Histology Technician

Merge Labs • San Francisco, CA

1d • $95,000 - $120,000

About The Position

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 Bio team designs, builds, and characterizes the biotechnologies that form the foundation of next-generation brain-computer interfaces. We combine molecular engineering, synthetic biology, neuroscience and advanced physical methods such as ultrasound to establish less invasive, high-bandwidth connections with neurons. The Bio team develops our core molecular technologies, validates their performance in vitro and in vivo, and demonstrates their advanced capabilities in animal models. We build custom experimental setups and pipelines and collaborate closely with engineers and data scientists. We work across disciplines to come up with creative ideas and solve some of the most challenging problems in biotechnology.

About the role:
As a Histology Technician at Merge Labs, you will play a foundational role in translating our biological experiments into interpretable data. You will own the tissue processing, sectioning, and staining workflows that allow our scientists to visualize and characterize molecular technologies in complex biological samples. Your work requires technical precision, rigorous attention to detail, and a commitment to reproducibility. As you build mastery in these workflows, you'll have opportunities to grow into protocol development and optimization in collaboration with senior team members. This may include refining staining chemistries, adapting sectioning strategies for novel tissue types, and helping standardize workflows that scale with our science.

Requirements

• A BS, BA, or AS in histotechnology, biological sciences, or a related field.
• 5+ years of hands-on experience working in a histology lab or core facility.
• Proficiency in cryosectioning, vibratome sectioning, and/or paraffin sectioning across a range of tissue types.
• Experience with standard staining workflows, including H&E, IHC, and immunofluorescence.
• Strong attention to detail and fine motor skill; takes pride in producing clean, consistent sections.
• Strong organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple samples, maintain accurate records, and follow SOPs.
• Motivation to contribute to a fast-paced team tackling frontier scientific and technical challenges.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with fluorescent or multiplexed staining approaches (e.g., multiplex IHC/IF, tyramide signal amplification).
• Familiarity with neural or brain tissue processing.
• Experience with tissue clearing or 3D histology workflows.
• Exposure to image analysis software or slide scanning platforms.
• HT (ASCP) or HTL (ASCP) certification or equivalent training.

Responsibilities

• Process biological tissue samples for histological analysis, including fixation, embedding, cryosectioning, and paraffin sectioning.
• Perform a range of staining protocols, including H&E, immunohistochemistry (IHC), immunofluorescence (IF), and special stains.
• Operate and maintain histology equipment (cryostats, microtomes, tissue processors) and troubleshoot instrument or protocol issues.
• Maintain accurate sample records, reagent inventories, and SOPs to ensure reproducibility, compliance, and traceability.
• Collaborate with scientists and imaging team members to deliver study results on schedule.
• Assess slide quality, document observations, and surface quality issues proactively.
• Learn new techniques and contribute to protocol development as experimental needs evolve.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Associate degree