Summary: The Institute for All Minds seeks a Research Associate to experimentally investigate how the brain creates conscious experience using a new mouse model. Highlights: 1. Investigate how the brain creates conscious experience 2. Leverage a new mouse model of conscious visual perception 3. Contribute to identifying neural circuits for conscious seeing The Institute for All Minds seeks a full-time, on-site Research Associate to experimentally investigate how the brain creates conscious experience. The Associate will leverage a new mouse model of conscious visual perception to contribute to the identification of neural circuits that specifically cause the conscious aspect of seeing. Your work will get us closer to understanding how the brain causes conscious experience, an ancient philosophical question that underlies the core of human existence, one that we are now poised to answer. RESPONSIBILITIES: (1) Train mice, using a semi-automated bespoke virtual reality system (2) Conduct neurosurgery, installing headplates and stereotactically targeting injections into the mouse brain (3) Perform brain histology, using antibodies to visualize neurons and other cell types (immunohistochemistry) (4) Analyze neuroimagery, quantifying the effects of injections on the brain (5) Following mastery of (1)-(4), train and manage a team of undergraduates to do (1)-(4) (6) Care for the mouse colony, breeding specific transgenic and mutant lines and genotyping the progeny (7) Support the development of novel behavioral assays to measure other aspects of conscious experience, including tactile and auditory perception, free will, and emotions MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: (A) Bachelor's degree in neuroscience, biology, cognitive science, psychology, or a related field (B) At least 1 year of prior research experience, which may include summer or part-time work (C) Meticulous attention to detail (D) Able to work carefully with your hands with small objects (E) Capable of multitasking (F) Comfortable handling animals IDEAL QUALIFICATIONS: (G) Extensive experience with mouse training, surgery, histology, and brain image analysis (H) A deep curiosity about the mystery of consciousness, such that reading this listing makes you excited (I) A love of learning (J) A creative problem-solver that that thinks up solutions from all imaginable angles ABOUT THE INSTITUTE FOR ALL MINDS: The Institute is a 501c3 non-profit public charity dedicated to understanding (1) how the brain causes conscious experience and (2) how neurons die during neurodegeneration. The founder, Nikhil Bhatla, PhD, has focused on scientific methods for studying conscious experience since 2007. He received his BS at Stanford University in Product Design (Mechanical Engineering and Art) and a minor in Computer Science. Following several years working at Google, he received a PhD from MIT, where he worked in a Nobel prize-winning lab. He then completed a postdoc at UCSF and UC Berkeley as a Miller Fellow, where he developed an innovative approach for studying conscious visual perception using mice (publication forthcoming). In 2024, he started the Institute for All Minds to continue this work in an independent, fast-paced research organization. The Institute is located in Downtown Berkeley just a block from the BART subway station, making it easily accessible by public transit from throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. The Institute offers a competitive salary, paid time off, a retirement plan, medical insurance, as well as perks such as free meals and parking. APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS: Please send an email, using the Reply button at the top of the page, describing why you are excited about this position and why it is a good fit for your interests and skills, with your resume / CV as an attachment. Please include your college GPA and relevant test scores on your resume/CV. We look forward to hearing from you.
Craigslist · HR
Craigslist · HR
