E11 Bio - Engineering Intern

E11 Bio is on a mission to advance connectomics towards whole brain scale for humans and other mammals. We are a collaborative and interdisciplinary team of scientists and engineers engaged in a neuroscience moonshot project to develop a radical technology platform for scalable mammalian brain mapping. E11 Bio is a non-profit Convergent Research focused research organization located in Alameda, California, pursuing blue-skies neuroscience research yet operating like a nimble, tight-knit start-up. Read our technology roadmap.

E11 Bio is seeking a motivated and enthusiastic intern to develop automation, hardware, and software solutions for processing brain tissues and the resulting data. This role involves building custom hardware, integrating existing automation robots, and assisting with data processing, while collaborating closely with both experimental and computational teams.

• Independently design, coordinate, and execute the development of hardware and software solutions, perform pilot experiments with them, and facilitate their deployment in the team.
• 1) Potential specific projects and work areas include but are not limited to:
• 2) Pilot methods for homogenous penetration of affinity probes into expanded hydrogel/tissue hybrids, e.g. using electric fields (e.g. electrophoresis, stochastic electrotransport, etc.). Pilot commercially available devices and design custom built devices (in-house and in collaboration with external vendors).
• 3) Implement automation solutions (e.g. automated liquid handling/pipetting, robotic arms for movement of sample plates, flow cells for immunostainings, etc.) for wet lab work (immunostainings, sample handling, etc.), including writing and adapting software routines, and developing and maintaining hardware solutions. Collaborate with external service providers to solve these problems.
• 4) In collaboration with wet lab scientists, develop solutions that improve sample handling via custom designed lab hardware (e.g. 3D-printing chambers for production and handling of hydrogels, such as expansion microscopy samples). Collaborate with external service providers to solve these problems.
• 5) Perform data analysis and develop scripts to automate these processes (e.g. manually select cells identified by fluorescent marker, manually call the presence/absence of fluorescence signal in cells, quantify fluorescence signals, etc.). Use and adapt software solutions developed in-house as well as sourced from the wider research community.
• Work closely with experimental and computational scientists to collaboratively design experiments, analyze experimental data, and interpret results.
• Source and adapt techniques and methodologies from the literature and scientific community.
• Maintain excellent laboratory notebook practices, communicate results through reports and presentations, and contribute to and assist in preparation of manuscripts, abstracts and other scientific documents.

• Background in engineering science, electrical and computer engineering, mechanical engineering, or equivalent practical experience
• Excellent communication skills, record keeping ability, and attention to detail
• Excellent interpersonal and collaboration skills
• The ability to work independently, from the design of engineering solutions to their successful implementation

• Background in software engineering
• Experience with common computational tools for image processing: ImageJ, Python, Linux, etc.
• Experience with optical microscopy
• Experience with basic molecular biology laboratory techniques (e.g. work with tissue slices, immunohistochemistry, etc.)
• Experience with expansion microscopy

• You want to grow your expertise in developing engineering solutions that accelerate wet lab research and data processing.
• You want to contribute to scientific publications by accelerating development, data acquisition, and data analysis cycles.
• You have a strong desire and intrinsic motivation to work collaboratively and inclusively as part of an interdisciplinary team science effort.
• You are committed to the ethos of open science, and want to see your work transparently disseminated.
• You are seeking a high-leverage, non-traditional opportunity to maximize the impact of your science, establishing relationships with key stakeholders in the neuroscience community.

• An opportunity to change the world and work with some of the smartest and the most talented experts from different fields.
• Excellent medical, dental, and vision insurance through a PPO plan.
• Wellness allowance for fitness and wellness activities.
• 8-16 month internships, negotiable start and end dates.
• Sponsorship for J1 Visas.

E11 Bio, LLC is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer that proudly pursues and hires a diverse workforce. We do not make hiring or employment decisions on the basis of race, color, religion or religious belief, ethnic or national origin, nationality, sex, gender, gender-identity, sexual orientation, disability, age, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by applicable local, state, or federal laws or prohibited by Company policy. We strive for a healthy and safe workplace and strictly prohibit harassment of any kind.