About Careertakes

👉 Important disclosure: Careertakes is a third-party recruiting platform supporting this hiring process. If selected, you will be employed directly by our client, Scientific & QA.

Applicants for this role may also receive access to additional matched opportunities through the Careertakes platform.

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Overview

Confidential Client seeks a motivated Technical Assistant I/II to join a neuroscience research lab (Hamilos Lab). This is a hands-on research role focused on mouse-based experiments including stereotaxic neurosurgery, behavioral training, neural recording, and optogenetics. The appointment is a 1-year term with potential extension and is ideal for early-career candidates aiming to gain strong laboratory experience before graduate school or industry roles.

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Hamilos Lab Research

The lab studies neural circuit mechanisms underlying neurological and psychiatric disease by:

• Training mice to perform decision-making and motor tasks that model clinical symptoms.
• Measuring and manipulating genetically defined neurons during behavior using multisite electrophysiology, fiber photometry, and optogenetics.
• Applying advanced statistical methods, machine learning, and probabilistic models to link neural activity with behavior and clinical observations.

This role offers close collaboration with senior postdocs, mentorship responsibilities for students, and opportunities to contribute to multidisciplinary projects.

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Characteristic Duties

• In consultation with the Principal Investigator or project managers, perform mouse stereotaxic neurosurgeries.
• Conduct mouse behavioral training, neurophysiology data collection, and small independent research projects.
• Assist with colony management, breeding, genotyping, and animal welfare.
• Operate, maintain, and troubleshoot laboratory equipment.
• Prepare and order supplies, reagents, and consumables; work with vendors as needed.
• Document, compile, analyze, and report experimental data in oral and written formats.
• Assist with curation and standardization of datasets/code for open-source sharing (e.g., GitHub, DANDI).
• Perform perfusions, tissue extraction, and histology.
• Consult scientific literature to inform experimental approaches.
• Assist in supervision and mentorship of undergraduate researchers.
• Other duties as assigned.

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Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in neurobiology, neuroscience, or a closely related field. (Technical Assistant II requires a BS + 2+ years’ experience or an MS + 1+ year experience.)
• Proficiency in mouse handling and stereotaxic neurosurgery techniques is required.
• Strong organizational skills and meticulous record-keeping.
• Willingness to learn new technical skills and contribute to team science.
• Effective oral and written communication skills.

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Additional Qualifications & Preferences

• Prior experience with neuroscience techniques (electrophysiology, fiber photometry, optogenetics) and animal research is preferred.
• Experience with basic laboratory techniques, data curation, and code stewardship is a plus.
• Familiarity with statistical methods, scripting, or machine learning is helpful but not required; training will be provided.
• Preference for candidates able to commit to two years.
• This position may involve handling hazardous materials; appropriate safety training and adherence to protocols are required.

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Compensation & Benefits

Confidential Client provides the following base pay ranges (good-faith estimates at posting):

• Technical Assistant I: $47,500 (base pay)
• Technical Assistant II: $48,000 – $56,000 (base pay)

Actual pay offered will consider scope of responsibilities, candidate experience/education, and internal equity. Additional benefits (if any) will be communicated by the hiring organization.

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Location & Compliance

Location: Cambridge, MA, US.

Confidential Client is an E-Verify employer.

E-Verify resources:

• https://www.e-verify.gov/sites/default/files/everify/posters/EVerifyParticipationPoster.pdf
• https://www.e-verify.gov/sites/default/files/everify/posters/IER_RightToWorkPoster%20Eng_Es.pdf

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Equal Opportunity & Hiring Transparency

Careertakes and our client are Equal Opportunity Employers committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce. We prohibit discrimination or harassment of any kind. To support a fair and efficient hiring process, AI tools may be used to assist with application review or resume screening. These tools do not replace human decision-making. Final hiring decisions are made by people.

If you have questions about how your data is used, please contact us directly.