Neural Circuit Technician — Behavior & Optogenetics

University of Utah; Salt Lake City (UT); On-site; USD 26,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

The Luo Lab at the University of Utah seeks a full-time Lab Technician to support neuroscience research on decision-making and attention. The position combines behavioral training in rats with in vivo electrophysiology and optogenetic manipulations in a dynamic lab setting.

You will train animals, assist with surgical procedures, collect and organize data, manage equipment and inventory, and help generate figures for lab meetings using existing analysis scripts.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in biology, chemistry, or related field or equivalent experience.
• Ability to perform complex laboratory techniques and reliable data handling.
• OSHA animal care certification or willingness to obtain.

Responsibilities

• Handle and train rats on cognitive tasks and maintain behavioral rigs.
• Assist with stereotaxic surgeries and post-operative animal care.
• Conduct in vivo electrophysiology recordings and apply optogenetics.
• Troubleshoot hardware/software and manage data pipelines.
• Prepare reports and generate figures for lab meetings using scripts.
• Maintain lab inventory, sterile tools, and animal welfare records.

Skills

Animal handling

Behavioral training

Data organization

Lab equipment operation

Statistical analysis

Team collaboration

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in biology

Tools

Electrophysiology setup

Optogenetics equipment

Sterile surgical tools

Job description

The Luo Lab at the University of Utah seeks a full-time Lab Technician to support neuroscience research on decision-making and attention. The position combines behavioral training in rats with in vivo electrophysiology and optogenetic manipulations in a dynamic lab setting.

You will train animals, assist with surgical procedures, collect and organize data, manage equipment and inventory, and help generate figures for lab meetings using existing analysis scripts.