Research Technician II - Neurosurgery

Washington University in St. Louis

3d • $17 - $26 • Onsite

About The Position

Scheduled Hours 40 Position Summary Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery The Friedman Lab is recruiting a Research Technician II to help launch a new program in human motor systems neuroscience. The lab uses recordings collected during deep brain stimulation (DBS) and stereoelectroencephalography (sEEG) procedures to study how the brain represents and controls movement and other neural functions. This is an exciting early-stage role with substantial responsibility. You will work closely with the PI (Dr. Gabriel Friedman) to develop and run the lab’s intraoperative DBS/sEEG recording pipeline to collect and curate multi-modal neural and behavioral data in the OR and clinic. The lab launches in July 2026 and sits within WashU’s broader neuroscience and neurosurgery community. Assists with the technical aspects of studies and experiments, including documentation and preparation of materials. The ideal candidate is technically curious, organized, eager to learn, comfortable in clinical environments, and excited to join a new research program at an early stage that bridges neurosurgery, systems neuroscience, and electrophysiology. About the Friedman Lab The Friedman Lab combines neural decoding and stimulation to understand how the brain gives rise to behavior and to develop closed-loop therapies that read out and shape neural activity in real time. We work directly in humans, using intraoperative and chronic electrophysiology during DBS and sEEG procedures to record from the brain while subjects engage in structured tasks. A central focus is the motor system — how motor commands are represented and transformed across the neural hierarchy, from cortex through basal ganglia, spinal cord, peripheral nerve, and muscle — but the same decoding-and-stimulation framework extends to other circuits and functions. Our goal is to translate a basic understanding of brain function into adaptive, closed-loop neuromodulation, in close collaboration with WashU’s neurosurgery, neurology, and neuroscience communities. We value rigor, curiosity, careful work, and a collaborative culture. We are committed to building a diverse team and to mentoring people at every career stage.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or combination of education and/or experience may substitute for minimum education.
• No specific certification/professional license is required for this position.
• No specific work experience is required for this position.
• Not Applicable
• A driver's license is not required for this position.

Nice To Haves

• Able to follow multi-step protocols carefully and reliably.
• Working proficiency with standard laboratory and research software.
• Coursework or background in neuroscience, biomedical engineering, electrical engineering, computer science, physiology, or a related field.
• Exposure to electrophysiology, signal processing, or neural data acquisition systems.
• Some programming experience in Python and/or MATLAB (e.g., basic data wrangling or figure generation).
• Familiarity with research hardware (DAQ systems, amplifiers, EMG, motion capture, or behavioral task hardware).
• Prior exposure to clinical or human subjects research, particularly in operating room or peri-operative environments.
• Familiarity with version control (Git) or structured data standards (e.g., BIDS) a plus.
• Demonstrated interest in systems neuroscience, electrophysiology, or motor control.
• Reliable, conscientious, and detail-oriented, with a collaborative orientation.
• Laboratory Setting (1 Year)

Responsibilities

• Assists with intraoperative human neurophysiology recordings during awake DBS, sEEG, and other stereotactic and functional neurosurgical procedures.
• Helps set up, calibrate, and troubleshoot the lab’s intraoperative recording pipeline, including microelectrode recording, macroelectrode LFP, surface EMG, and motion/force capture, with attention to clean signal quality and synchronization across systems.
• Assists with preparation, deployment, and upkeep of intraoperative and clinic-based motor behavioral task paradigms and associated materials.
• Organizes, curates, and archives neural and behavioral datasets, including routine quality-control checks and structured, well-documented file storage.
• Maintains regulatory and study documentation, assists with IRB submissions and amendments, and helps ensure protocol compliance.
• Supports subject scheduling and consenting workflows in partnership with clinical and research teams.
• Coordinates with OR staff, neurology and neurosurgery faculty, anesthesia, and collaborators to help integrate research recordings into clinical workflows.
• Performs basic preprocessing, organization, and visualization of neural, kinematic, and behavioral data using Python and/or MATLAB with guidance.
• Assists with general lab operations, including ordering, inventory, equipment maintenance, and safety compliance.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Up to 22 days of vacation, 10 recognized holidays, and sick time.
• Competitive health insurance packages with priority appointments and lower copays/coinsurance.
• Free Metro transit U-Pass for eligible employees.
• Defined contribution (403(b)) Retirement Savings Plan, which combines employee contributions and university contributions starting at 7%.
• Wellness challenges, annual health screenings, mental health resources, mindfulness programs and courses, employee assistance program (EAP), financial resources, access to dietitians, and more!
• 4 weeks of caregiver leave to bond with your new child.
• Family care resources are also available for your continued childcare needs.
• Adult care resources.
• Tuition coverage for you and your family, including dependent undergraduate-level college tuition up to 100% at WashU and 40% elsewhere after seven years with us.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level