Fellow in Biohybrid Systems & Neural Interfaces – Harvard Bionics Lab

Position Description:

The Harvard Bionics Lab is seeking a Fellow to support experimental and translational research at the interface of neural engineering, bioelectronics, and physiology. The role focuses on developing and evaluating sensing technologies for peripheral nerve and organ interfacing, with an emphasis on in vivo rodent (rat/mouse) models.

The Fellow will work closely with a multidisciplinary team to design, build, and test sensor systems for recording neural and physiological signals. Responsibilities include conducting survival surgeries in rodents, performing electrophysiological recordings, developing and prototyping sensing hardware, and executing structured data collection protocols.

The candidate will contribute to experiments involving nerve interfacing, signal acquisition, and biomarker-driven systems. This includes working with peripheral nerves, muscles, and/or organ systems to quantify physiological responses and neural activity. The role will also involve analyzing datasets, maintaining rigorous experimental documentation, and supporting iterative device development.

A significant portion of the work will require hands-on experimentation, including rodent handling, surgical procedures, and electrophysiology. The candidate is expected to operate independently within defined protocols and contribute to troubleshooting and optimization of experimental systems.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Bioengineering, Biomedical Engineering, Neuroscience, Physiology, or Electrical Engineering
• Prior hands-on experience with rat or mouse models (required)

Additional Qualifications:

• At least 1–2 years of research experience in an academic or industry lab setting
• Experience with electrophysiology (neural recording, EMG, or related techniques)
• Exposure to sensor design, bioinstrumentation, or embedded systems
• Programming experience (e.g., MATLAB, Python, or similar for data acquisition/analysis)
• Familiarity with surgical techniques or willingness to be trained in rodent survival surgeries
• Strong organizational skills and attention to experimental rigor and reproducibility