Research Associate

Merge Labs is a frontier research lab with the mission of bridging biological and artificial intelligence to maximize human ability, agency and experience. We’re pursuing this goal by developing fundamentally new approaches to brain-computer interfaces that interact with the brain at high bandwidth, integrate with advanced AI, and are ultimately safe and accessible for anyone to use.

About the team

Our team develops models and screening methods to characterize and optimize Merge’s next-generation neurotechnology platform. We generate neural cells including neurons and glia from human iPSCs and rodent tissue and develop custom assays to evaluate genetic constructs and vectors. We design and engineer iPSC lines, upscale cell production and assays, and develop high-throughput data analysis methods to serve large-scale screening needs.

To reliably assess the performance of candidate constructs and vectors, our team emphasizes robust and scalable design and execution of model development and screens. We collaborate closely with cross-functional partners to answer scientific questions using reproducible in vitro data. We are deeply committed to cross-model validations, operational reliability, and scientific excellence.

About the role

We are seeking a Research Associate with strong expertise in complex in vitro models. This is a highly hands-on position at the core of our experimental work, requiring independence, precision, and the ability to deliver consistent and reproducible high-quality execution across multiple studies. As we continuously develop new models and assays according to the evolving scientific questions, a successful candidate must be a strong learner who can rapidly acquire new technical skills and scientific methodologies.

In this role, you will be essential in building our in vitro team from the ground up. You will partner closely with the group lead to generate iPSC-derived neurons and rodent primary cultures at scale, and help build robust in vitro high-throughput screen pipelines. Your contributions will be essential to driving execution, enabling rapid iteration, and supporting the advancement of next-generation neurotechnology.

In this role, you will:

• Expand, bank, and QC human iPSC lines.

• Produce human iPSC-derived neuron banks on a large scale and perform quality control assays for each batch.

• Isolate and culture rodent neurons from provided brain tissues.

• Generate, maintain, and perform experiments on long-term neuronal cell cultures at scale.