Research Assistant

Job Description

The Halassa Lab at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at Virginia Tech Carilion is seeking a highly motivated Research Assistant. Led by Dr. Michael Halassa, the lab uses controlledbehavioral tasks alongside physiological, genetic, and opticaltechniques to investigate the brain circuits that support cognitivefunction. They focus on thalamocortical networks and how theycontribute to attention, executive control, and decision-making. The goal of our lab is to develop a computational framework for understanding the cognitive thalamus.

The ideal candidate will have strong interpersonal skills and be comfortable joining a dynamic research lab. Prior laboratoryexperience is helpful but not required. The primary responsibility involves programming of new behavioral task and the development ofanalysis pipelines. Programming skills, accurate record-keeping,and experience with data collection are required, as well as the ability to manage electronic and paper data. In addition, the position involves working with mice and tree shrews, so afundamental interest in animal models and behavior is essential.

Techniques in the lab include in vivo electrophysiology,neuroanatomy, optogenetics, and computational approaches. The candidate will perform basic analyses, and assist with figurepreparation for publications and presentations. Familiarity withthe lab’s core techniques is a plus. The candidate should becollaborative, detail-oriented, and adaptable to different researchtasks. Opportunities exist to contribute to research publication sand attend national scientific conferences when appropriate.

• Demonstrated ability to organize and analyze experimentaldata
• Strong communication, interpersonal, organizational and team skills
• Capable of working independently and as part of a team
• Demonstrated computer skills and programming experience
• Demonstrated organizational skills and attention to detail
• Demonstrated ability and desire to succeed in a fast-pacedresearch environment with multiple concurrent duties
• Excellent written and oral communication skills

• Coursework or training in neuroscience biology, psychology, or arelated field
• Experience working in a professional research setting
• Experience in programming with MATLAB, Arduino, Python,Lab View
• Experience contributing to publications or scientificpresentations

3

Non-Exempt:
Eligible for overtime

Restricted

Commensurate with Experience

40

5/22/26

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

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