The Mindspan Institute is a new non-profit research institute in Cambridge, MA, aimed at building novel tools to analyze the human brain, and scaling them to study its molecules and wiring. We interpret how they contribute to brain functions and dysfunctions, and share our tools and discoveries as freely as possible, to advance human health.

Cambridge, MA (on-site) – Full-time

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.

What you’ll do

Experiments.  You generate high-quality monosynaptically paired whole-cell patch-clamp recordings, both manually and using next-generation automation. You understand electrophysiology deeply, and become highly proficient with novel electrophysiology platforms. You consistently generate large quantities of high-quality, reproducible electrophysiological data, on a daily basis.

Analysis.  You 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. You systematically troubleshoot unsuccessful recordings and identify sources of variability. You analyze, QC, and interpret electrophysiological recordings to reveal cellular and circuit physiology.

Collaboration. You work closely with engineers and scientists to improve experimental workflows and automation. You maintain rigorous experimental records, can follow standardized experimental protocols, and help establish standardized, repeatable protocols for high-throughput electrophysiology.

Culture we’re building

The disorders of the brain affect over 1,000,000,000 people around the world: Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, stroke, and other conditions. We operate with a sense of urgency, even as we look to understand the brain at its most fundamental levels.

We are hypercollaborative, and focused on impact over short-term markers of productivity. Creativity and failure are the stepping stones to scale, and working together with “strong opinions, weakly held” is our style.

We solve real engineering problems the best way we can: inventing fast when we have to, and using good existing solutions where they exist. We believe hard problems only yield to many disciplines working together, so collaboration is not optional.

We expect people to explore the unknown, which means making mistakes daily, owning them, and learning from them to improve and excel.

We are recruiting a team of scientists and engineers who exemplify all these values.

Required qualifications and experience

• 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
  • 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.

Ideally, you also have experience with

• 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.

How you work

• 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.

Work environment

• This is an in-person position.
• Flexible hours may occasionally be required to accommodate experiments and experimental schedules.

You will contribute to addressing one of the most important unmet medical needs of our time while working as part of the initial team. You will have the opportunity to learn things that are difficult to learn anywhere else—as you build, troubleshoot, experiment, solve problems, and work alongside a highly interdisciplinary team.

Benefits

• Comprehensive health, dental, vision, and family benefits.
• Matching retirement contribution.
• Competitive salary: $120,000–$159,000, depending on experience.