Research Technician - Gonzalez Lab
Job Description
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The Gonzalez Lab at UCSF is seeking a Research Technician to join a multidisciplinary neuroscience team studying how the brain controls communication, social behavior, and sleep. The lab combines animal behavior, high-density electrophysiology, optical imaging, closed-loop stimulation, machine learning, and custom instrument development to understand neural circuit dynamics in birds and humans. Current and upcoming projects include studies of birdsong fillers and vocal repair, neural decoding during sleep, and later-stage work in human EEG and natural speech. The broader goal is to understand how brains generate speech-like sequences, how these sequences are altered during social interaction, and how the sleeping brain reactivates or transforms behaviorally meaningful experiences. For more information, visit www.gonzalez-lab.com .
About the role:
This is a hands-on research position for someone who is motivated by both engineering and biology. The Research Technician will help run experiments, care for and handle birds, build and maintain experimental systems, collect and organize behavioral and neural data, and contribute to analysis workflows. The role is well suited for an applicant who enjoys troubleshooting real systems [cameras, microphones, neural recording hardware, behavioral rigs, electronics, 3D-printed parts, and analysis code] and who wants direct exposure to modern systems neuroscience rather than a narrowly defined coding or bench-only position.
The technician will work across multiple projects. Early responsibilities will focus on birdsong and sleep experiments, including behavioral recording, audio/video acquisition, electrophysiology support, and development of analysis pipelines. Over time, the role may also include support for human EEG studies of natural speech. The position requires reliability, careful documentation, respect for animal welfare and research compliance, and the ability to learn new tools quickly.
What we provide:
•A creative neuroscience lab studying vocal communication, sleep, social behavior, and neural dynamics.
•Direct training in animal behavior, experimental design, neural recording, stimulation, imaging, data analysis, and research operations.
•Opportunities to build custom tools using 3D printing, CNC machining, electronics, microcontrollers, audio/video synchronization, and computer-controlled behavioral systems.
•State-of-the-art resources, including high-density electrophysiology, advanced optical imaging, confocal and light sheet microscopy, and high-capacity computational analysis.
•A lab culture that values initiative, technical rigor, careful record keeping, collaboration, and responsible use of modern software tools.
•A highly interdisciplinary research environment at UCSF, with connections to neuroscience, engineering, computation, behavior, and clinical questions related to speech and movement.
•A Bay Area location with competitive salary and access to San Francisco, the coast, and Silicon Valley.
What you’ll do:
•Assist with zebra finch behavioral experiments, including animal handling, daily monitoring, husbandry support, and coordination with approved animal-care protocols.
•Operate and maintain experimental systems for audio, video, neural recording, stimulation, and behavioral monitoring during singing, social interaction, and sleep.
•Build, modify, and troubleshoot laboratory instruments using 3D printing, CNC machining, electronic prototyping, microcontrollers, sensors, cameras, microphones, and custom software.
•Collect, verify, organize, and document behavioral, audio, video, electrophysiology, imaging, and experimental metadata with attention to reproducibility and data integrity.
•Use software tools such as Python, MATLAB, ImageJ/FIJI, Arduino or related microcontroller environments, and AI-assisted coding workflows to process data and improve lab pipelines.
•Help develop and test analyses for birdsong, motif structure, sleep-state decoding, closed-loop experiments, and eventually human EEG/natural speech datasets.
•Prepare figures, summaries, quality-control reports, and basic analyses for lab meetings, manuscripts, grant materials, and project planning.
•Maintain inventories, organize shared lab spaces, track equipment status, support routine maintenance, and help ensure safe and compliant laboratory operations.
•Participate in laboratory meetings, planning sessions, and literature discussions relevant to the lab’s research areas.
What you bring:
•Bachelor of Science degree in neuroscience, biology, engineering, computer science, physics, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and related work experience.
•Strong interest in both engineering and biology, with motivation to work directly with animals and experimental hardware as well as code and data.
•Some laboratory, animal-care, engineering, computational, electronics, maker-space, or research experience preferred.
•Basic programming or data-analysis experience, ideally in Python, MATLAB, R, Arduino, or related tools. Prior experience with AI-assisted coding is helpful but not required.
•Comfort learning unfamiliar systems, troubleshooting equipment, reading documentation, and solving practical problems with careful supervision and good judgment.
•Ability to keep accurate records, follow protocols, document decisions, and communicate progress and problems clearly.
•Ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a diverse population of trainees, staff, and collaborators.
•A serious interest in scientific discovery and a willingness to engage deeply with the technical and biological questions behind the work.
•Reliability, attention to detail, curiosity, and the ability to balance independent initiative with careful adherence to approved protocols and supervisor direction.
Physical Requirements
Remaining in a normal seated or standing position for extended periods of time; reaching and grasping by extending hand(s) or arm(s); dexterity to manipulate objects with fingers, for example using a keyboard; communication skills using the spoken word; ability to see and hear within normal parameters; ability to move about workspace. The position requires mobility, including the ability to move materials weighing up to several pounds (such as a laptop computer or tablet). Work may involve possible exposure to malodorous vapors, low dose radiation, contamination by toxic chemicals and acids and presence of carcinogenic substances or other hazardous materials.
Persons with disabilities may be able to perform the essential duties of this position with reasonable accommodation. Requests for reasonable accommodation will be evaluated on an individual basis.
Please Note:
This job description sets forth the job’s principal duties, responsibilities, and requirements; it should not be construed as an exhaustive statement, however. Unless they begin with the word “may,” the Essential Duties and Responsibilities described above are “essential functions” of the job, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act.
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Compensation and Benefits
Our employees are compensated from a total rewards perspective in many ways for their contributions to our mission, including competitive pay, exceptional health benefits, retirement plans, time off, and a range of recognition and wellness programs. Visit our Benefits at HHMI site to learn more.
Compensation Range
$20.08 (minimum) - $25.14 (midpoint) - $32.65 (maximum)Pay Type:
HourlyHHMI’s salary structure is developed based on relevant job market data. HHMI considers a candidate's education, previous experiences, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal consistency when making job offers. Typically, a new hire for this position in this location is compensated between the minimum and the midpoint of the salary range.
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