Research Specialist , In Vivo Two-Photon Imaging- Sternson Lab

Primary Work Address:
Leichtag Biomedical Research Building, LaJolla, CA,

The Sternson Lab at the University of California, San Diegoinvestigates how neural circuits control appetite and motivatedbehavior. A major focus of the laboratory is the development of CaRMA imaging, an experimental framework that linkslarge-scale measurements of neural activity in behaving animals topost hoc molecular identification of the same recorded neurons. Weuse advanced in vivo two-photon calcium imaging together withspatial transcriptomic and circuit-mapping approaches to determine how molecularly defined neural populations control food seeking,consumption, and satiety.

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The Sternson Lab is seeking a Research Specialist with substantialexpertise in in vivo two-photon imaging of the mouse brain. This person will serve as the lab’s primary technical and scientific resource for in vivo two-photon imaging and will takeprimary responsibility for the imaging component of CaRMAimaging.

The position combines four closely linked responsibilities: performing in vivo calcium-imaging experiments, developing and optimizing methods for imaging neural activity in behaving mice, taking substantial ownership of imaging-data analysis, and enablingother researchers in the lab to successfully apply two-photonimaging in their experiments.

The Research Specialist will work across the full imaging workflow,from surgical preparation and data acquisition through image processing, quantitative analysis, and alignment of functional imaging data with post hoc molecular information. A major part ofthe role is method development: identifying technical limitations,troubleshooting experiments, improving imaging quality and stability, and establishing robust approaches that can be used across projects.

This is a highly collaborative position. The Research Specialist will work closely with lab members to design imaging experiments,train researchers in imaging and analysis methods, and provide ongoing technical support as two-photon imaging is incorporated into diverse studies of neural circuit function.

We are looking for an experienced, technically creative scientistwho enjoys solving experimental problems, developing new methods,analyzing complex datasets, and helping others use advanced imagingapproaches effectively.

• A competitive compensation package, with comprehensive healthand welfare benefits.
• Successful projects in which the candidate participates maylead to authorship on scientific publications.

• One-on-one mentorship.
• A vibrant and inclusive cultural environment.
• Cutting-edge research at the interface between neuroscience and physiology.
• Opportunity for broad interactions with other labs and the scientific community.

• Perform in vivo two-photon calcium imaging of neural populationactivity in behaving mice.
• Perform and optimize surgical preparations required for chronicimaging, including cranial windows, head plates, and GRIN-lensimplantation as appropriate.
• Develop, optimize, and troubleshoot in vivo imaging methods for CaRMA imaging, with an emphasis on reliable high-quality data acquisition, imaging stability, and reproducibility.
• Take substantial ownership of two-photon imaging data analysis,including image registration, motion correction, segmentation andsignal extraction, quality control, longitudinal tracking where appropriate, and quantitative analysis of neural populationdynamics.
• Help align functional imaging data with post hoc molecular andcell-type information generated through CaRMA imaging.
• Work with lab members to design and implement two-photonimaging approaches that address their scientific questions.
• Train and support other researchers in surgical preparation,microscope operation, experimental design, data acquisition,analysis, and best practices for in vivo two-photon imaging.
• Take primary technical responsibility for the lab’s in vivotwo-photon imaging capabilities, including microscope performance,troubleshooting, and implementation of improvements to optical systems, acquisition hardware, and software in collaboration withlab members, collaborators, and vendors.
• Integrate two-photon imaging with behavioral-control andphysiological measurement systems and contribute to experimental design, interpretation, presentations, and scientific publications.

• Substantial hands-on experience with in vivo two-photon imagingin the mouse brain and a demonstrated ability to obtain reproducible,…