Research Specialist, Experimental Neuroscience

astera; California; On-site; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Astera Neuro seeks Research Specialists to support day-to-day experiments exploring how the brain supports perception, cognition, and behavior. Working with scientists, engineers, and technicians, you will prepare and run experiments, train animals, and maintain experimental setups in a hands-on role.

You should have a BS/BA in biology or neuroscience with up to 6+ years of related experience, plus hands-on animal handling, meticulous record-keeping, and the ability to work independently while

Qualifications

• BS/BA in biology or neuroscience with up to 6+ years of related experience.
• Hands-on experience with animals in a research setting.
• Enjoy practical experimental work requiring consistency and attention to detail.
• Ability to carry out established experimental procedures independently and seek input when needed.
• Ability to recognize and troubleshoot practical problems methodically.
• Organized with clear records and good communication with scientists and staff.

Responsibilities

• Train animals on cognitive and perceptual tasks, maintain consistent training routines, and track their progress.
• Work with scientists to prepare and run neural recording and behavioral experiments. Monitor signal quality and animal behavior, and keep clear records of each session.
• Assist with animal preparation and surgical procedures.
• Help assemble, maintain, refine, and troubleshoot experimental rigs. Work with scientists and engineers to repair equipment, test new tools, and adapt setups for new experiments.

Skills

Animal handling

Record keeping

Independent work

Troubleshooting

Attention to detail

Communication

Education

BS/BA in biology or neuroscience

Job description

Company Overview

Astera Neuro seeks to understand and engineer consciousness. We believe consciousness is the process by which the brain builds a coherent internal model of the world and the self. We aim to understand this model and to develop the technologies to write experience directly into the brain. By combining large-scale neural recording, causal perturbation, and brain-based AI, we seek to move neuroscience from observing correlates of experience to engineering it. The same tools carry direct therapeutic promise for neurological and psychiatric diseases that alter perception, thought, and sense of self. Because the science and tools required do not yet exist, we are assembling a founding team of neuroscientists, theorists, and engineers to create them. We do high-risk, high-reward science in a well-resourced, collaborative environment with competitive pay, and share everything openly under Astera's Open Science Policy.

Position Summary

We are seeking Research Specialists to help carry out experiments investigating how the brain supports perception, cognition, and behavior. Working alongside scientists, engineers, and technicians, you will support the day-to-day experimental work of our neuroscience team, preparing and running experiments, training animals, and maintaining experimental setups. We welcome people at different career stages who enjoy hands-on laboratory work and want to make it their main focus, including people from research support, lab management, and academic research backgrounds. This is a hands-on experimental track and does not carry an independent research program. Animal wellbeing is foundational to this work, supported by dedicated veterinary and behavioral care staff and rigorous welfare standards.

What You’ll Do

• Train animals on cognitive and perceptual tasks, maintain consistent training routines, and track their progress.
• Work with scientists to prepare and run neural recording and behavioral experiments. Monitor signal quality and animal behavior, and keep clear records of each session.
• Assist with animal preparation and surgical procedures.
• Help assemble, maintain, refine, and troubleshoot experimental rigs. Work with scientists and engineers to repair equipment, test new tools, and adapt setups for new experiments.

Who You Are

• You have a BS or BA with 0 to 6+ years of experience in biology, neuroscience, or a related field, or equivalent hands-on experience. We value demonstrated skill and relevant experience above credentials.
• You have hands-on experience working with animals in a research setting.
• You enjoy practical experimental work that requires consistency and attention to detail.
• You can carry out established experimental procedures independently and recognize when to ask for input.
• You can recognize and troubleshoot practical problems methodically.
• You are organized, keep clear records, and communicate well with scientists, engineers, and animal care staff.

Preferred/Nice to Have

• An advanced degree or postdoctoral experience in neuroscience or a related field is welcome but not expected.
• In vivo electrophysiology, especially high-density or chronic recordings with Neuropixels or other multichannel probes.
• Optogenetics, electrical stimulation, or closed-loop experiments.
• Training animals on cognitive and perceptual tasks.
• Stereotaxic surgery, implant preparation, or other animal procedures.
• Building or maintaining experimental rigs.

What We Value

• Patience and care in working with animals, with close attention to their behavior and wellbeing.
• Careful work and openness about mistakes.
• Taking initiative to improve equipment and procedures, and working with the team to solve problems.
• Sharing methods and practical knowledge, both within the team and with the wider research community.

Why Join Us

You will help make ambitious neuroscience experiments possible through careful, reliable hands-on work. This role offers the opportunity to build deep technical expertise, work closely with scientists and engineers, and take responsibility for experimental systems that the team relies on. This work sits within Astera Neuro's larger effort to understand how the brain generates thought, intelligence, and internal state.

Astera Neuro provides a comprehensive benefits package and total compensation that is competitive and commensurate with the level of experience and qualifications.

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