Neuroscience Specialist Jobs
Neuroscience Specialist jobs are open across academic research, biotech, pharmaceutical, medical device, and clinical settings, from entry-level research associate to senior scientist and principal investigator, with specializations in neuroimaging, neuropharmacology, and clinical trial design. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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Showing 5 of 45+ Neuroscience Specialist jobs
Company Overview
Astera Neuro seeks to understand and engineer consciousness. We believe consciousness is the process by which the brain builds a coherent internal model of the world and the self. We aim to understand this model and to develop the technologies to write experience directly into the brain. By combining large-scale neural recording, causal perturbation, and brain-based AI, we seek to move neuroscience from observing correlates of experience to engineering it. The same tools carry direct therapeutic promise for neurological and psychiatric diseases that alter perception, thought, and sense of self. Because the science and tools required do not yet exist, we are assembling a founding team of neuroscientists, theorists, and engineers to create them. We do high-risk, high-reward science in a well-resourced, collaborative environment with competitive pay, and share everything openly under Astera's Open Science Policy.
Position Summary
We are seeking Research Specialists to help carry out experiments investigating how the brain supports perception, cognition, and behavior. Working alongside scientists, engineers, and technicians, you will support the day-to-day experimental work of our neuroscience team, preparing and running experiments, training animals, and maintaining experimental setups. We welcome people at different career stages who enjoy hands-on laboratory work and want to make it their main focus, including people from research support, lab management, and academic research backgrounds. This is a hands-on experimental track and does not carry an independent research program. Animal wellbeing is foundational to this work, supported by dedicated veterinary and behavioral care staff and rigorous welfare standards.
What You’ll Do
- Train animals on cognitive and perceptual tasks, maintain consistent training routines, and track their progress.
- Work with scientists to prepare and run neural recording and behavioral experiments. Monitor signal quality and animal behavior, and keep clear records of each session.
- Assist with animal preparation and surgical procedures.
- Help assemble, maintain, refine, and troubleshoot experimental rigs. Work with scientists and engineers to repair equipment, test new tools, and adapt setups for new experiments.
Who You Are
- You have a BS or BA with 0 to 6+ years of experience in biology, neuroscience, or a related field, or equivalent hands-on experience. We value demonstrated skill and relevant experience above credentials.
- You have hands-on experience working with animals in a research setting.
- You enjoy practical experimental work that requires consistency and attention to detail.
- You can carry out established experimental procedures independently and recognize when to ask for input.
- You can recognize and troubleshoot practical problems methodically.
- You are organized, keep clear records, and communicate well with scientists, engineers, and animal care staff.
Preferred/Nice to Have
- An advanced degree or postdoctoral experience in neuroscience or a related field is welcome but not expected.
- In vivo electrophysiology, especially high-density or chronic recordings with Neuropixels or other multichannel probes.
- Optogenetics, electrical stimulation, or closed-loop experiments.
- Training animals on cognitive and perceptual tasks.
- Stereotaxic surgery, implant preparation, or other animal procedures.
- Building or maintaining experimental rigs.
What We Value
- Patience and care in working with animals, with close attention to their behavior and wellbeing.
- Careful work and openness about mistakes.
- Taking initiative to improve equipment and procedures, and working with the team to solve problems.
- Sharing methods and practical knowledge, both within the team and with the wider research community.
Why Join Us
You will help make ambitious neuroscience experiments possible through careful, reliable hands-on work. This role offers the opportunity to build deep technical expertise, work closely with scientists and engineers, and take responsibility for experimental systems that the team relies on. This work sits within Astera Neuro's larger effort to understand how the brain generates thought, intelligence, and internal state. Astera Neuro provides a comprehensive benefits package and total compensation that is competitive and commensurate with the level of experience and qualifications. We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity and inclusion!
Compensation Range
$90K - $150K
Company Overview
Astera Neuro seeks to understand and engineer consciousness. We believe consciousness is the process by which the brain builds a coherent internal model of the world and the self. We aim to understand this model and to develop the technologies to write experience directly into the brain. By combining large-scale neural recording, causal perturbation, and brain-based AI, we seek to move neuroscience from observing correlates of experience to engineering it. The same tools carry direct therapeutic promise for neurological and psychiatric diseases that alter perception, thought, and sense of self. Because the science and tools required do not yet exist, we are assembling a founding team of neuroscientists, theorists, and engineers to create them. We do high-risk, high-reward science in a well-resourced, collaborative environment with competitive pay, and share everything openly under Astera's Open Science Policy.
Position Summary
We are seeking Research Specialists to help carry out experiments investigating how the brain supports perception, cognition, and behavior. Working alongside scientists, engineers, and technicians, you will support the day-to-day experimental work of our neuroscience team, preparing and running experiments, training animals, and maintaining experimental setups. We welcome people at different career stages who enjoy hands-on laboratory work and want to make it their main focus, including people from research support, lab management, and academic research backgrounds. This is a hands-on experimental track and does not carry an independent research program. Animal wellbeing is foundational to this work, supported by dedicated veterinary and behavioral care staff and rigorous welfare standards.
What You’ll Do
- Train animals on cognitive and perceptual tasks, maintain consistent training routines, and track their progress.
- Work with scientists to prepare and run neural recording and behavioral experiments. Monitor signal quality and animal behavior, and keep clear records of each session.
- Assist with animal preparation and surgical procedures.
- Help assemble, maintain, refine, and troubleshoot experimental rigs. Work with scientists and engineers to repair equipment, test new tools, and adapt setups for new experiments.
Who You Are
- You have a BS or BA with 0 to 6+ years of experience in biology, neuroscience, or a related field, or equivalent hands-on experience. We value demonstrated skill and relevant experience above credentials.
- You have hands-on experience working with animals in a research setting.
