Lead Scientist, Primate Whole-Brain Mapping & Atlas Development

Astera Institute; California (MO); On-site; USD 250,000 - 350,000; Full time

Job summary

Astera Neuro, a research unit within the Astera Institute, seeks a scientific leader to map the primate brain at high resolution and to integrate anatomy, connectivity, physiology, and computational modeling into a unified atlas. The role includes leading internal efforts and external collaborations with welfare standards and a strong emphasis on open, reproducible science.

Candidates will guide multi-institution programs, develop computational models, and deliver open atlas releases.

Qualifications

• PhD with 12+ years of neuroscience or related field and strong publication record.

Responsibilities

• Build a high-resolution, whole-brain atlas of the primate brain.
• Chart long-range connectivity with external partners.
• Integrate electrophysiology, imaging, and anatomy into unified reference frames.
• Deliver openly accessible atlas releases with the software team.

Skills

In vivo primate imaging

Awake fMRI

Multimodal data integration

Computational modeling

Open science

Team leadership

Education

PhD in neuroscience or related field

Tools

Imaging hardware

High-field MRI tooling

Job description

Company Overview

Astera Neuro is a philanthropically funded research organization within the Astera Institute, working to decipher and ultimately write the neural codes underlying perception, thought, behavior, and internal state. The tools this requires do not yet exist, so we are assembling a founding team of experimental neuroscientists, computational scientists, and engineers to build them, from recording and interface hardware to software and computational methods, and to use them to study neural activity at unprecedented scale, with direct promise for treating neurological and psychiatric disease. We pursue high-risk, high-reward science in a collaborative, well-resourced environment with competitive compensation, and share our tools, data, and discoveries openly under Astera\'s Open Science Policy

Position Summary

We are seeking a scientific leader to spearhead an ambitious program to map the primate brain at high resolution and to integrate anatomy, connectivity, physiology, and computational modeling into a single, openly available atlas. The successful candidate will lead both internal efforts and external collaborations, working across the Astera Neuro team to build a resource that advances our understanding of brain structure and function. Animal wellbeing is foundational to this work, supported by dedicated veterinary and behavioral care staff and rigorous welfare standards.

What You’ll Do

• Build a high-resolution, whole-brain anatomical map of the primate brain.
• Chart the projectome, the brain’s long-range axonal connectivity, in coordination with contracted external partners.
• Build a unified, high-resolution anatomical and functional atlas, registering and integrating electrophysiology and imaging data alongside colleagues across the Astera Neuro team.
• Deliver an openly accessible release of the atlas, built with the software engineering team for the broader scientific community and the public.
• Develop anatomically grounded computational models of the brain, together with the NeuroAI team.

Who You Are

Required:

• Deep expertise in in vivo imaging of the primate brain, ideally including awake fMRI at high (submillimeter) spatial resolution.
• A strong record of independent research with major contributions to primate neuroimaging, systems neuroscience, or comparative brain mapping.
• Experience integrating multimodal data: registering functional imaging, electrophysiology, and anatomy into common, high-resolution reference frames.
• Familiarity with brain-wide connectivity, including functional and effective connectivity and circuit-tracing approaches relevant to charting the projectome.
• Strong quantitative and analytical skills, including the development of novel analytical methods for comparative or large-scale neuroimaging.
• A commitment to open, reproducible science and to making tools, data, and atlases broadly available.

Preferred/Nice to Have:

• A record of pioneering or developing imaging technology, such as phased-array receive coils or emerging modalities like functional ultrasound imaging (fUSI).
• Expertise in causal, reversible perturbation methods in primates (optogenetics, microstimulation, or TMS) combined with imaging to probe effective connectivity.
• Experience with comparative human and primate imaging and cross-species homology mapping.
• Contributions to open, large-scale neuroscience infrastructure or shared data resources.
• Background in or close collaboration with computational modeling and NeuroAI efforts.

Additionally Expected at Senior / Principal Level

• Demonstrated leadership of large, multi-institution research programs or consortia, coordinating across internal teams and external partners and vendors.
• A track record of mentoring PhD students and postdoctoral researchers and shaping the research agenda of a team or center.
• Experience securing and managing substantial research funding, infrastructure, and operational logistics for large-scale data efforts.

Education

PhD with 12+ years of experience in neuroscience, medical sciences, biology, biomedical engineering, or a related field, or equivalent research experience.

Compensation

Total compensation is competitive and commensurate with the level of experience and qualifications.

Why Join Us

Lead an ambitious program to map the primate brain at high resolution and build a single, openly available atlas that unites anatomy, connectivity, physiology, and computational modeling. Join Astera Neuro to advance our understanding of brain structure and function.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity and inclusion.

Compensation Range: $250K - $350K