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. You will lead development of a miniaturized two-photon microscope capable of simultaneous cellular-resolution imaging and holographic two-photon photostimulation in head-stabilized and freely-behaving mice and rats. The result will be all-optical readout and targeted perturbation of neural circuits at single-cell and ensemble resolution, with transformative implications for systems neuroscience. The ideal candidate is a scientist-engineer who can carry the work end-to-end. You can perform a stereotaxic surgery in the morning, align an SLM-based beam path in the afternoon, and write the analysis pipeline that evening. You want the institutional support and freedom to move fast on a problem that matters. All animal research at Astera Neuro is conducted under IACUC-approved protocols with dedicated veterinary support, following the 3Rs framework and AAALAC standards. WHAT YOU WILL DO - 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. WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR - 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. - 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. EDUCATION PhD in neuroscience, bioengineering, physics, or a related field is preferred. Equivalent demonstrated expertise will also be considered. ABOUT ASTERA NEURO Astera Neuro is a neuroscience research company building the tools and infrastructure required to understand how the brain works at scale. We develop cutting-edge hardware and recording systems, with the goal of enabling the next generation of discoveries about neural circuits, cognition, and behavior.