Senior Scientist, Neuroscience & Electrophysiology (Part-Time)

Company Description
37degrees, Inc. specializes in innovative products tailored to the needs of life science, pharmaceutical, and fundamental research applications. Our products are designed for portability, scalability, and novel use cases, empowering scientists to achieve their goals with cutting-edge solutions. By collaborating with researchers, we leverage advanced technology to create tools that facilitate groundbreaking experiments and push the boundaries of biological knowledge. We are committed to learning and evolving alongside our scientific community, continually offering new advancements in life science technology.
Role Description
37degrees is looking for a Senior Scientist in neuroscience to lead the biology behind a new, NIH-funded platform for long-term culture, recording and stimulation of living neurons. The platform is engineered at our Chicago R&D facility, and the neurobiology is carried out together with a world-leading neuroscience institute.
You will be an expert in electrophysiology, neuropharmacology and microelectrode array (MEA) recordings. You will set the scientific direction for the work and make sure the program hits its milestones. You will design and run experiments with primary rodent neurons, human iPSC-derived neurons and, over time, 3D models such as brain organoids.
This is a part-time role, starting at 20% effort, with room to grow as the program moves into its next phase. You will work directly with the Founder & CEO and with every part of the company: R&D and engineering, commercial and marketing.
Who This Role Could Be Great For
A postdoctoral fellow or research scientist at a leading neuroscience institute who wants to shape a new tool for the field, without leaving their research career. You have a strong publication record and want hands-on experience of how a product is built, validated and brought to scientists, working with the founding team of a fast-moving life science company.
Responsibilities
Scientific direction. Set the scientific direction for the program, and propose new applications, models and experiments that extend it.
Experimental design. Design and run long-term MEA studies that record and compare network activity, firing and bursting over weeks to months.
Electrophysiology and pharmacology. Lead studies combining electrical, optogenetic and pharmacological stimulation, including closed-loop experiments and compound response assays.
Neuronal models. Guide culture work with primary rodent cortical and hippocampal neurons, human iPSC-derived neurons, and 3D organoids or slices.
Data analysis. Own the analysis approach: spike sorting, burst and network metrics, statistics, and pairing electrophysiology with calcium imaging.
Program delivery. Keep the work on track against its milestones, and help prepare progress reports and future grant applications.
Collaboration. Work closely with our academic research partner and with our engineering team, turning biological needs into product requirements.
Commercial and marketing support. Help shape application notes, publications, conference presentations and conversations with scientific customers.
Qualifications
Required
PhD in neuroscience, neurophysiology, pharmacology, bioengineering or a related field
Postdoctoral or research-staff experience at a leading neuroscience institute or university
Deep hands-on expertise in in-vitro electrophysiology, with MEA recordings (multi-well or high-density) as a core skill
Strong background in neuropharmacology: compound testing, dose response, and the pharmacology of network activity
Experience culturing primary neurons and/or human iPSC-derived neurons for long-term studies
A record of high-quality, first- or senior-author publications in peer-reviewed journals
Proven scientific leadership: leading projects, mentoring others, or contributing to grant applications
Excellent written and spoken communication, including to non-specialists
Valid authorization to work in the United States
Preferred
Based in the Chicago area, able to work on-site at our R&D facility
A big plus: live-cell and fluorescence imaging (including calcium imaging) combined with electrophysiology
A big plus: optogenetics, and closed-loop feedback control of neuronal systems
Proven experience with high-density MEA (HD-MEA) technology
A track record of leading grant applications that won funding
Customer discovery experience: interviewing researchers to understand their workflows and unmet needs
3D brain organoids, neural spheroids or organotypic slice culture
Disease modeling in neurodevelopmental, neurodegenerative or psychiatric conditions
Analysis coding in Python or MATLAB (spike sorting, network and burst analysis)
Experience working with industry, or using or developing research instruments
Interest in entrepreneurship and bringing new technology to the research community
Position Details
Location: Chicago, IL, on-site at our R&D facility, with some flexibility for remote work
Time commitment: Part-time, starting at 20% effort
Reports to: Founder & CEO
Works with: R&D and engineering, commercial, marketing, and our research partners

Work arrangement
No