Research Scientist, Electrophysiology

About the role

Mindspan is assembling a multidisciplinary team to develop technologies that will fundamentally accelerate our understanding of the brain. We are seeking an exceptional electrophysiology research scientist to join our team and become a core operator of our next-generation electrophysiology platforms. This is an experimental neuroscience role, operating both existing and next-generation electrophysiology (e.g., patch clamp) platforms. This is an intensely hands-on position: you will spend your days at patch rigs performing electrophysiology experiments, collecting high-quality data, troubleshooting experiments, and interpreting the results. We are looking for someone who is highly experienced with manual whole-cell patch-clamp electrophysiology in mammalian brain slice, has excellent experimental judgment and dexterity, and is excited to apply those skills in conjunction with increasingly automated systems. The ideal candidate is a careful, systematic, high-throughput experimentalist who can repeatedly execute demanding protocols while maintaining exceptional data quality: someone who loves being at the rig, and wants to push the limits of what can be measured experimentally.

Responsibilities

• Generate high-quality monosynaptically paired whole-cell patch-clamp recordings, both manually and using next-generation automation.
• Understand electrophysiology deeply, and become highly proficient with novel electrophysiology platforms.
• Consistently generate large quantities of high-quality, reproducible electrophysiological data, on a daily basis.
• Develop the judgment required to maximize recording yield and quality, both manually and in automation contexts, and help transition established manual techniques to automated electrophysiology platforms.
• Systematically troubleshoot unsuccessful recordings and identify sources of variability.
• Analyze, QC, and interpret electrophysiological recordings to reveal cellular and circuit physiology.
• Work closely with engineers and scientists to improve experimental workflows and automation.
• Maintain rigorous experimental records, can follow standardized experimental protocols, and help establish standardized, repeatable protocols for high-throughput electrophysiology.

Qualifications

• PhD in neuroscience, biology, biomedical engineering, bioengineering, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• Demonstrated hands-on experience with whole-cell patch-clamp electrophysiology in mammalian brain slices.
• Strong understanding of electrophysiological recording techniques, neuronal physiology, experimental design, and data quality and experimental rigor.
• Excellent manual patch-clamp skills, manual dexterity, and fine motor control.
• Ability to perform repetitive, technically demanding experiments systematically, consistently, and with exceptional attention to detail.
• Ability to recognize high-quality versus poor-quality electrophysiological recordings and understand the underlying biology.
• Strong quantitative, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Willingness and ability to learn and operate automated electrophysiology systems.

Preferred skills

• Paired whole-cell patch-clamp recordings.
• Live mouse procedures.
• Electrophysiology hardware and instrumentation.
• Optimization and troubleshooting of experimental rigs.
• Laboratory automation and robotics.
• Coding and data analysis using tools such as Python or MATLAB.

About you

• You love patch-clamp electrophysiology and are excited by technological innovation.
• You are exceptionally detail-oriented and organized.
• You can plan experiments carefully while adapting when experiments do not go as expected.
• You can work independently and prioritize and multitask effectively.
• You have excellent written, interpersonal, and verbal communication skills.
• You are self-motivated and committed to high standards of experimental quality.
• You have a service-oriented mindset and enjoy helping a team succeed.
• You exercise good judgment, balancing flexibility and focus, action and planning, and speed and thoughtfulness.
• You are comfortable both giving and receiving constructive feedback.
• You are excited to work collaboratively toward an ambitious scientific mission.

Pay

Competitive salary ($120,000 to $159,000), depending on experience.

Benefits

• Comprehensive health, dental, vision, and family benefits.
• Matching retirement contribution.