HOWARD HUGHES MEDICAL INSTITUTE HHMI

HOWARD HUGHES MEDICAL INSTITUTE HHMI

Research Technician - Gonzalez Lab

University of California, San Francisco, USA

Sponsorship not specified$94k-$724kDetected 2 hours ago
PythonMATLABMachine LearningData AnalysisHRISMicroscopyResearchExperimental DesignCommunicationCollaboration

About the role

  • This is a hands-on research position for someone who is motivated by both engineering and biology.
  • The technician will work across multiple projects.
  • The position requires reliability, careful documentation, respect for animal welfare and research compliance, and the ability to learn new tools quickly.

Responsibilities

  • Assist with zebra finch behavioral experiments, including animal handling, daily monitoring, husbandry support, and coordination with approved animal-care protocols.
  • Operate and maintain experimental systems for audio, video, neural recording, stimulation, and behavioral monitoring during singing, social interaction, and sleep.
  • Build, modify, and troubleshoot laboratory instruments using 3D printing, CNC machining, electronic prototyping, microcontrollers, sensors, cameras, microphones, and custom software.
  • Collect, verify, organize, and document behavioral, audio, video, electrophysiology, imaging, and experimental metadata with attention to reproducibility and data integrity.
  • Help develop and test analyses for birdsong, motif structure, sleep-state decoding, closed-loop experiments, and eventually human EEG/natural speech datasets.
  • Maintain inventories, organize shared lab spaces, track equipment status, support routine maintenance, and help ensure safe and compliant laboratory operations.
  • The Research Technician will help run experiments, care for and handle birds, build and maintain experimental systems, collect and organize behavioral and neural data, and contribute to analysis workflows.
  • Early responsibilities will focus on birdsong and sleep experiments, including behavioral recording, audio/video acquisition, electrophysiology support, and development of analysis pipelines.
  • Over time, the role may also include support for human EEG studies of natural speech.
  • Direct training in animal behavior, experimental design, neural recording, stimulation, imaging, data analysis, and research operations.

Requirements

  • Basic programming or data-analysis experience, ideally in Python, MATLAB, R, Arduino, or related tools.
  • Prior experience with AI-assisted coding is helpful but not required.
  • Ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a diverse population of trainees, staff, and collaborators.
  • Reliability, attention to detail, curiosity, and the ability to balance independent initiative with careful adherence to approved protocols and supervisor direction.
  • ability to see and hear within normal parameters
  • ability to move about workspace.
  • The position requires mobility, including the ability to move materials weighing up to several pounds (such as a laptop computer or tablet).
  • Bachelor of Science degree in neuroscience, biology, engineering, computer science, physics, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and related work experience.
  • Strong interest in both engineering and biology, with motivation to work directly with animals and experimental hardware as well as code and data.
  • Basic programming or data-analysis experience, ideally in Python, MATLAB, R, Arduino, or related tools. Prior experience with AI-assisted coding is helpful but not required.
  • Comfort learning unfamiliar systems, troubleshooting equipment, reading documentation, and solving practical problems with careful supervision and good judgment.
  • Ability to keep accurate records, follow protocols, document decisions, and communicate progress and problems clearly.
  • A serious interest in scientific discovery and a willingness to engage deeply with the technical and biological questions behind the work.
  • Physical Requirements
  • Remaining in a normal seated or standing position for extended periods of time
  • reaching and grasping by extending hand(s) or arm(s)
  • dexterity to manipulate objects with fingers, for example using a keyboard

Nice to have

  • Some laboratory, animal-care, engineering, computational, electronics, maker-space, or research experience preferred.

Skills

  • A creative neuroscience lab studying vocal communication, sleep, social behavior, and neural dynamics.
  • A lab culture that values initiative, technical rigor, careful record keeping, collaboration, and responsible use of modern software tools.
  • A Bay Area location with competitive salary and access to San Francisco, the coast, and Silicon Valley.

Compensation

  • Our employees are compensated from a total rewards perspective in many ways for their contributions to our mission, including competitive pay, exceptional health benefits, retirement plans, time off, and a range of recognition and wellness programs.
  • HHMI's salary structure is developed based on relevant job market data.
  • Typically, a new hire for this position in this location is compensated between the minimum and the midpoint of the salary range.

Benefits

  • Compensation and Benefits
  • Visit our Benefits at HHMI site to learn more.
  • The lab combines animal behavior, high-density electrophysiology, optical imaging, closed-loop stimulation, machine learning, and custom instrument development to understand neural circuit dynamics in birds and humans.

Equal opportunity

  • HHMI is an Equal Opportunity Employer
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