A systems neuroscience research laboratory within the Department of Biomedical Sciences and Center for Neural Science and Medicine is seeking an unpaid Research Intern for academic credit. This internship provides a structured, hands-on educational experience in systems neuroscience, computational neurophysiology, and neural data analysis. The role is designed to build proficiency in core analytical workflows used in the laboratory while fostering collaborative research and developing strong technical skills in both electrophysiology and EEG-based approaches.
The intern will support ongoing work in spike sorting of extracellular neurophysiology recordings and analysis of single-unit activity in rodent models of stroke recovery and sleep. The role will also contribute to characterization of neural modulation across the time course of motor recovery following stroke and development of proficiency in seizure detection through visual inspection of continuously recorded EEG data from ARX mutant animal subjects.
Role Activities & Timeline
Weeks 1-2: Onboarding & Foundational Training
Complete all required institutional trainings, including HealthStream, CITI, IACUC/BAR requirements, and laboratory safety orientation
Introduction to laboratory data infrastructure, including extracellular recording file formats, EEG data organization, and analysis software
Exposure to Python, Kilosort/Phy, and custom EEG review tools
Overview of rodent models of stroke recovery and sleep used in the laboratory
Introduction to ARX mutant animal subjects used in EEG seizure studies
Weeks 3-5: Spike Sorting Fundamentals
Learn principles of extracellular neurophysiology recording and theoretical basis of spike detection and clustering
Perform supervised spike sorting on existing recording datasets using automated pipeline tools
Participate in mentored manual curation using Phy
Apply quality control metrics, including isolation distance, L-ratio, and ISI violations, to evaluate and document single-unit yield across sessions
Conduct independent analysis activities with increasing autonomy under laboratory mentorship
Support ongoing experimental studies through computational and data analysis contributions
Summarize findings and participate in research discussions related to ongoing laboratory projects
Systems & Training Access
Microsoft Suite
HealthStream
CITI
IACUC/BAR training and compliance systems
Learning Outcomes By the end of the internship, the intern will be able to:
Perform spike sorting to isolate single units from extracellular neurophysiology recordings
Apply quality control metrics to evaluate single-unit yield and data integrity
Conduct quantitative analyses of neural modulation in the context of stroke recovery and sleep
Detect and characterize seizure events through systematic visual inspection of EEG recordings
Support ongoing experimental studies with computational and data analysis skills
Develop foundational experience with neuroscience research workflows and electrophysiology analysis techniques
Qualifications
This role is designed to be 100% onsite, giving you the opportunity to collaborate closely with your team and immerse yourself in the energy of our workplace. Please note that hybrid or remote work options are NOT available for this position at this time.
Required Education & Experience
Must be 18 years of age or older.
Must have a HS Diploma or GED.
Must reside in the greater Los Angeles area or surrounding cities while conducting all activities related to the intern or visitor appointment.
INTERNS: Those participating for academic credit must receive academic credit for the duration of the internship.
VISITORS: Must be receiving funding from an eligible sponsoring institution (employer, educator, funder, etc.).
Preferred Qualifications
Current undergraduate or graduate student pursuing coursework in neuroscience, biomedical engineering, computer science, psychology, biology, or a related scientific field
Strong interest in systems neuroscience, computational neuroscience, electrophysiology, EEG analysis, or neural data analysis
Familiarity with Python, data analysis software, or computational workflows preferred
Interest in translational neuroscience research involving motor recovery, sleep, and epilepsy models
Strong analytical thinking and attention to detail
Ability to learn technical workflows and follow research protocols consistently
Strong organizational, documentation, and time management skills
Comfortable working collaboratively in a laboratory research environment
Ability to commit to a structured 10-12 week internship experience for academic credit
