Research Technician II - Neurosurgery

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.

Job Description

Primary Duties & 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.

Working Conditions

• Laboratory and clinical environment with potential exposure to biological and chemical hazards.

• Must be physically able to wear protective equipment and to provide standard care to research subjects, including in the operating room.

• Some flexibility in schedule may be required to accommodate surgical case timing.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by the personnel so classified. Management reserves the right to revise or amend duties at any time.

Required Qualifications

Education:
Bachelor's degree or combination of education and/or experience may substitute for minimum education.

Certifications /Professional Licenses :
No specific certification/professional license is required for this position.

Work Experience:
No specific work experience is required for this position.

Skills:
Not Applicable

Driver's License:
A driver's license is not required for this position.

More About This Job

Preferred Qualifications:

• 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.

Preferred Qualifications

Education:
No additional education unless stated elsewhere in the job posting.

Certifications /Professional Licenses :
No additional certification/professional licenses unless stated elsewhere in the job posting.

Work Experience:
Laboratory Setting (1 Year)

Skills:
Detailed Reports, Detail-Oriented, Electrophysiology, Laboratory Instrumentation, Laboratory Research, MATLAB, Python (Programming Language), Recordkeeping, Signal Processing, Software Program, Verbal Communications, Working Independently, Written Communication

Grade
R06-H

Salary Range
$16.92 - $26.44 / Hourly

The salary range reflects base salaries paid for positions in a given job grade across the University. Individual rates within the range will be determined by factors including one's qualifications and performance, equity with others in the department, market rates for positions within the same grade and department budget.

Questions

For frequently asked questions about the application process, please refer to our External Applicant FAQ.

Accommodation

If you are unable to use our online application system and would like an accommodation, please email View email address on click.appcast.io or call the dedicated accommodation inquiry number at View phone number on click.appcast.io and leave a voicemail with the nature of your request.

All qualified individuals must be able to perform the essential functions of the position satisfactorily and, if requested, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job, absent undue hardship.

Pre-Employment Screening
All external candidates receiving an offer for employment will be required to submit to pre-employment screening for this position. The screenings will include criminal background check and, as applicable for the position, other background checks, drug screen, an employment and education or licensure/certification verification, physical examination, certain vaccinations and/or governmental registry checks. All offers are contingent upon successful completion of required screening.

Benefits Statement

Personal

• Up to 22 days of vacation, 10 recognized holidays, and sick time.
  
• Competitive health insurance packages with priority appointments and lower copays/coinsurance.
  
• Take advantage of our free Metro transit U-Pass for eligible employees.
  
• WashU provides eligible employees with a defined contribution (403(b)) Retirement Savings Plan, which combines employee contributions and university contributions starting at 7%.
  

Wellness

• Wellness challenges, annual health screenings, mental health resources, mindfulness programs and courses, employee assistance program (EAP), financial resources, access to dietitians, and more!
  

Family

• We offer 4 weeks of caregiver leave to bond with your new child. Family care resources are also available for your continued childcare needs. Need adult care? We've got you covered.
  
• WashU covers the cost of tuition for you and your family, including dependent undergraduate-level college tuition up to 100% at WashU and 40% elsewhere after seven years with us.
  

For policies, detailed benefits, and eligibility, please visit:

EEO Statement
Washington University in St. Louis is committed to the principles and practices of equal employment opportunity. It is the University's policy to provide equal opportunity and access to persons in all job titles without regard to race, ethnicity, color, national origin, citizenship (where prohibited by federal law), age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, protected veteran status, or genetic information.