Lead Deep Brain Imaging & Optogenetics Scientist (2P)

Astera

Emeryville (CA)

Hybrid

USD 120,000 - 210,000

Full time

14 days+

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Job summary

Astera Neuro in Emeryville seeks a PhD-level scientist/engineer to lead an all-optical program reading, writing, and perturbing working memory in the primate cortex at single-cell resolution. Design implants, assist survival surgeries, and operate two-photon holographic optogenetics to causally manipulate cognition.

This role spans optical engineering to cognitive neuroscience, with opportunities to publish, share tools, and contribute to hiring and lab culture.

Qualifications

PhD with 0-4 years of experience in neuroscience, bioengineering, physics, or a 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 in rodents or primates.
Practical experience with two-photon systems: optical alignment, system characterization, and in vivo use.
Proficiency in scientific computing for neural-data analysis; Python and/or MATLAB, with Suite2p, CaImAn, or comparable pipelines.

Responsibilities

Design and iterate GRIN lens and/or microprism assembly for deep brain imaging in the primate brain, with early optimization in rodents.
Develop and help execute the surgical implantation procedure
Run two-photon imaging and holographic photostimulation experiments: read population activity during the task, then write in and perturb the held representation at single-cell resolution.
Run holographic targeting, power calibration, and closed-loop stimulation on the all-optical rig, working with our optics engineering team.
Lead computational analysis of large-scale neural population data, including dimensionality reduction, population decoding, GLMs, and circuit-level inference.
Set the viral and transgenic expression strategy, including soma-targeted opsin and GCaMP.
Perform rodent survival surgery for the initial validation: stereotaxic viral injection, chronic cranial-window implantation, and headbar installation.
Mentor research associates and technicians – and, at the senior or principal level, more junior scientists; contribute to hiring, onboarding, and lab culture.
Contribute to publications, talks, open data and tooling releases, and engagement with the broader scientific community.