Research Scientist / Engineer, Two-Photon Imaging & Holographic Optogenetics

About the role

Astera Neuro is a neuroscience research company building the tools and infrastructure required to understand how the brain works at scale. This role is central to that mission.

Responsibilities

• Perform stereotaxic rodent surgeries: AAV viral vector delivery, chronic cranial window implantation, and GRIN lens or miniscope head-mount installation in mice and rats.
• Design, build, and iterate on a miniaturized two-photon microscope incorporating spatial light modulators for holographic photostimulation.
• Develop and optimize two-photon optogenetics protocols for single-cell and ensemble-level activation with minimal off-target excitation.
• Lead computational analysis of large-scale neural population data, including dimensionality reduction, population decoding, generalized linear models, and circuit-level inference.
• Collaborate with optical engineers, software developers, and neuroscientists to integrate hardware, software, and biology into a coherent experimental platform.
• Contribute to publications and internal technical documentation.

Requirements

• PhD in neuroscience, bioengineering, physics, or a related field, or equivalent demonstrated expertise.
• Hands-on rodent surgery experience: stereotaxic injection, cranial window preparation, and secure implant fixation in mice and/or rats.
• Practical experience with two-photon imaging systems, including optical alignment, system characterization, and in vivo use.
• Proficiency in scientific computing for neural data analysis. Python and/or MATLAB, with familiarity with Suite2p, CaImAn, or comparable pipelines.
• Strong foundational understanding of nonlinear optics, ultrafast laser physics, and fluorescence microscopy.

Qualifications

• Bonus: direct experience with two-photon optogenetics (SLM-based holography, temporal focusing, or spiral scanning photostimulation); custom optical engineering with ultrafast pulsed lasers (Ti:Sapphire, fiber); miniaturized imaging systems; rat-scale stereotaxic surgery and freely moving behavioral paradigms; or machine learning applied to neural data.

Skills

• Scientific computing for neural data analysis.
• Python and/or MATLAB.
• Familiarity with Suite2p, CaImAn, or comparable pipelines.
• Understanding of nonlinear optics, ultrafast laser physics, and fluorescence microscopy.

Benefits

All animal research at Astera Neuro is conducted under IACUC-approved protocols with dedicated veterinary support, following the 3Rs framework and AAALAC standards.

Pay

The base salary range for this role is $180,000 to $230,000, commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Schedule

N/A