Scientist - In Vivo Molecular Neurotechnology

Slope; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Merge Labs is a frontier research lab pursuing brain‑computer interfaces with biomolecules, physics and computation. We seek a Scientist - In Vivo Molecular Neurotechnology to develop molecular biosensors/actuators and optimize delivery in rodent models.

You will collaborate with molecular/physical engineers and data scientists, benchmark performance in neuroscience contexts and contribute to translation toward clinical applications.

Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent with end-to-end research leadership.
• Experience benchmarking molecular tools in vivo, including viral delivery.
• Experience with rodent behavioral studies and imaging/stimulation.

Responsibilities

• Own and scale in vivo validation pipelines in rodents for molecular biosensors/actuators.
• Optimize delivery vehicles and parameters for robust, cell-type specific expression.
• Design and perform in vivo experiments to benchmark functional performance.
• Collaborate with hardware engineers to develop custom set‑ups with imaging and modulation instruments.
• Assess tolerability and biological effects through functional and molecular assays.
• Work with cross-disciplinary teams to define goals and drive new ideas.
• Recruit and mentor research associate(s) as needed.

Skills

In vivo neuroscience

Rodent handling

Collaborative work

Education

PhD in Neuroscience/Biology/Bioengineering

Tools

Viral delivery methods

Surgical procedures

Histology

Tissue processing

In vivo imaging

Job description

Merge Labs is a frontier research lab with the mission of bridging biological and artificial intelligence to maximize human ability, agency and experience. We’re pursuing this goal by developing fundamentally new approaches to brain-computer interfaces that interact with the brain at high bandwidth, integrate with advanced AI, and are ultimately safe and accessible for anyone to use.

About the team

Merge Labs is developing advanced approaches for interfacing with the brain at high bandwidth by inventing new technologies that combine biomolecules, physics, neuroscience and computation. Our Bio team develops our core molecular technologies, validates their performance in vitro and in vivo, and demonstrates their advanced capabilities in animal models. We build custom experimental setups and pipelines and collaborate closely with engineers and data scientists. We come up with creative ideas, solve challenging problems and innovate across disciplines.

About the role

As a Scientist - In Vivo Molecular Neurotechnology at Merge Labs, you will be an integral member of the team developing molecular biosensors and actuators for BCI technologies. You will establish experimental approaches to optimize delivery and functional expression of theses biomolecules in rodent models, characterize their tolerability and biological effects, benchmark their performance in neuroscience paradigms and generate insights to guide our next‑generation design. You will collaborate with molecular engineers, data scientists and physical engineers to solve problems and come up with new ideas. Your work will lead to breakthroughs in neural interfacing technology and enable its translation into clinical applications.

In this role, you will:

• Own and scale in vivo validation pipelines in rodents for molecular biosensors/actuators, including gene delivery, surgical workflows, sensory/behavioral paradigms, and ex vivo characterization.
• Optimize delivery vehicles, administration methods and parameters for robust, cell‑type specific expression, and quantify the outcomes at the functional and molecular scale.
• Design and perform in vivo experiments to benchmark functional performance of biosensors/actuators in physiologically relevant neuroscience context.
• Collaborate with hardware engineers and platform teams to develop and build custom set‑up incorporating novel imaging and modulation instruments.
• Assess tolerability and biological effects through functional and molecular assays, and identify practical levers that improve long‑term tolerability while maintaining function.
• Work closely with molecular engineers, physical engineers and data scientists to define project goals, solve problems and come up with new ideas.
• Recruit and mentor research associate(s) as needed to expand efforts.

You might thrive in this role if you:

• Have a PhD in Neuroscience, Biology, Bioengineering or a related field, or have equivalent experience leading research projects end‑to‑end.
• Have expertise in benchmarking and optimizing molecular tools in vivo, including viral delivery methods, advanced surgical procedures, histology, tissue clearing or expansion microscopy.
• Have experience in in vivo neuroscience research in rodents using sensory or behavioral experiments with simultaneous imaging and/or stimulation.
• Love developing, implementing and troubleshooting novel techniques when they’re very new and there are many things to figure out.
• Enjoy working with multidisciplinary teams, collaborating and communicating with experts across disciplines.
• Are energized by a fast‑paced environment with a high sense of mission and urgency.

Nice to have

• Experience in generating transgenic animals.
• Experience with ex vivo methods such as activity‑based labeling or spatial sequencing.
• Knowledge and experience in system neuroscience.
• Hands‑on or CRO experience with larger animals.
• Familiarity with protein or gene construct engineering and/or computational approaches.

If you're excited about this role but don't meet every qualification, please apply. As we build, we're hiring for complementary strengths to form a high‑impact team.

For more information about hiring at Merge, please visit our Hiring FAQ.

Merge Labs does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, family status, ancestry, citizenship, U.S. military (state and federal) and veteran status, or any other legally protected status. It is our intention that all applicants be given equal opportunity and that selection decisions are based on job related factors. We are an equal opportunity employer.

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities, and requests can be made by emailing [e-mail].