All-Optical Deep Brain Imaging & Stimulation Scientist

astera; Alameda (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits

Job summary

Astera Neuro is seeking a research scientist to lead an all-optical program to read, write, and perturb the contents of working memory in the primate cortex at single-cell resolution. You will design the implants, perform the survival surgeries it depends on, and run the two-photon holographic optogenetics that causally manipulates cognition.

This role sits within Astera Neuro's larger effort to decode how thoughts and memories emerge from neural circuits, with open science principles and a

Qualifications

• PhD with 0-4 years of experience in neuroscience, bioengineering, physics, or related field.
• Hands-on rodent and/or primate survival surgery experience; stereotaxic injections.
• Hands-on experience with in vivo two-photon calcium imaging and/or holographic optogenetics.
• Practical experience with two-photon systems: optical alignment and system characterization.
• Proficiency in Python and/or MATLAB for neural-data analysis with Suite2p or CaImAn.

Responsibilities

• Design and iterate GRIN lens and/or microprism assemblies for deep brain imaging.
• Develop and help execute the surgical implantation procedure.
• Run two-photon imaging and holographic photostimulation experiments; read population activity and perturb held representations.
• Lead holographic targeting, power calibration, and closed-loop stimulation on the all-optical rig.
• Lead computational analysis of large-scale neural population data (dimensionality reduction, decoding, GLMs).
• Set viral/transgenic expression strategy including soma-targeted opsins and GCaMP.
• Perform rodent survival surgery for initial validation: injections and cranial-window implantation.
• Mentor research associates and technicians; contribute to hiring and lab culture.
• Contribute to publications, talks, open data and tooling releases.

Skills

Two-photon imaging

Holographic optogenetics

Rodent/primate surgery

Python/MATLAB

Stereotaxic injections

Education

PhD

Tools

ZEMAX modeling

Two-photon systems

Job description

Astera Neuro is seeking a research scientist to lead an all-optical program to read, write, and perturb the contents of working memory in the primate cortex at single-cell resolution. You will design the implants, perform the survival surgeries it depends on, and run the two-photon holographic optogenetics that causally manipulates cognition.

This role sits within Astera Neuro's larger effort to decode how thoughts and memories emerge from neural circuits, with open science principles and a