Research Associate

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 a Research Associate, you’ll join a multidisciplinary group advancing core biological research at Merge in one of two tracks:

Science-Track RAs work directly in active scientific programs. You’ll work closely with scientists to design, execute, and iterate on experiments spanning protein engineering, cell biology, synthetic biology, neuroscience and/or translational biology. You’ll see your experiments feed directly into experimental decisions, execution, and technical strategy. This track is designed to identify and develop high-potential early scientists and place them on an accelerated path toward independent scientific roles.

Platform-Track RAs build and operate the core experimental capabilities that enable ambitious science at scale. You’ll work closely with platform leads to operate, strengthen, and evolve foundational workflows. This track rewards rigor, systems thinking, and deep technical mastery. Your impact comes from turning fragile or bespoke experiments into reliable, high-quality pipelines that accelerate the entire organization. This track is designed to provide a fulfilling, long-term career path to individuals who thrive in supporting research.

In this role, you will:

• Execute experiments in one or more areas such as:

  • Molecular biology (cloning, mutagenesis, plasmid prep)

  • Protein biochemistry (expression, purification, assays)

  • Cell biology (culture, transfection, imaging)

  • Neuroscience (in vivo experiments, tissue prep, sample handling, data collection)

• Maintain accurate lab records, inventories, and shared resources.

• Analyze and present data to help guide experimental design.

• Learn new techniques and collaborate across scientific disciplines.

You might thrive in this role if you have:

• A BS, BA, or MS in Biology, Biochemistry, Neuroscience, Bioengineering, or a related field.

• Hands-on experience in one or more of the following: molecular cloning, protein purification, mammalian cell culture, or in vivo biology.

• Strong attention to detail, curiosity, and willingness to learn beyond your core domain.

• A collaborative, organized approach to experimental work and data integrity.

• Prior experience in an academic or industry research lab.

• The desire to be part of a fast-paced team working on frontier scientific and technical problems.

Nice to have:

• Experience with standard biochemical or imaging assays (e.g., SDS-PAGE, fluorescence microscopy, enzymatic assays).

• Familiarity with rodent models or in vivo experimental workflows.
  

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.
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].