Research Associate  - In Vivo Biosensor Development

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

Our Bio team designs, builds, and characterizes the biotechnologies that form the foundation of next-generation brain-computer interfaces. We combine molecular engineering, synthetic biology, neuroscience and advanced physical methods such as ultrasound to establish less invasive, high-bandwidth connections with neurons. The 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 work across disciplines to come up with creative ideas and solve some of the most challenging problems in biotechnology.

About the role

As a Research Associate at Merge Labs, you'll join a multidisciplinary team developing and optimizing molecular biosensors for BCI technologies. You'll design and execute a full stack of in vivo imaging experiments to develop our biosensors in rodents. You will use advanced ultrasound-based and molecular tools ****to optimize their delivery and functional expression, characterize their biological effects, and benchmark their performance in neuroscience paradigms. You will develop protocols and generate rigorous, and reproducible data that inform scientific decisions and technical strategy. You will work closely with molecular engineers, cell biologists, ultrasound experts, in vivo researchers, 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:

• Execute in vivo ultrasound imaging experiments, including:

  • Handling of experimental animals

  • Imaging setup, calibration/alignment, and session execution

  • Experimental coordination (timing, scheduling, readiness checks, dependencies)

  • Data QC, organization, and handoff to analysis partners

• Collaborate with scientists and engineers to improve and execute in vivo validation pipelines in rodents for molecular biosensors - including surgical workflows, ultrasound imaging setup, sensory/behavioral paradigms, and ex vivo characterization.

• Design and perform in vivo experiments to benchmark functional performance of biosensors in physiologically relevant neuroscience context.

• Maintain accurate lab records, inventories, and shared resources (imaging hardware, surgical supplies, consumables, protocols).

• Learn new techniques and contribute to method development as the in vivo imaging program grows.

You might thrive in this role if you have:

• A BS, BA, or MS in Neuroscience, Biology, Bioengineering, or a related field.

• Hands-on experience executing in vivo brain imaging experiments in model organisms (e.g., mouse), including sensory or behavioral experiments with simultaneous imaging and/or stimulation.

• Strong attention to detail, comfort with rigorous protocols, and a high bar for documentation and data integrity.

• A collaborative, organized approach to experimental work and cross‑team communication.

• Prior experience in an academic or industry research lab doing in vivo systems neuroscience work.

• Strong interest and motivation to learn about in vivo ultrasound imaging.

Nice to have:

• Experience with in vivo ultrasound imaging.

• Experience with behaving animals (e.g., head‑fixed behavior, habituation/training, or behavioral tracking during imaging).

• Experience with cranial window prep/maintenance, stereotaxic procedures, or other neurosurgical workflows relevant to imaging.

• Familiarity with imaging data QC/processing workflows and basic scripting or analysis tooling (e.g., Python, MATLAB) for sanity checks.

• Experience with ex vivo methods such as IHC, RT qPCR, or FISH.

• Broader knowledge and experience in system neuroscience.

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 accommodations@merge.io.