Member of Research Staff (C. elegans Neural Activity Imaging Postdoc)

About the role

This is a Member of Research Staff role, equivalent in scope and career stage to a postdoctoral researcher position. This role is focused on recording neural activity in C. elegans at unprecedented scale and quality, generating the experimental datasets that enable circuit-level modeling, neural inference, and machine learning approaches.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and perform neural activity imaging experiments in C. elegans, including indicator selection, sample preparation, and behavioral assay design
• Develop and optimize protocols for stable, long-duration recordings
• Contribute to the integration of imaging workflows with microfluidics, optogenetics, and related experimental technologies
• Collaborate closely with optics specialists to customize and maintain imaging systems for high-quality data collection
• Generate, validate, and curate large-scale neural activity datasets
• Work closely with computational and machine learning researchers to ensure experimental outputs support downstream modeling efforts
• Analyze experimental data and identify meaningful biological patterns and hypotheses
• Publish results in leading scientific journals and present findings at conferences and workshops
• Contribute to a collaborative, interdisciplinary research environment
• Follow a structured research plan with defined objectives, milestones and deliverables

What Success Looks Like

Success is reflected in the quality, rigor, and usefulness of the experimental work you produce. Neural activity datasets generated by the group become more reliable, informative, and scientifically valuable because of your contributions. Researchers are able to learn faster because your experiments produce measurements that accurately capture the dynamics of biological neural circuits. Your work enables meaningful advances in both experimental and computational understanding of neural systems. The data you generate helps connect neural activity, circuit structure, and behavior in ways that improve scientific understanding and guide future experiments. You consistently deliver high-quality research with minimal supervision, make sound decisions within your scope of responsibility, and contribute positively to the progress of the broader research program. Even when experiments fail, they produce useful learning that improves future experimental design and scientific understanding. Over time, your contributions become a trusted part of how the team studies neural dynamics and approaches increasingly difficult scientific questions.

Who Thrives in This Role

You have strong experimental training in neural activity imaging and an interest in connecting data to theory. You are technically strong but intellectually humble. You care about evidence, are willing to revise your assumptions, and are comfortable operating in areas where answers are not known in advance. You understand that experimental systems are imperfect and that extracting meaningful insight requires patience, rigor, and careful attention to detail. You are excited by challenging biological measurements and enjoy developing new approaches when existing methods reach their limits. You work well independently but value collaboration. You enjoy discussing ideas, sharing work early, and improving your thinking through interaction with researchers from different backgrounds. You care deeply about rigor and transparency. You surface uncertainty clearly, challenge weak assumptions, and avoid overstating conclusions. Above all, you are motivated by the opportunity to contribute to ambitious scientific problems that have the potential to change how we understand biological intelligence.

Background We Typically See

• Ph.D. in Neuroscience, Biophysics, Bioengineering, or a related field
• Strong publication record in optical activity imaging applied to neural circuits, ideally in C. elegans or comparable organisms (e.g., zebrafish, Drosophila)
• Demonstrated expertise in calcium or voltage imaging, fluorescence microscopy, or related techniques
• Experience designing and executing experiments to link neural activity to behavior or circuit-level conclusions
• Familiarity with data preprocessing and analysis pipelines for large-scale neural imaging datasets
• Experience working with advanced microscopy systems and experimental instrumentation
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, organizational ability, and attention to detail
• Able to thrive in an interdisciplinary, collaborative setting with strong interpersonal skills
• Motivated to tackle ambitious, high-risk/high-reward problems at the frontier of neuroscience and AI
• Desire to work in a start-up company research environment
• Able to work both independently and as part of an interdisciplinary team

What We Offer

• Competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits, including:
• Unlimited Paid Time Off (PTO), plus 12 company holidays
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
• 100% company-paid short-term disability, long-term disability, basic life insurance, and AD&D insurance
• 16 weeks of fully paid parental leave
• Relocation assistance for qualifying relocations

San Francisco pay range

$100,000 - $120,000 USD

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