Neuroscience Research Associate / Research Specialist

Socket.dev; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

Altos Labs Bay Area's Rosi Lab is seeking a Research Associate or Research Specialist (I/II) with expertise in in vivo brain surgeries and animal behavior to advance our mission of reversing disease and restoring cellular health.

You will perform precise cranial window and stereotaxic surgeries in murine models, develop disease-relevant cohorts, and connect surgical outcomes with behavioral measures while ensuring strict adherence to IACUC protocols.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s in Neuroscience or related field.
• 5+ years hands-on stereotaxic and cranial window surgeries in rodents.
• Experience with intracranial viral vector (AAV) delivery and longitudinal in vivo study designs.
• Knowledge of neurodegenerative disease models (e.g., Alzheimer’s, tauopathies).
• Excellent manual dexterity, high attention to detail, and ability to work independently.

Responsibilities

• Perform cranial window surgeries and cranial implantations for longitudinal imaging.
• Perform stereotaxic brain surgeries for intracranial AAV vector delivery.
• Manage the complete surgical workflow from prep to post-operative care.
• Work across neurodegenerative disease models and generate timed cohorts.
• Conduct behavioral assays and correlate results with in vivo findings.
• Maintain detailed surgical records and ensure IACUC compliance.

Skills

Stereotaxic surgeries

In vivo rodent surgery

AAV intracranial delivery

Longitudinal in vivo study design

Neuroscience research

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s in Neuroscience/Biology/Bioengineering

Tools

Miniscope imaging

EEG/Telemetry implants

Chronic cannulae

Job description

Our Mission

Our mission is to restore cell health and resilience through cell rejuvenation to reverse disease, injury, and the disabilities that can occur throughout life.

For more information, see our website at altoslabs.com.

Our Value

Our Single Altos Value: Everyone Owns Achieving Our Inspiring Mission.

Diversity at Altos

Altos Labs has been named one of the Top 3 Biotech Companies and ranked for the second year on the Forbes 2026 Best Startups in America list. At Altos, exceptional scientists and industry leaders from around the world work together to advance a shared mission. Our intentional focus is on Belonging, so that all employees know that they are valued for their unique perspectives. We are all accountable for sustaining a diverse and inclusive environment.

What You Will Contribute To Altos

Join the Rosi Lab, part of the Discovery Sciences organization at Altos Labs Bay Area, as an integral part of our neuroscience research team. We are seeking a highly skilled and meticulous Research Associate or Research Specialist (I/II) with exceptional expertise in in vivo brain surgeries and animal behavior. In this pivotal role, you will drive critical surgical workflows and generate disease-relevant models to help uncover mechanisms of brain health and resilience. You will be directly contributing to our overarching mission of reversing disease and restoring cellular health.

Responsibilities

• Advanced Surgical Interventions: Perform exceptionally precise cranial window surgeries in murine models to a consistently high standard. This includes the preparation of chronic glass windows, headplate/headbar implantations, and setups optimized for longitudinal imaging over weeks to months.
• Precision Stereotaxic Delivery: Execute highly accurate stereotaxic brain surgeries for the targeted intracranial delivery of AAV vectors, anatomical/vascular tracers, and other therapeutic agents, skillfully adapting to strain-related anatomical variations.
• End-to-End Surgical Management: Independently manage the complete surgical workflow, encompassing sterile pre-operative preparation, precise anesthetic management, the surgical procedure, and meticulous post-operative monitoring and care.
• Disease Modeling & Cohort Generation: Work across a range of neurodegenerative models, strategically managing timed cohort generation to align with critical disease-stage endpoints.
• Behavioral Assay Integration: Conduct and support complex animal behavior assays in tandem with surgical models to correlate in vivo findings with functional outcomes.
• Compliance & Data Integrity: Maintain rigorous and detailed surgical records, ensure strict adherence to all IACUC protocols, and uphold the highest standard of animal welfare at all times.

Who You Are

The level of the position will depend on the qualifications of the selected candidate.

Minimum Qualifications, Knowledge, Skill and Abilities

• Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Neuroscience, Biology, Bioengineering, or a related scientific discipline.
• Experience: 5+ years of extensive, hands‑on experience with stereotaxic and cranial window surgeries in rodent models within an academic or industry setting.
• Technical Proficiency: Demonstrated success with intracranial viral vector (AAV) delivery and longitudinal in vivo study designs.
• Subject Matter Expertise: Knowledge of neurodegenerative disease models (e.g., Alzheimer’s, tauopathies).
• Professional Characteristics: Exceptional manual dexterity, high attention to detail, and the ability to work independently while collaborating effectively within a dynamic, fast‑paced research team.

Preferred Qualifications, Knowledge, Skill and Abilities

• Hands‑on expertise with in vivo brain imaging with miniscope, awake head‑fixed imaging paradigms, and behavioral habituation.
• Proficiency utilizing genetically encoded indicators, reporter lines, intravascular dyes, and neuronal tracers, as well as experience implanting complex devices like chronic cannulae, telemetry, and EEGs.
• Familiarity with advanced behavioral testing paradigms in rodents.
• Experience with tissue processing, sectioning, and immunohistochemistry downstream of surgical interventions.

The salary range for Redwood City:

• Research Associate: $
• Senior Research Associate: $
• Research Specialist: $

Exact compensation may vary based on skills, experience, and location.

Equal Opportunity Employment

We value collaboration and scientific excellence.

We believe that a culture of belonging are foundational to scientific innovation and inquiry. At Altos Labs, exceptional scientists and industry leaders from around the world work together to advance a shared mission. Our intentional focus is on Belonging, so that all employees know that they are valued for their unique perspectives. We are all accountable for sustaining an inclusive environment.

Altos Labs provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment, without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. Altos prohibits unlawful discrimination and harassment.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

Thank you for your interest in Altos Labs where we strive for a culture of scientific excellence, learning, and belonging.