Scientist I – Machine Automation – Whole Mouse Brain – Sample Preparation

Neural Coding             ·             Seattle, WA            ·             Full time

Scientist I – Machine Automation – Whole Mouse Brain – Sample Preparation

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 standards and models, and cultivating new ideas to make a broad, transformational impact on science.

The mission of the Allen Institute for Brain Science is to accelerate the understanding of how the human brain works in health and disease. Using a big science approach, we generate useful public resources, drive technological and analytical advances, and discover fundamental brain properties through integration of experiments, modeling, and theory.

We are seeking a scientist to work on developing novel large-scale Electron Microscopy (EM) approaches. The scientist will be responsible for scaling and automating the cutting of whole mouse brain samples prepared for EM. This will involve developing and optimizing robotic components to carefully control a nanometer-scale mechanical process over thousands of iterations. The goal of the research is to create technologies to allow the complete mapping of synaptic connectivity of individual neurons across the entire mouse brain, something that has never been done before. The project will first apply this technology within the Cortico-Thalamic-Basal-Ganglia loop to discover cell types and test models of neural computations within this circuit. The scientist will be an essential member of the EM connectomics project studying cell types and will also have opportunities for data analysis in later phases of the project.

We are a dynamic multi-disciplinary team with deep expertise in electron microscopy and contribute to cutting-edge research in the field! Our team has already cut and imaged multiple datasets with tens of thousands of sections, making it an exciting time to join and achieve the next level of impact and scaling. No previous sectioning experience is required, as we welcome enthusiastic applicants who are new to the field but possess a strong interest in automation and a passion for scientific progress.

The team already includes several EM experts, and therefore also welcomes applicants that are new to electron microscopy but have a strong interest in automation and in the overall goals of the project.

Examples of our previous work related to this position can be found on:

• https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-020-18659-3
• https://elifesciences.org/articles/76534
• https://www.cell.com/cell/pdf/S0092-8674(22)00134-9.pdf
• https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2202580119
• https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.07.28.454025v1
• https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.01.23.525290v1

The Allen Institute believes that team science significantly benefits from the participation of diverse voices, experiences and backgrounds. High-quality science can only be produced when it includes different perspectives. We are committed to increasing diversity across every team and encourage people from all backgrounds to apply for this role.

Essential Functions

• Collaborate with others to further scale cutting whole mouse brain samples for electron microscopy
• Automate ultramicrotome cutting and section delivery
• Work closely with a team of anatomists, physiologists, theoreticians, and modelers to analyze and interpret the relationship between structure and modalities of cells such as molecular and physiology properties
• Publish/present findings in peer-reviewed journals/scientific conferences

Note: Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. This description reflects management’s assignment of essential functions; it does not proscribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned.

Required Education and Experience

• PhD in Neuroscience, Computer Science, Physics, Robotics, Applied Math, Material Sciences, Mechanical/Machine/Hardware Engineering or related field; or equivalent combination of degree and experience
• Experience with programming or machine automation

Preferred Education and Experience

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Experience with multi-tasking/prioritizing

Work Environment

• Laboratory environment – possible exposure to chemical, biological, or other hazardous substances

Physical Demands

• Occasional lifting to 30 pounds (e.g. a reference: a ream of paper weighs approx. 5lbs)
• Fine motor movements in fingers/hands to operate computers and other office equipment; repetitive motion with lab equipment
• Push/pull up to 60lbs (e.g. pushing a cart)
• Stooping, bending, crouching
• Reaching, or climbing ladders

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

• This is an essential job and expected to report for work regardless of weather and/or other conditions
• Occasional evening and weekend hours required
• This role is currently working onsite and is expected to work onsite for the majority of working hours. The primary work location for this role is 615 Westlake Ave N., with flexibility to work remotely on a limited basis.

Travel

• Occasional travel to partner sites for compliance oversight
• Occasional attendance and participation in national and international conferences

Additional Comments

• **Please note, this opportunity offers relocation assistance**
• **Please note, this opportunity offers work visa sponsorship**

Annualized Salary Range?

$75,003 – $105,004 *

* Final salary depends on required education for the role, experience, and level of skills relevant to the role, along with work location, where applicable.

Benefits

Employees (and their families) are eligible to enroll in benefits per eligibility rules outline in the Allen Institute’s Benefits Guide. These benefits include medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance. Employees are also eligible to enroll in the Allen Institute’s 401k plan. Paid time off is also available as outlined in the Allen Institutes Benefits Guide. Details on the Allen Institute’s benefits offering are located at the following link to the Benefits Guide: https://alleninstitute.org/careers/benefits.

It is the policy of the Allen Institute to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, the Allen Institute will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.

Please click here to apply.