Large Animal Neuroscience Lead

Subsense, Inc.; Mountain View (CA); On-site; USD 170,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

401(k)

Commuter benefits

Paid time off

Job summary

Subsense, Inc. is seeking a Large Animal Neuroscience Lead to drive the transition from rodent to pig models.

You will run pig neuroscience experiments, manage CRO partnerships, and lead a 3–4-person team, coordinating with nanoscience, hardware, software, and R&D leadership to finalize study plans and decisions. You will engage in acute, non-GLP studies, establish neural readouts, and ensure data integrity while advancing the platform toward clinical and commercial milestones.

Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent with in vivo pig/neuroscience studies.
• Experience leading a 3-4 person team and managing CROs.
• Strong experimental design and data interpretation.
• U.S.-based with on-site work in Palo Alto/Mountain View.
• Commitment to animal welfare and IACUC processes.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute acute, non-GLP pig neuroscience studies with defined endpoints and success criteria.
• Perform stereotactic targeting and electrophysiological recordings alongside veterinary teams.
• Lead a 3–4 person group of scientists, setting priorities and providing mentorship.
• Select and manage CROs and academic partners, supervising study scopes, budgets, timelines and data quality.
• Translate rodent methods to large-animal workflows; collaborate with engineers on prototypes and targeting.
• Establish neural readouts and analysis workflows, distinguishing true signals from artifacts.
• Coordinate animal-use protocols, humane endpoints, and study documentation with IACUCs.
• Integrate physiology with imaging and tissue analysis to assess engagement and tissue effects.
• Deliver clear study reports and reproducible datasets for milestones and diligence.

Skills

In vivo neuroscience

Leadership experience

CRO management

Animal welfare compliance

English communication

Education

PhD in neuroscience

MD or DVM (or equivalent)

Tools

Stereotactic equipment

Neural recording equipment

Python or MATLAB

Job description

About Subsense

Subsense is a deep-tech company developing the world’s first non-surgical, bidirectional brain-computer interface powered by plasmonic and magnetoelectric nanoparticles. Our mission is to unlock direct communication between the human brain and AI - starting with medical applications such as stroke recovery and moving toward cognitive enhancement for healthy users. Headquartered in Palo Alto, Subsense brings together leading scientists and engineers to redefine the future of human–machine interaction.

The Opportunity

We're looking for a Large Animal Neuroscience Lead to lead the transition of our nanoparticle-based neurotechnology platform from rodents to large animals. This is a hands‑on scientific leadership role: you'll run pig neuroscience experiments, manage CRO partnerships, and lead a 3–4-person team. Your initial focus will be rapid, rigorous, acute, non-GLP proof‑of‑concept studies that establish nanoparticle delivery, neural target engagement, and system performance. You'll work closely with nanoscience, hardware, software, data science, and R&D leadership to adapt research hardware, evaluate intranasal administration, and turn experimental results into clear development decisions.

What You’ll Do

• Design and execute acute, non-GLP pig neuroscience studies, defining controls, endpoints, and success criteria that separate nanoparticle delivery, activation, and neural response
• Work hands‑on in the operating room on stereotactic targeting, experimental instrumentation, stimulation, and electrophysiological recordings alongside veterinary and surgical teams
• Lead a 3–4-person group of scientists and research staff, setting priorities, coordinating study days, and providing practical training, mentorship, and performance feedback
• Select and manage contract research organizations (CROs) and academic partners, owning study scopes, protocols, budgets, timelines, on‑site execution, and data quality
• Translate rodent methods into large‑animal workflows; work with hardware engineers on prototype requirements, positioning, calibration, synchronization, and troubleshooting
• Establish reliable neural readouts and analysis workflows, distinguishing true biological responses from stimulation artifacts and physiological confounds
• Coordinate animal‑use protocols, training, humane endpoints, and study documentation with institutional animal care and use committees (IACUCs) and veterinary teams
• Connect physiology with imaging, particle‑localization measurements, and tissue analysis to assess target engagement and acute tissue effects
• Deliver clear study reports and reproducible datasets that support technical decisions, development milestones, and investor diligence

What You’ll Bring

Must‑have experience

• A PhD in neuroscience, neuroengineering, biomedical engineering, or a related field; alternatively, an MD, DVM, or other suitable advanced degree with substantial relevant research experience
• A track record of independently designing and executing in‑vivo neuroscience studies, with substantial hands‑on experience in pigs and other large animals
• Practical experience with large‑animal neurophysiology, stereotactic procedures, and neural recording or stimulation; confidence troubleshooting during live experiments
• Strong experimental‑design and quantitative‑analysis skills, including appropriate controls, artifact identification, and interpretation of electrophysiological data
• Experience managing CROs or comparable external research partners, including study planning, execution oversight, and evaluation of deliverables
• Demonstrated ability to lead and develop a small research team while remaining actively involved in experiments
• Experience working with veterinary teams and institutional animal‑care and use processes, with a strong commitment to animal welfare and data integrity
• Ability to collaborate across neuroscience, nanoscience, and engineering and deliver well‑documented results in a fast‑paced, early‑stage environment
• U.S.-based, with the ability to work on‑site at study facilities and travel to CRO and partner sites as needed
• Clear written and spoken English, with the ability to communicate methods, results, and limitations to technical and nontechnical audiences

Nice to have

• Intranasal or nose‑to‑brain delivery, nanoparticle biodistribution, or quantitative tissue‑localization methods
• Deep brain stimulation, movement‑disorder neuroscience, or other neuromodulation technologies, including optical or magnetic approaches
• MRI/CT‑guided targeting, histology, or electrophysiology analysis in Python or MATLAB
• Experience translating rodent methods or neurotechnology prototypes to large animals, or connecting non‑GLP feasibility work to later regulated preclinical development

$170,000 - $190,000 a year

Why You’ll Thrive

You'd be joining a small team­developing a non‑surgical, bidirectional brain‑computer interface powered by plasmonic and magnetoelectric nanoparticles. You’ll help translate early research into working technology, with the opportunity to influence both the platform and how we build it.

A few things that make this different:

• Own meaningful technical work: Take projects from early R&D through functional prototypes, with room to test ideas, solve complex problems, and shape design decisions.
• Build across disciplines: Work hands‑on with ultrasound, electronics, and instrumentation alongside scientists and engineers in neuroscience, nanotechnology, and AI.
• Help shape a novel platform: Contribute to technology with the potential to restore neurological function and, over time, enable direct brain‑to‑AI communication.
• Make a visible impact: Join a team where your contributions directly influence technical progress, with equity that lets you share in the company’s growth.

Our work takes place across labs in Palo Alto and Mountain View.

We offer a competitive salary, equity, and comprehensive benefits.

• equity
• including medical, dental, and vision coverage, a 401(k), commuter benefits, and paid time off

Subsense is an equal‑opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.