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Rodent Behavior Scientist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Research Technician

Raleigh, NC

$17.50 - $24/hr

... research scientists. Our world-leading faculty and clinicians are at the forefront of ... Mishra Rodent Behavior Suite while gaining hands-on experience in clinical research, laboratory ...

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Rodent Behavior Scientist information

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$42.5K

$94.4K

$153K

How much do rodent behavior scientist jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 24, 2026, the average yearly pay for rodent behavior scientist in the United States is $94,420.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $59,000.00 and $119,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges Rodent Behavior Scientists face when designing behavioral experiments?

Rodent Behavior Scientists often encounter challenges related to ensuring experimental controls and minimizing variability in animal responses. Factors such as environmental enrichment, handling techniques, and circadian rhythms can all significantly influence rodent behavior, making reproducibility and consistency crucial. Additionally, balancing ethical considerations with scientific rigor requires careful planning and adherence to animal welfare guidelines. Collaborating closely with veterinarians and animal care staff is essential to maintain both the integrity of the research and the well-being of the animals.

What is the difference between Rodent Behavior Scientist vs Pest Control Specialist?

AspectRodent Behavior ScientistPest Control Specialist
CredentialsAdvanced degrees in biology or animal behavior, research experienceCertification in pest management, licensing requirements
Work EnvironmentResearch labs, field studies, academic settingsResidential, commercial properties, pest control companies
Industry UsageResearch institutions, universities, environmental agenciesPest control services, extermination companies

While both roles involve working with rodents, a Rodent Behavior Scientist focuses on studying rodent behavior and ecology, often in research settings, whereas a Pest Control Specialist is primarily involved in managing and eliminating rodent infestations in various environments. The former requires scientific credentials and research experience, while the latter emphasizes pest management certifications and practical application skills.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Rodent Behavior Scientist, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Rodent Behavior Scientist, you need a solid background in animal behavior, neuroscience, or psychology, typically supported by an advanced degree such as a PhD. Experience with behavioral tracking software, data analysis tools like MATLAB or R, and certifications in animal care and ethical research practices are important. Attention to detail, problem-solving ability, and strong communication skills help in designing experiments and collaborating with research teams. These skills ensure rigorous, ethical research and reliable results that advance scientific understanding of rodent behavior.

What are Rodent Behavior Scientists?

Rodent Behavior Scientists are researchers who study the behavior, cognition, and physiology of rodents such as mice and rats. Their work helps to understand animal models of human diseases, neurological processes, and behavioral responses to various stimuli or treatments. They often design and conduct experiments, analyze data, and publish findings that advance scientific knowledge in fields like neuroscience, psychology, and pharmacology. These scientists typically work in academic, pharmaceutical, or government research settings.
Infographic showing various Rodent Behavior Scientist job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 2% Internship, 2% As Needed, 90% Full Time, 4% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $94,420 per year, or $45.4 per hour.
Research Scientist, Rodent Neural Imaging

Research Scientist, Rodent Neural Imaging

Nudge

San Francisco, CA โ€ข On-site

Full-time

Posted 7 days ago


Job description

About Nudge

At Nudge, our mission is to develop the best technology for interfacing with the brain to improve people's lives. We're starting with an approach that we believe can help the most people the fastest, and also allow us to learn as much about the brain as possible: developing a non-invasive, ultrasound-based device that can stimulate and image the brain at high resolution and depth. This is a vertically integrated effort building cutting-edge hardware, software, and research capabilities to create products that can benefit millions โ€” and eventually billions โ€” of people.

To succeed, we need to assemble world-class teams across everything we do. We hire people who are exceptional at their craft, believe hard things are worth doing, and execute relentlessly โ€” people who expect the highest levels of both rigor and integrity from each other.

About the role

As a research scientist focused on rodent behavior and neural imaging at Nudge, you will:

  • Design and execute experiments in rodents to characterize the effects of ultrasound neuromodulation on brain circuits and behavior

  • Collect and analyze behavioral and neural data, with techniques such as electrophysiology, calcium imaging and/or fiber photometry

  • Develop and validate experimental paradigms linking neural activity changes to behavioral and physiological responses with clinical relevance

  • Optimize ultrasound stimulation parameters for specific brain circuits and cell types to achieve targeted neuromodulation

  • Translate preclinical findings to inform human neuromodulation studies

About you

We are looking for research scientists of all levels but regardless of your career level, you should have:

  • A PhD or postdoc in neuroscience, biomedical engineering or similar engineering discipline

  • Exceptional proficiency in ultrasound neuromodulation, functional ultrasound neuroimaging, optogenetics, electrophysiology, two-photon microscopy, or fiber phototometry in animal models

  • Experience with automated behavioral tracking and analysis or computational analysis of neural + behavioral data

  • Experience designing experiments informed by ultrasound physics and acoustic field modeling is preferred

  • A demonstrated history of exceptional technical contribution

  • High integrity and strong professional judgement