Human Neuroscientist

Convergent Research • San Francisco, CA

9d • Hybrid

About The Position

Arbor Neuroscience (formerly Forest Neurotech) is a nonprofit research organization dedicated to solving the challenge of reliably changing brain circuits for therapeutic purposes. They aim to improve treatments for conditions like depression and chronic pain by making neuromodulation predictable. The organization is developing an experimental platform that includes advanced imaging and stimulation systems, with the goal of building models to guide these interventions. Arbor operates as a Focused Research Organization within Convergent Research and is seeking individuals to shape its future. The role of Human Neuroscientist is central to expanding Arbor's human neuroscience program, which involves longitudinal studies using functional ultrasound imaging and, eventually, focused ultrasound neuromodulation. These studies focus on individuals with cranial implants, often resulting from traumatic brain injury, stroke, or tumors, who may benefit from neuromodulation for comorbid conditions. The research is designed to be causal and within-subject, involving intervention, circuit response imaging, symptom tracking, and repetition over months. The ultimate goal is to conduct these experiments in participants' homes. The Human Neuroscientist will be responsible for designing and running these experiments, managing experimental rigs, collaborating with engineers and analysis leads, working with clinical sites and collaborators, analyzing and interpreting data, and contributing to publications and presentations. The position offers opportunities for growth, with more experienced candidates potentially leading research lines and clinical site relationships. As a startup-like organization, all team members are expected to contribute across multiple roles, including hands-on science and operational tasks.

Requirements

• A PhD and experience running human neuroscience research
• Background in cognitive, affective, or clinical neuroscience, human neuroimaging, or human neuromodulation
• Experience running human studies end to end, including recruitment, data collection, and analysis
• Comfort with hardware and software: able to troubleshoot experimental rigs
• Sufficient computational skills to run standard data analyses independently and to advise on innovative analyses
• Directness without friction – ability to communicate thoughts clearly, ask questions when unsure, and collaborate without competition
• A deep interest in seeing work reach patients

Nice To Haves

• Functional or focused ultrasound experience
• TMS, DBS, or intracranial neuromodulation work
• Experience with clinical populations
• Signal processing or imaging analysis skills
• Ability to design and build experimental rigs
• Experience with IRB and protocol writing
• Experience working in a small, startup-like organization with significant building responsibilities

Responsibilities

• Design longitudinal, causal, within-subject human studies: imaging first, then neuromodulation
• Run experiments, or oversee them as the program grows
• Own the experimental rigs: specify what's needed, keep them running, and work with engineers on device usability and improvements
• Work with research collaborators, including travel to clinical sites
• Support participant recruitment alongside the clinical operations lead
• Analyze and interpret data, with the analysis lead
• Write up results, publish, and present at scientific meetings
• Help shape the human neuroscience program

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision – most plans fully covered for you and your dependents
• 401(k) with up to 6% match
• Company-paid life and AD&D, with voluntary supplemental options
• 15 holidays plus a floating day for your birthday
• 3 weeks PTO increasing with tenure, and separate sick leave

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree