# Lead Scientist, Macaque Whole-Brain Mapping & Atlas Development

**Company:** [Astera](https://hotfix.jobs/companies/astera)
**Location:** Unspecified
**Role:** AI Research
**Salary:** $250k – $350k/yr
**Experience:** 12+ years
**Skills:** Primate Neuroimaging, In Vivo Imaging, Fmri, Electrophysiology, Functional Ultrasound Imaging, Optogenetics, Microstimulation, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, Neuroai, Computational Modeling, Connectivity Analysis, Comparative Brain Mapping, Data Registration, Open Science
**Posted:** 2026-08-17

> Leads a large-scale program to map the primate brain and develop an openly accessible atlas integrating anatomy, connectivity, physiology, imaging, electrophysiology, and computational modeling. Requires deep primate neuroimaging expertise, multimodal data integration, and senior research leadership experience.

## Job Description

## Responsibilities
- Build a high-resolution, whole-brain anatomical map of the primate brain.
- Chart the brain's long-range axonal connectivity (the projectome) in coordination with contracted external partners.
- Build a unified, high-resolution anatomical and functional atlas by registering and integrating electrophysiology and imaging data with colleagues across the team.
- Deliver an openly accessible atlas release with the software engineering team for the scientific community and public.
- Develop anatomically grounded computational models of the brain with the NeuroAI team.

## Requirements
- Deep expertise in **in vivo imaging of the primate brain**, ideally including awake fMRI at high, submillimeter spatial resolution.
- Strong record of independent research with major contributions to primate neuroimaging, systems neuroscience, or comparative brain mapping.
- Experience integrating multimodal data, including functional imaging, electrophysiology, and anatomy, into common high-resolution reference frames.
- Familiarity with brain-wide connectivity, including functional and effective connectivity and circuit-tracing approaches relevant to charting the projectome.
- Strong quantitative and analytical skills, including development of novel analytical methods for comparative or large-scale neuroimaging.
- Commitment to open, reproducible science and broad availability of tools, data, and atlases.
- At the senior or principal level: leadership of large, multi-institution research programs or consortia; mentoring PhD students and postdoctoral researchers; shaping a team or center's research agenda; and securing and managing substantial research funding, infrastructure, and operational logistics for large-scale data efforts.

## Nice-to-haves
- Experience pioneering or developing imaging technology, such as phased-array receive coils or functional ultrasound imaging (fUSI).
- Expertise in causal, reversible perturbation methods in primates, including optogenetics, microstimulation, or TMS, combined with imaging to probe effective connectivity.
- Experience with comparative human and primate imaging and cross-species homology mapping.
- Contributions to open, large-scale neuroscience infrastructure or shared data resources.
- Background in or close collaboration with computational modeling and NeuroAI efforts.

## Compensation
- Salary range: **$250,000-$350,000**, based on Bay Area location.
- Competitive compensation package commensurate with experience and location.

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