In Vivo Neuroscientist — Neural Recording and Experimental Validation

The role

Help design approved experiments that test whether a new sensing method measures neural activity rather than movement, physiology, or instrument artifacts. The work calls for careful selection of ground truth, controls, and appropriate institutional research partners.

The work

• Design rigorous in vivo experiments for evaluating neural sensing and stimulation systems.
• Develop appropriate physiological ground-truth measurements using established neurophysiological methods.
• Define neural response metrics, controls, baseline conditions and artifact-rejection strategies.
• Collaborate with qualified animal-care and surgical personnel on approved experimental procedures.
• Investigate relationships between recorded signals, neural activity, physiological state and experimental interventions.
• Develop reproducible acquisition, documentation and analysis protocols.
• Interpret results critically and distinguish biological responses from instrumentation or experimental artifacts.
• Contribute to scientific publications, research reports and subsequent translational studies.

What matters

• Research experience in systems neuroscience, neurophysiology or related fields.
• Hands-on familiarity with in vivo neural recordings, electrophysiology, calcium imaging or complementary neural measurement methods.
• Strong experimental-design and quantitative-analysis skills.
• Experience conducting animal research within an approved institutional and ethical framework.
• Willingness to collaborate closely with optical, acoustic and electrical engineers.

What good work looks like

A preclinical experimental plan with appropriate institutional oversight, ground-truth methods, and artifact controls.

Why this work matters

Determine whether new sensing ideas hold up against real neural physiology.

Get in touch

Send us your CV, your personal website or examples of work you have done, particularly a relevant study, publication or experiment you personally contributed to. Include an informal handwritten statement of purpose, with no prescribed length, telling us why this mission matters to you, what difficult work has taught you, and what you would like to take responsibility for at Walnut. This mission will demand scientific rigor, patience, independent thinking and a willingness to test ideas against reality. Write the statement entirely in your own words, without using generative AI. We will not consider statements written using AI. A photograph or scan of the statement is sufficient, and a typed version is welcome if handwriting is difficult. A reference from someone who knows your work is welcome, but not required.