Research Scientist / Engineer, Two-Photon Imaging & Holographic Optogenetics
Job description
About the role
You will design and execute experiments that probe neural circuits with cellular resolution in head-fixed and behaving rodents using a miniaturized two-photon platform. You will own the integration of holographic photostimulation, optical design, and in vivo imaging methods to test hypotheses about circuit function. You will translate empirical findings into robust methods that support reproducible science and high-quality data acquisition. You will work closely with hardware and software teams to ensure that experimental needs inform instrument development. You will maintain rigorous standards for data integrity, method documentation, and quantitative analysis. You will communicate complex experimental strategies clearly to both technical and interdisciplinary audiences. You will mentor junior team members on surgical, imaging, and analysis best practices. You will contribute to grant proposals, internal reports, and peer-reviewed publications that define the scientific impact of the platform.
Key facts
What you'll do
Execute stereotaxic rodent surgeries, delivering AAV viral vectors, implanting chronic cranial windows, and installing GRIN lenses or miniscope head-mounts in mice and rats to support in vivo experiments.
Refine a miniaturized two-photon microscope that uses spatial light modulators for holographic photostimulation to control neural activity with cellular precision.
Perform nonlinear optics and ultrafast laser physics analysis to optimize deep-tissue imaging performance and minimize optical aberrations in biological samples.
Document methods and results in publications and internal technical materials for scientific and engineering audiences.
Conduct in vivo two-photon imaging in head-fixed and behaving preparations, ensuring stable optical coupling, calibration, and longitudinal data quality.
Design and test custom optical components and mounting strategies that enable robust miniaturization and long-term system stability.
Analyze large-scale neural imaging datasets using Python and/or MATLAB, leveraging pipelines such as Suite2p and CaImAn for motion correction, segmentation, and extraction.
Collaborate with hardware and firmware teams to align experimental requirements with system capabilities, including laser safety, scanning, and modulation features.
Implement quantitative validation of holographic photostimulation effects through targeted assays and population activity readouts.
Contribute to the definition of experimental standards, operating procedures, and best practices for data management, metadata recording, and reproducibility.
Perform rat-scale stereotaxic surgery and implement freely moving behavioral paradigms to expand experimental designs to larger models.
Use machine learning methods to neural data to enhance decoding, denoising, and interpretation of circuit-level activity.
Coordinate study timelines, manage experimental workflows, and maintain detailed records that support iterative method development.
Present findings at scientific meetings and internal reviews, articulating the strengths, limitations, and implications of the work.
Requirements
Earn a PhD in neuroscience, bioengineering, physics, or a related field, or show equivalent expertise through documented work.
Perform hands-on rodent surgery, including stereotaxic injection, cranial window preparation, and secure implant fixation in mice and/or rats for chronic studies.
Conduct practical two-photon imaging, handling optical alignment, system characterization, and in vivo use in head-fixed and behaving preparations.
Use scientific computing for neural data analysis with Python and/or MATLAB, plus familiarity with Suite2p, CaImAn, or similar pipelines for large datasets.
Demonstrate a strong grasp of nonlinear optics, ultrafast laser physics, and fluorescence microscopy relevant to deep-tissue imaging.
Show proven ability to work independently in a research environment while maintaining meticulous attention to detail and data integrity.
Commit to adhering to institutional and regulatory guidelines for animal care and use, biosafety, and laser safety in all experimental work.
Communicate effectively in written and verbal formats to convey methods, results, and implications to specialists and broader audiences.
Nice to have
Apply direct experience with two-photon optogenetics, such as SLM-based holography, temporal focusing, or spiral scanning photostimulation, to extend stimulation precision.
Contribute custom optical engineering with ultrafast pulsed lasers, including Ti:Sapphire or fiber laser systems, for robust and miniaturized implementations.
Design or work with miniaturized imaging systems that support stable long-term recordings in behaving animals.
Perform rat-scale stereotaxic surgery and implement freely moving behavioral paradigms to expand experimental designs to larger models.
Use machine learning methods to neural data to enhance decoding, denoising, and interpretation of circuit-level activity.
Practical notes
Typical interview steps
Research interviews usually include a presentation of past work, a technical discussion, and sometimes a research proposal exercise. Candidates may be asked to design a study or critique a method. Depth of understanding is tested more than speed. Interviewers often ask you to present your past work in depth. Being ready to defend every methodological choice is the core preparation.
Good to know
Research scientists and engineers in this field often combine wet-lab experimentation with computational analysis to test hypotheses about neural circuits. Two-photon microscopy enables deep-tissue imaging by using near-infrared light to reduce scattering and allow precise optical control. Spatial light modulators create holographic patterns that can stimulate multiple cells simultaneously with high spatial and temporal accuracy. Fluorescence signals from labeled neurons are captured and processed to infer activity across populations. Mastering analysis pipelines for large-scale neural data requires comfort with data structures, algorithms, and rigorous validation.
Career growth
Research careers grow from junior researcher to senior scientist, principal, and lab or research director roles. Some people move into applied research and product work. Publication record or demonstrable impact drives progression, depending on the setting. Research careers reward a strong publication or delivery record. Applied research roles value impact on products as much as novelty.