Company Description:
We are creating the future of brain-computer interfaces: building devices now that have the potential to help people with paralysis regain mobility and independence and invent new technologies that could expand our abilities, our community, and our world.
Team Description:
The Animal Care Team is responsible for providing care for Neuralink animals in the areas of husbandry, enrichment, cooperative veterinary medicine, and behavioral health/ training. Animal Care Specialists will create and implement refinements that ensure animals have access to basic needs, species typical behaviors, agency, and joy (defined by engaging in preferred activities). They will also develop and maintain behavioral intervention plans to maximize wellbeing using methodology based in positive reinforcement training and the science of Applied Behavior Analysis. Team members will also coordinate with engineers and researchers to conduct voluntary research task sessions and collect data for study usage in order to maintain high welfare standards while furthering Neuralink’s mission.
Job Responsibilities and Description:
- Perform animal husbandry including but not limited to enclosure cleaning, feeding, watering, health observations, and documentation of husbandry procedures
- Help create and implement behavior intervention plans for animals using Behavior Analysis techniques, and maintain behavioral data records
- Assist in animal training for a wide range of voluntary husbandry, research, and co-operative care behaviors using methodology based in Positive Reinforcement Training
- Conduct behavior scans to monitor animal behavior and social housing dynamics
- Help design and implement innovative enrichment devices for animals that enhance cognitive stimulation through various means, including food, exercise, and socialization
- Assist in development and implementation of novel refinements that promote animal agency and joy to optimize welfare
- Assist in collecting and analyzing data for refinement projects to be presented at animal welfare conferences
- Follow standard operating procedures to ensure optimal safety of both animals and personnel
- Adhere to federal, state and local laws
Required Qualifications:
- Experience training animals using force-free techniques
- Comfortable with exposure to animal bodily fluids, including blood
- No specific degree or current student status required; relevant experience and skills are prioritized
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience working in a lab animal research environment or other related animal training/ ABA experience
- Experience working closely with non-human primates, swine, or sheep
- Ability to travel to/from and work at Austin, TX facility 1-2 times for coverage purposes as needed
- Proficient in statistical analysis
Work Environment: Animal care facilities, Vivarium, Office.
For Full-Time Employees, your compensation package will include two major components: salary and equity. Guidance on salary for this role will be determined according to the level at which you enter the organization, with the ability to gain more over time as you contribute. In addition, Full-Time Employees are eligible for the following benefits listed below.
What We Offer:
- An opportunity to change the world and work with some of the smartest and most talented experts from different fields
- Growth potential; we rapidly advance team members who have an outsized impact
- Excellent medical, dental, and vision insurance through a PPO plan
- Paid holidays
- Commuter benefits
- Meals provided
- Equity + 401(k) plan *Temporary Employees & Interns excluded
- Parental leave *Temporary Employees & Interns excluded
- Flexible time off *Temporary Employees & Interns excluded
Multiple studies have found that a higher percentage of women and BIPOC candidates won't apply if they don't meet every listed qualification. Neuralink values candidates of all backgrounds. If you find yourself excited by our mission but you don't check every box in the description, we encourage you to apply anyway!
Neuralink provides equal opportunity in all of our employment practices to all qualified employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability, marital status, military status, genetic information or any other category protected by federal, state and local laws. This policy applies to all aspects of the employment relationship, including recruitment, hiring, compensation, promotion, transfer, disciplinary action, layoff, return from layoff, training and social, and recreational programs. All such employment decisions will be made without unlawfully discriminating on any prohibited basis.
If you need a reasonable accommodation at any point in the interview process, please let us know. Reasonable accommodations are modifications or adjustments to the application or hiring process that would enable you to fully participate in those processes. Examples of reasonable accommodations include but are not limited to:
- Documents in alternate formats or read aloud to you
- Having interviews in an accessible location
- Being accompanied by a service dog
- Having a sign language interpreter present for the interview
