Research Associate III, Brain Tissue Cryopreservation and Functional Recovery Brain Health

Research Associate III, Brain Tissue Cryopreservation and Functional Recovery Brain Health

The mission of the Allen Institute is to unlock the complexities of bioscience and advance our knowledge to improve human health. Using an open science, multi-scale, team-oriented approach, the Allen Institute focuses on accelerating foundational research, developing research standards, integrating data for building biological models, and cultivating new ideas to make a broad, transformational impact on science.

The Allen Institute is launching a new accelerator on human brain health and disease. This initiative aims to dramatically accelerate our understanding of human brain structure and function by identifying the molecular, cellular and circuit basis of disease progression, and pioneering new therapeutic strategies for targeting vulnerable and affected cell types. Our mission focuses on a human-centric approach to understanding and treating disease, by combining a large-scale open science discovery approach across multiple diseases, AI-based disease modeling, and translational programs in specific diseases to move from discovery to clinical application.

We aim to make transformational changes in understanding and treating brain disorders, the biggest health challenge of our time.

Recent work at the Allen Institute has identified the selective vulnerability of specific brain cell types during disease progression. Building on more than a decade of leadership in human postmortem and neurosurgical brain tissue platforms, we are expanding these capabilities beyond brain atlasing to enable detailed functional studies with cell-type-targeted interventions. We are seeking an exceptional Research Associate III to support an innovative effort to develop new approaches for human brain tissue preservation, including cryopreservation methods that preserve functional properties.

In this role, the successful candidate will contribute to brain sample curation, tissue slicing, patch-clamp/Patch-seq electrophysiology, imaging, and related data analysis. The ideal candidate will bring strong problem-solving skills, meticulous attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple priorities while collaborating effectively with key stakeholders.

At the Allen Institute, we believe that science is for everyone and should be open to everyone. We are dedicated to combating biases and reducing barriers to STEM careers more broadly.

We also believe that science is better when it includes different perspectives and voices. We strive to make the Allen Institute a place where everyone feels like they belong and are empowered to do their best work in a supportive environment.

We are an equal-opportunity employer and strongly encourage people from all backgrounds to apply for our open positions.

* This role is contingent upon receipt of a federally funded grant
* Essential Functions

* Contribute to the implementation and optimization of advanced brain tissue preservation methods, including vitrification and recovery

* Prepare acute brain slices from mouse, macaque, and human brain specimens and prepare and maintain organotypic slice cultures

* Perform patch-clamp and Patch-seq electrophysiology experiments in brain slice preparations

* Collect epifluorescence and confocal microscopy images

* Contribute to data analysis using tools such as Image

J, Excel, R, or Python, and present findings to the team

* Maintain detailed laboratory notebooks and accurate experimental records and high standards of data integration and management

* Contribute to manuscript preparation and the publication of experimental results in peer-reviewed neuroscience journals

* Note:

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. This description reflects managements assignment of essential functions; it does not proscribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned.
* Required

Education and Experience

* Bachelors degree in neuroscience, biology, or related field

* Minimum of 4 years of experience in a laboratory or research environment

* Experience with brain slice patch-clamp electrophysiology

* Demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team

Preferred

Education and Experience

* Masters degree or equivalent experience, with 48 years of relevant experience preferred

* Programming experience, particularly in Python or R, is highly desirable

* Experience with histology and neuroanatomy is preferred

* Highly motivated and comfortable working with a high degree of independence

* Experience working in a milestone-driven, collaborative research environment is preferred

* Experience with mammalian brain anatomy and standard histology techniques

* Experience with single-cell genomics techniques, such as Patch-seq, single-cell RNA-seq, and/or multiomic approaches

* Excellent organizational, written, and verbal communication skills

Work Environment

* Exposure to and handling of laboratory animals required

* Laboratory…