Neuroscience Lab Technician: Electrophysiology & 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 is seeking a full-time Lab Technician to support neural circuits research on decision-making and attention. You will assist with behavioral tasks in rats, surgical procedures, in vivo recordings, and data management, contributing to a dynamic scientific environment.

Responsibilities include training rats, building behavioral rigs, performing surgeries, conducting electrophysiology, and generating lab reports.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in biology, chemistry, or related field; related lab techniques and statistics knowledge.
• Strong ability to create and analyze statistical calculations and prepare reports.

Responsibilities

• Handle and train rats on complex cognitive tasks.
• Design, build, and maintain custom behavioral rigs for rats, including sensors and control electronics.
• Prototype and refine rig components using CAD and 3D printing.
• Run daily behavioral sessions and organize performance data.
• Assist with stereotaxic surgeries to implant microelectrode arrays and optic fibers.
• Provide post-operative care for animal welfare.
• Conduct in vivo electrophysiology recordings from multiple brain regions.
• Apply optogenetic protocols to modulate neural activity during tasks.
• Troubleshoot hardware and software in experiments.
• Assist with data processing pipelines and quality control checks.
• Manage and curate large neurophysiological and behavioral datasets.
• Generate figures and reports for lab meetings using scripts.
• Perform day-to-day lab care and housekeeping.
• Maintain rodent colony according to guidelines.
• Manage inventory, order supplies, and prepare sterile tools.

Education

Bachelor's degree in biology, chemistry, or related field

Job description

The Luo Lab at The University of Utah is seeking a full-time Lab Technician to support neural circuits research on decision-making and attention. You will assist with behavioral tasks in rats, surgical procedures, in vivo recordings, and data management, contributing to a dynamic scientific environment.

Responsibilities include training rats, building behavioral rigs, performing surgeries, conducting electrophysiology, and generating lab reports.