- You enjoy practical experimental work that requires consistency and attention to detail.
- You can carry out established experimental procedures independently and recognize when to ask for input.
- You can recognize and troubleshoot practical problems methodically.
- You are organized, keep clear records, and communicate well with scientists, engineers, and animal care staff.
Preferred/Nice to Have
- An advanced degree or postdoctoral experience in neuroscience or a related field is welcome but not expected.
- In vivo electrophysiology, especially high-density or chronic recordings with Neuropixels or other multichannel probes.
- Optogenetics, electrical stimulation, or closed-loop experiments.
- Training animals on cognitive and perceptual tasks.
- Stereotaxic surgery, implant preparation, or other animal procedures.
- Building or maintaining experimental rigs.
What We Value
- Patience and care in working with animals, with close attention to their behavior and wellbeing.
- Careful work and openness about mistakes.
- Taking initiative to improve equipment and procedures, and working with the team to solve problems.
- Sharing methods and practical knowledge, both within the team and with the wider research community.
Why Join Us
You will help make ambitious neuroscience experiments possible through careful, reliable hands-on work. This role offers the opportunity to build deep technical expertise, work closely with scientists and engineers, and take responsibility for experimental systems that the team relies on. This work sits within Astera Neuro's larger effort to understand how the brain generates thought, intelligence, and internal state. Astera Neuro provides a comprehensive benefits package and total compensation that is competitive and commensurate with the level of experience and qualifications. We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity and inclusion!
Compensation Range
$90K - $150K
Neuroscience Specialist Jobs by Experience Level
See All 45 Neuroscience Specialist Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Neuroscience Specialist JobsNeuroscience Specialist Job Market
Who's Hiring
- COMPASS Pathways21
- Otsuka9
- Astera Institute2
- Teva Pharmaceuticals2
- Acadia Pharmaceuticals2
Top Industries Hiring
- Science & Research
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in neuroscience specialist jobs.
- Advanced degree in neuroscience, biology, or a closely related field
- Hands-on experience with in vivo or in vitro neural recording and imaging techniques
- Proficiency in statistical analysis software such as MATLAB, R, or Python
- Experience designing and executing preclinical or clinical neuroscience studies
- Familiarity with IRB protocols, GLP, or GCP compliance standards
- Strong publication record or demonstrated ability to present research findings
Tips for Your Neuroscience Specialist Job Search
Tailor your resume to lab techniques
Hiring managers scan for specific methods before reading anything else. List every technique you've performed, including patch clamp, optogenetics, immunohistochemistry, or in vivo imaging, and note the model systems you worked with, whether rodent, primate, or human tissue.
Highlight data analysis tools explicitly
Neuroscience roles increasingly expect computational fluency. Name the exact software you use, such as MATLAB, Python with NumPy, SPSS, or FSL, and describe what you analyzed with each tool so reviewers know your proficiency goes beyond surface familiarity.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists neuroscience specialist openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Target postings by research stage
Early-stage biotech often wants generalists who can run end-to-end experiments, while pharma and large academic centers hire for narrow pipeline stages like target validation or biomarker analysis. Reading the posting carefully tells you which profile they actually need before you apply.
Prepare a methods walk-through for interviews
Expect interviewers to ask you to narrate a protocol from start to finish, including controls and troubleshooting steps. Rehearse explaining one complex assay or imaging workflow out loud so your answer is detailed, logical, and timed under four minutes.
Negotiate start date around publication timelines
If you're finishing a manuscript or waiting on a patent filing, tell the hiring team during the offer stage rather than after signing. Most research employers can accommodate a delayed start when you frame it as protecting shared intellectual property.
Neuroscience Specialist Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most neuroscience specialists?
The companies hiring the most neuroscience specialists right now include COMPASS Pathways, Otsuka, and Astera Institute, with the largest share of openings in California, Nevada, and Texas, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Demand is especially concentrated at biotech firms advancing neurological therapeutics and academic medical centers running federally funded research programs.
How many neuroscience specialist jobs are remote?
About 97% of neuroscience specialist openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, with remote arrangements far more common in computational neuroscience, data analysis, and regulatory affairs roles than in wet-lab or imaging positions that require on-site equipment access.
How do you become a neuroscience specialist?
Becoming a neuroscience specialist typically starts with a bachelor's degree in neuroscience, biology, or psychology, followed by graduate training at the master's or doctoral level where you develop hands-on research skills. From there, postdoctoral appointments or industry research associate roles build the specialized expertise employers expect. Focusing your work on a coherent line of inquiry, publishing findings, and building technical fluency in imaging or computational methods strengthens your profile for specialist-level positions.
Can I get a neuroscience specialist job with little or no experience?
Entry-level neuroscience specialist roles do exist, particularly at contract research organizations, biotech startups, and university core facilities, and they typically require a bachelor's or master's degree plus demonstrated lab skills rather than years of independent research. Undergraduate thesis projects, research assistant positions, and summer internships all count as relevant experience. Applying to roles titled research associate or junior scientist is a practical first step, since those pipelines often promote into specialist titles after one or two years on the bench.
What does the neuroscience specialist interview process look like?
Most neuroscience specialist hiring processes begin with a phone or video screen focused on your research background and technical skills, followed by an on-site or virtual interview day that includes a research presentation or chalk-talk. You'll likely meet with multiple team members who probe your experimental design decisions, troubleshooting instincts, and familiarity with the organization's model systems or therapeutic area. Some employers add a short written assessment or ask you to critique a published paper relevant to their work before making an offer.
Where can I find and apply to neuroscience specialist jobs?
You can find and apply to neuroscience specialist jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States in one place. Search for roles that match your experience level and specialization, then apply directly to each listing that fits.
See All 45 Neuroscience Specialist Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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