Meridial – Associate Scientist – In Vivo Neuroscience

Meridial is a Focused Research Organisation (FRO) with a mission to bring connectomics into the living brain. We are building a platform for longitudinal, synapse-resolution mapping of functional neural circuitry in preclinical models. Our aim is to deploy this platform for translational projects and improve drug development outcomes for disorders of the central nervous system. Meridial is a new not-for-profit FRO in the Convergent Research Ecosystem and is funded by the Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA).

Meridial is seeking an experimental neuroscientist to join our team as Associate Scientist – In Vivo Neuroscience
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This is a hands‑on role. You will carry out neurosurgery, longitudinal two‑photon imaging and optogenetic experiments in mice as part of Meridial’s programme to develop advanced 3D imaging and photostimulation technologies for functional mapping of neural circuits.

We are looking for a scientist with strong practical and experimental skills. You should already have substantial hands‑on experience with mouse neurosurgery and in‑vivo two‑photon imaging and be motivated to develop these skills further.

You will join a small Experimental Team that will grow over the coming year, and will be able to contribute to the development of protocols and workflows from an early stage. You will report to the Director of Experimental Research and will receive hands‑on training and mentoring from more senior scientists in the team. You will also work closely with engineers and computational researchers across Meridial.

• Perform survival neurosurgery in mice, including stereotaxic viral injections, cranial-window implantation and preparation of animals for chronic imaging and manipulation.
• Carry out high-quality in‑vivo two‑photon imaging, including longitudinal imaging of the same animals over weeks to months.
• Run optogenetic experiments to interrogate and manipulate neural circuits.
• Support the implementation of viral and transgenic strategies for functional imaging, circuit manipulation and anatomical investigation.
• Support animal colony management, working with senior team members and animal facility staff, including tracking breeding and experimental requirements.
• Monitor preparation quality and animal welfare throughout longitudinal studies and help identify and resolve technical problems with more senior scientists.
• Maintain accurate and comprehensive records of experimental procedures and outcomes.

• Follow the team’s surgical and experimental protocols and contribute to their development, optimisation and documentation as SOPs.
• Help test, evaluate and optimise new surgical, imaging and experimental approaches, including systematic evaluation of variables that affect preparation quality, reproducibility and long‑term stability.
• Help test and improve microscopes, behavioural apparatus and other experimental systems in collaboration with the Engineering Team.
• Work with the Computational Team to support data acquisition, data‑quality assessment and analysis, and to make sure data and metadata meet the standards needed for open sharing.

• Contribute to experimental planning, interpretation and discussion within the Experimental Team.
• Communicate results, technical problems and observations clearly to colleagues across disciplines.
• Share technical expertise and good experimental practice with other team members.
• Uphold high standards of experimental rigour, reproducibility and animal welfare.

• Degree in neuroscience, neurobiology, physiology, neuroengineering or a related discipline, or equivalent research…