An organized approach to managing multiple cell lines, assays, requests, and timelines.
- Strong documentation habits and experience maintaining accurate sample, lot, and process records in an ELN, LIMS, or another structured sample-tracking system.
Skills
Required:iPSC culture and bankingNeuron cultureQuality control and assaysSOP adherenceDocumentation
Last updated Oct 14, 2026. Interested? Apply on the company site.
About Merge Labs
Introducing Merge Labs
Meet Merge Labs – a research lab with the long-term mission of bridging biological and artificial intelligence to maximize human ability, agency, and experience.
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