Research Technician II - Neurosurgery

Position Summary Scheduled Hours: 40 Hours per week. 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. The Technician 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 July2026 and sits within WashU’s broader neuroscience and neurosurgery community. 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—although 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: Assist with intraoperative human neurophysiology recordings during awake DBS, sEEG, and other stereotactic and functional neurosurgical procedures. Help 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. Assist with preparation, deployment, and upkeep of intraoperative and clinic‑based motor behavioral task paradigms and associated materials. Organize, curate, and archive neural and behavioral datasets, including routine quality‑control checks and structured, well‑documented file storage. Maintain regulatory and study documentation, assist with IRB submissions and amendments, and help ensure protocol compliance. Support subject scheduling and consenting workflows in partnership with clinical and research teams. Coordinate with OR staff, neurology and neurosurgery faculty, anesthesia, and collaborators to help integrate research recordings into clinical workflows. Perform basic preprocessing, organization, and visualization of neural, kinematic, and behavioral data using Python and/or MATLAB with guidance. Assist with general lab operations, including ordering, inventory, equipment maintenance, and safety compliance. Perform other duties as assigned. Required Qualifications Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and/or experience. No specific certification or professional license required. No specific work experience required. Driver’s license not required. Preferred Qualifications Able to follow multi‑step protocols carefully and reliably. Working proficiency with standard laboratory and research software. 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 (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). Demonstrated interest in systems neuroscience, electrophysiology, or motor control. Reliable, conscientious, and detail‑oriented, with a collaborative orientation. Salary Salary Range: $16.92 - $26.44 per hour. Benefits Up to 22 days of vacation. 10 recognized holidays. 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, starting at 7% employee contribution. Wellness challenges, annual health screenings, mental health resources, mindfulness programs and courses, employee assistance program (EAP), financial resources, access to dietitians. Family benefits: 4 weeks of caregiver leave; tuition coverage for the employee and family up to 100% for dependent undergraduate‑level college tuition at WashU and 40% elsewhere after seven years. 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. #J-18808-Ljbffr Dormont Manufacturing Co