Research Associate - Spatial Methods & Imaging

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 an Imaging Research Associate, your impact spans both execution and innovation. You will support the company’s day-to-day research by running high-quality sample preparations and managing advanced microscopy systems, ensuring teams can rely on consistent, well-characterized imaging data. This work requires technical rigor, a systems-level approach, and careful attention to reproducibility, helping turn complex experiments into reliable workflows that accelerate discovery across the organization.

As you build familiarity with these systems, you’ll have opportunities to grow into methodological innovation in collaboration with functional team leads. This may include designing and validating new imaging protocols, exploring custom sample preparation approaches, and helping develop novel hardware configurations tailored to Merge’s technologies. Over time, this role allows you to innovate in imaging methods and technology, expanding the organization’s experimental capabilities.

In this role, you will:

• Prepare and process biological samples for imaging, including cells, tissues, and staining workflows.

• Operate, maintain, and troubleshoot microscopy systems to deliver reliable, high-quality data.

• Collaborate with functional team leads to design and implement new imaging protocols.

• Develop and optimize novel sample preparation methods, such as custom staining chemistries and specialized mounting strategies.

• Maintain lab records, inventories, and shared imaging resources, following SOPs to ensure reproducibility, compliance, and efficiency.

• Analyze and present imaging data to guide experimental design and inform broader research projects.

• Continuously learn new techniques and collaborate across disciplines to expand imaging capabilities

You might thrive in this role if you have:

• A BS, BA, or MS in a scientific, engineering, or related field, with experience in microscopy and sample preparation for imaging.

• Hands-on experience with multiple imaging modalities and sample preparation techniques, such as expansion microscopy, FISH, immunofluorescence, tissue clearing, confocal, live-cell imaging, two-photon, or light-sheet microscopy.

• Ability to execute complex, multi-day imaging experiments with precision and reproducibility.

• Curiosity and thoughtfulness, with the ability to understand the rationale behind protocols and develop intuition for adapting or optimizing methods.

• Collaborative mindset, with the ability to work effectively across scientific teams.

• Strong organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks, maintain accurate records, and follow SOPs.

• Motivation to contribute to a fast-paced team tackling frontier scientific and technical challenges.

Nice to have:

• Experience with spatial or multiplexed imaging approaches, such as spatial omics (MERFISH, seqFISH), multiplexed FISH, or other spatially resolved molecular methods.

• Familiarity with high-content or high-throughput imaging platforms.

• Experience with live-cell imaging, reporter assays, or functional imaging.

• Knowledge of tissue clearing and 3D imaging workflows.

• Basic experience with image analysis software or computational pipelines.

If you're excited about this role but don't meet every qualification, please apply. As we build, we're hiring for complementary strengths to form a high-impact team.
For more information about hiring at Merge, please visit our Hiring FAQ

Merge Labs does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, family status, ancestry, citizenship, U.S. military (state and federal) and veteran status, or any other legally protected status. It is our intention that all applicants be given equal opportunity and that selection decisions are based on job related factors. We are an equal opportunity employer.

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities, and requests can be made by emailing [email protected].